Matches today (Globalport Field, Calatagan, Batangas)
2:30 p.m. – Kingpower (Thailand) vs Ahmibah (Brunei)
3:45 p.m. – ADEC (US) vs Tang Polo (China)
MANILA, Philippines - Globalport-Pilipinas knocked down three crucial goals in the third chukker to hack out an 8-4 win over Tang Polo of China and advance to the final via a two-game sweep of their group elims in the Philippine Polo Open 2014 at the Globalport Field in Calatagan, Batangas yesterday.
San Miguel Corp.-Philippines, with Juan Jaretche dishing out another superb performance, trounced Kingpower of Thailand, 8-5, and swept the other group elims to seal a one-game title clash with Globalport on Sunday.
After a close fight in the first two chukkers, Globalport surged to a 6-1 lead as team captain Mikee Romero joined hands with top Argentinian pros Gaston Beguerie and Rodrigo Bauzada to rip the game apart in their Group A match.
All four Globalport players, including Thai Aiyawatt “Top†Srivaddhanaprabha, scored two goals each to underscore the team’s solid teamwork.
Jaretche lived up to his billing as a five-goaler as he exploded for six goals while Monet Montilla, who took over the place of team captain Iñigo Zobel, added two goals. Zobel begged off from playing due to a previous commitment.
“We tried to go hard so the pressure is on the other side. Mikee (Romero) played well, we played well as a team too,†said Srivaddhanaprabha. “We knew each other after our first game and we played better today.â€
Romero was glad they survived China’s fightback.
“We got scared, they (Tang Polo) came very close,†said Romero.
Globalport’s smashing win was a fitting followup to its 8-4 win over ADEC of Team USA in the opener of Group A action in the tournament presented by Manila North Harbour Port. Inc., AirAsia, Viber and San Miguel Corporation.
Bauzada, a three-goaler, now has six goals in the six-team tournament, counting his four in the team’s win over ADEC last Tuesday.
A last-gasp goal by Antonino Menard in the third chukker pulled the Chinese team to within 6-2, thus giving them a ray of hope of turning their fortunes around.
The Chinese team almost did it when Antonino scored back-to-back goals early in the payoff period that cut their deficit down to two, 6-4.
Globalport, however, ended Tang Polo’s comeback with one Big D as it repelled a penalty shot.
Srivaddhanaprabha broke the ice early but Chinese Shi Lai knotted the count with one magnificent play.
But Globalport broke a 1-1 count when Romero, benefitting from a perfect pass by Rodrigo, slammed home his first goal of the tournament before Gaston Beguerie tallied his first goal of the match.