MANILA, Philippines - Tang Polo of China and Kingpower of Thailand pulled off big wins over their respective rivals Wednesday to turn the finals race wide open in the Globalport Philippine Polo Open 2015 in Calatagan, Batangas.
Shi Lai Liu scored the go-ahead goal then Tang Polo watched Globalport misfire on successive attempts in the closing seconds of the four-chukker game to snatch an 8-7 victory.
In the other game, Apichet Srivaddhanaprabha scored the first two goals in the first chukker while Lucas Lujan delivered two goals in the final as Kingpower hacked out a 5-3 victory over Los Tamaraos for their first win in Zone 2.
Argentinian pro Miguel Diaz came away with four goals for Tang Polo while Benjamin Urquiza added two as they helped the team post its first win in the three-team Zone 1while stalling Globalport’s march to the finals.
Tang Polo can advance to the one-game final on Sunday with a victory over Polo Escape of Thailand, which took a 4-9 beating from Mikee Romero’s Globalport in Tuesday’s opener.
“It was a good game. Mikee is a very good friend, like a family, and we both loved to play with each other,” said Liu.
Meanwhile, a Star Match between patrons Romero and Iñigo Zobel of Ayala will also be one of the highlights of the finals match to be capped by a gala dinner show hosted by Romero for the benefit of the “Fallen 44” heroes.
“It’s the least we can do for the families of the ‘Fallen 44’ heroes who bravely sacrificed their lives for the country,” Romero said.
Philippine National Police officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina also expressed deep appreciation for the charity event for the 44 slain members of the Special Action Force (SAF).
Espina lauded Romero for the fundraising event to help the families of the SAF members who were killed in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last Jan. 25.
“Even before the gala event, the PNP is already grateful to the international community of polo players, spearheaded by Mikee Romero, for making the tournament more worthwhile by planning the gala night for the benefit of the bereaved families of our heroes who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty,” Espina said.
“I thank the organizers of the tournament. This will truly help the families of the SAF members,” he said.
The 44 SAF members were killed in Mamasapano, Maguindanao during an encounter with Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.