Los Tamaraos bag Globalport crown

MANILA, Philippines - English pro Max Charlton put on a dazzling show as the Los Tamaraos hacked out a stirring 8-7 come-from-behind win over Tang Polo of China to snare the Globalport Philippine Polo Open 2015 crown yesterday in Makati field.

Charlton scored five goals, including the pressure-packed penalty in the last 20 seconds to complete the team’s dramatic comeback from a 1-3 deficit in the first chukker.

“We’re not playing well in the first chukker but in the next we started to play with discipline,” said the 24-year-old eight-goaler, who also gained inspiration from his parents Bob and Christine who arrived last Friday. “But after adapting with my horse, everything went well.”

“Max was spectacular today, he played so well,” said Globalport’s Mikee Romero, who bankrolled the blue-ribbon event for the third time. “The level of competition is so high this time that’s why this year’s edition is another big success.”

The fourth chukker was rugged and tense but the Los Tamaraos showed steely nerves to repulse Tang Polo’s last-ditch bid before a huge crowd.

The three other goals by Los Tamaraos were produced by Cole Aguirre, including one that put them on top, 7-6, midway in the fourth.

Actually, Los Tamaraos, Kingpower of Thailand and defending champion San Miguel ended the Zone 2 elims with similar 1-1 records but earned the right to play Tang Polo on account of their superior quotient.

They were beaten by Kingpower, 5-3, but their 9-4 win over San Miguel proved to have a heavier weight.

Globalport, which finished second in Zone elims with a 1-1 card, and San Miguel shared third place.

Earlier, the Patron All-Star match between the Red and the Green ended in a 3-3 standoff.

Argentinian seven-goaler Mariano Obregon scored all the three goals for the Greens with the support of Globalport skipper Romero, Santi Juban, Manot Montilla.

Robin Lourvanij, the only lady player in the tournament presented by Globalport, led the Red team along with Inigo Zobel, Antonio Veloso and Guillermo Cavanagh.

Obregon, who scored eight goals in Globalport Pilipinas’ two-game stint, including a 9-4 drubbing of Polo Escape of Thailand, scored on a nice tap that gave the Green team 3-2 lead with just 1:42 left.

But Veloso came to the Red’s rescue, tying the game with a gallant shot – thanks to an assist by Zobel.

“We decided to hold a Patron All-Star Game to thank the patrons for their support and to promote camaraderie,” said Romero.