Mikee Romero to push for polo’s inclusion in ’19 SEAG

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine polo got a big boost with the third staging of the Cockatoo Polo Cup which drew not only some of the country’s top players but a slew of foreign campaigners as well at the North Polo Club in Pulilan, Bulacan recently.

Inspired by the event’s success and the sport’s continued rise in terms of awareness, polo enthusiast and celebrity organizer Diether Ocampo and GlobalPort owner and Rep. Mikee Romero said they would bat for polo’s inclusion in the next SEA Games, which the country will host in 2019.

“Right now, we’re starting to generate awareness because this sport is very flexible,” said Ocampo. “It’s a sport that can work with everyone and the reason why we put up this event is to draw awareness.”

Noting Filipino polo players have the talent and skills to compete against some of the top foreign players, Ocampo said they would push for the inclusion of the sport in the next SEAG.

“Hopefully, it will push through,” said Ocampo of their SEAG plan. “There’s a lot of potential for Filipino riders.”

He cited the Filipinos’ victory over a visiting Malaysian squad in a friendly recently.

“Our Filipino riders beat the Malaysians, who are one of the best in the region. I guess they have a strong potential to compete,” added Ocampo, who also vowed to hold the event annually to help develop the sport and at the same time raise the level of play among Filipino polo players.

Others who graced the Cockatoo Polo Cup presented by Cathy Valencia Advance Skin Clinic were celebrity and Calatagan Vice Mayor Andrea del Rosario along with Romero, players Anthony Garcia, Jun Juban, Santi Lujan, Miguel Dure and international campaigners like Kathryn Fischer, Marina Rose Best and Alexander Vogi.    

“Dito kasi, since parang ako yung captain ng Philippine (polo) team ngayon, I have to help create more awareness. Sayang hindi tayo nakasali sa SEA Games last time, pero this coming SEA Games, sinusubukan naming makagawa ng team. We tried to elevate the game na maging grassroots ng konti katulad ng ginagawa nina Diether. It’s an elite sport, game of the kings as they say, but lumalaki siya, lalo na dito sa Bulacan. I think here in Bulacan, there are about 50 players competing,” said Romero.