Mikee Romero: San Miguel polo favorite

MANILA, Philippines — Globalport Pilipinas sees itself as the underdog against San Miguel Philippines when the two unbeaten squads fight for the inaugural crown of the Philippine Polo Open 2014 Sunday at Manila Polo Club.

Mikee Romero, Globalport’s playing team owner, said San Miguel boasts a scoring firepower in Juan Jauretche, who knocked in five goals in their 8-5 triumph over Kingpower-Thailand in their last elimination match.

“San Miguel is a tough team with the highest handicap in Jauretche,” Romero said of the Argentinian five-goaler who’s the highest ranked player in the finals.

The winner-take-all title match between the two teams that swept their elimination brackets is set at 4 p.m.

Globalport, composed of Romero, Top Srivaddhanaprabha, Gaston Beguerie and Rodrigo Bauzada, topped Bracket A at 2-0 with victories over ADEC-United States, 8-4, and Tang-Polo China, 8-4.

Jauretche, meanwhile, teamed up with Iñigo Zobel, Sam Hunt and 13-year-old Tommy Bitong in powering San Miguel past Ahmibah-Royal Brunei, 9-7, and Kingpower-Thailand, 8-5, for a 2-0 sweep of Bracket B.

“The only thing I can say for now is that San Miguel is the better team,” said Romero.