Globalport, San Miguel dispute Polo Open title

SHILAI Liu (left) of Tang Polo outsprints Globalport Pilipinas captain Mikee Romero as they chase the ball during their game in the Philippine Polo Open 2014 yesterday.

CALATAGAN—Globalport Pilipinas and San Miguel Philippines arranged an all-Filipino team showdown after posting impressive wins against two debuting squads in the Globalport Philippine Polo Open 2014 Wednesday here in Batangas.

Mikee Romero knocked in half of his team’s first four goals to set up Globalport to an 8-4 victory over Tang-Polo China in the high-goal match.

Romero teamed up with Top Srivaddhanaprabha, Gaston Beguerie and Rodrigo Bauzada, who also shot two goals each to power Globalport to the title round with a 2-0 record in Bracket A.

In Bracket B, Juan Jauretche sizzled as San Miguel Philippines drubbed Kingpower-Thailand, 8-5, to clinch the last title slot. San Miguel led, 5-0, with Jauretche firing all goals in the first two chukkers.

Jauretche, the Argentinian five-goaler, finished with six goals and Monet Montilla, who replaced San Miguel’s opening day top scorer Iñigo Zobel, added two.

The winner-take-all finals between Globalport and San Miguel is set at 4 p.m. on Sunday at Manila Polo Club.

Romero put Globalport up at 3-1 in the second chukker after picking off a backshot from Bauzada.

Romero again broke through at the start of the third chukker, before a Beguerie penalty shot from 60 yards and a Bauzada goal boosted Globalport ahead at 6-1.

Tommy Bitong, the youngest player in the event at 13, and Sam Hunt rounded out the San Miguel squad, which fended off Thailand’s rally efforts in the final chukker, 7-5, behind brothers Santi and Lucas Lujan.

In the opener, Globalport downed Adec-United States, 8-4, while San Miguel clipped Royal Brunei, 8-7.