Globalport, San Miguel clash for Polo Open crown

MANILA, Philippines — Globalport Pilipinas and San Miguel Philippines brace for an unpredictable title match as the two undefeated squads dispute the Philippine Polo Open 2014 championship Sunday in Makati City.

“We’ll try to win of course, but in this sport, you never know,” said Globalport’s Thai player Top Srivaddhanaprabha.

The winner-take-all match is set at 4 p.m. with San Miguel slightly favored with topnotch Argentine pro Juan Jauretche, a five-goaler, spearheading its campaign in the high-goal match.

“It’s still anybody’s game,” said San Miguel’s Iñigo Zobel, who teamed up with Jauretche, Sam Hunt and Tommy Bitong in their 2-0 sweep of Bracket B in the eliminations held in Calatagan, Batangas.

Zobel led San Miguel with three goals in their opening-day triumph over Ahmibah-Royal Brunei, 9-7, while Jauretche sizzled in their 8-5 win over Kingpower-Thailand where he hit all of his five goals in the first two chukkers.

“Like basketball, polo is a game of momentum, so we’ll see,” said Globalport’s playing team owner Mikee Romero, who also has Argentine players Gaston Beguerie and Rodrigo Bauzada on his side.

Globalport swept Bracket A at 2-0 with Bauzada leading with four goals against ADEC-United States, 8-4, before the team’s quartet hit two each in their 8-4 victory over Tang-Polo China.

“We know each other more,” said Srivaddhanaprabha, who’s playing for the first time here.

“We’re playing more of a team now,” added Romero.

A parade of teams is set at 3:50 p.m., while Ramon S. Ang, president and chief operating officer of San Miguel Corporation, will do the ceremonial toss.

Proceeds of the event will be donated to victims of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” in Tacloban through the I Want to Share Foundation of founder and president Sheila Romero.

Zobel said his 13-year-old teammate Bitong, the youngest in the tournament, is also a player to watch.

“He’ll be a good player in the future,” said Zobel. “He’s actually already good.”