TEAM Manila Standard emerged victorious in the Chairman’s Cup championship in the premier High Goal category, securing a hard-fought 7(0.5)-6 win against BIGAA at the Enrique Zobel Field of the Manila Polo Club in Makati on Sunday.
The quartet of Andrew Romualdez, Marty Romualdez, Ignacio O’Dwyer and Nico Espain orchestrated a well-coordinated offensive strategy, leading to a pivotal turnaround in the fourth and final chukker.
The decisive moment came as Marty Romualdez scored a goal just as time expired, solidifying Manila Standard’s triumph.
Heading into the final moments with a narrow lead of 6(0.5)-6, Manila Standard relied on its superior handicap.
Marty Romualdez, however, clinched the well-deserved victory with a daring dash to the goal for his second point, even falling off his mount, Alicia, in the process.
Remarkably unharmed, he quickly rose to celebrate the win with his teammates.
Alicia’s outstanding performance during this spectacular finish earned her the title of Best Playing Pony in the tournament, with Manila Standard and Speaker Martin Romualdez serving as major sponsors.
O’Dwyer contributed three goals and Nico Espain added two for Team Manila Standard.
BIGAA, on the other hand, saw Martin Espain leading the charge with three goals, supported by one each from Gregorio Gelosi, Alexander Zak, and Xavi Tengco.
Gelosi’s goal in the fourth chukker momentarily stole the lead for BIGAA, but O’Dwyer, assisted by Andrew Romualdez, swiftly responded, securing Manila Standard’s lead.
In the subsidiary final, Isabela North Polo, featuring Tonypet Albano, Patrick Cruz, Gus Aguirre, and Dirk Gould, secured runner-up honors by defeating Team Calatagan with a 6-5.5 victory.
The Calatagan team was made up of Angelo Licaros, Alfie Araneta, Tommy Bitong and Jesus Cobino.
Speaker Martin Romualdez and Rep. Yedda Romualdez led the handing of trophies to the winners during the awarding ceremony, followed by a sports car show and fireworks display.
The Chairman’s Cup is an integral part of the Manila Polo Club’s series of tournaments for polo, often referred to as the “game of kings.”
The prestigious matches take place at the six-hectare Enrique Zobel Field (East Field), with the West Field serving as an alternate facility for various sports and team-building activities.
Polo, a sport played on horseback with the objective of scoring goals, is divided into periods known as chukkers, typically lasting six to seven minutes each.
Players employ mallets crafted from bamboo or resin to navigate the ball toward the goal. A team comprises four players, including the forward, back (defensive player), support, and captain.