The Philippine polo team will undergo intensive training abroad as part of its buildup for the 30th Southeast Asian Games slated next month in the country where the Philippine National Federation of Polo Players (PNFPP) is putting out all the stops to make polo an event to remember.
Led by Philippine National Federation of Polo Players (PNFPP) founding director and House Deputy Speaker Mikee Romero (1Pacman partylist), the squad will leave next week in Argentina, Australia and the United States to learn a thing or two from revered Argentine, Australian and American coaches.
Training in Buenos Aires, Argentina are Jay De Jesus, Jam Eusebio, Coco Garcia, Ed Lopez, Tonio Veloso and Romero with 5-goaler and one of Asia’s best Anthony Garcia as coach. Lope Juan will accompany them as team manager.
“We intend to win the two gold medals at stake so we need to train as hard as we can,” said Romero, who bankrolled the Philippine men’s basketball team that first won the SEA Games medal after the country’s suspension was lifted in 2007.
Also in the squad for training are Gus Aguirre, Tommy Bitong, Anthony Filamor, Marty Romualdez and Noel Vecimal.
Meantime, Romero was grateful to PLDT-Smart WiFi big boss Manny V. Pangilinan for agreeing to provide high speed connectivity at the world-class Miguel Romero Polo Field in Calatagan, Batangas.
“We will go hi-tech this time,” added Romero. “World-class venue like ours needs excellent communication and we’re happy PLDT-Smart is helping us.”
Matches will be shown live via streaming through PNFPP’s partnership with PLDT and Smart WiFi.
“For some polo players and officials, it’s going to be business as usual for them. They don’t have to worry about their businesses back home because they can communicate.”
Romero and top PLDT officials led by Chief Revenue Officer and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas President Al Panlilio and ePLDT President and PLDT Senior Vice President Jovy Hernandez recently signed the agreement for the WiFi installation.
Also present during the signing were AirAsia executive Erick Arejola and Lastrilla.
Some matches will also be played at the Iñigo Zobel Field also in Calatagan.
The biennial event is officially penciled from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11 but the polo competition starts on Nov. 24 with more than 200 prized horses arriving. (Kristel Satumbaga)