Team White got four goals from Cole Aguirre to take the lead in the first leg of the Players Cup tournament.
Aguirre’s efforts in the last five minutes of the third chukker (period) gave Team White a good lead, which allowed them to stop Team Black, 7-4, in the high goal event yesterday at the rain-drenched Enrique Zobel field of the Manila Polo Club in Makati City.
This gave Team White a good head start in the opening events of the 2020 polo season, and after taking the top honors in this initial staging of this competition that is sponsored by the Manila Standard and Peoples’ Journal.
Team skipper Iñigo Zobel came away with a steal and passed the ball to Aguirre, who drove in an attack in the last 4:20 for a 5-3 lead.
Argentinian Martin Espain tried to keep Team Black within range in the latter part of the chukker by scoring a goal to cut the gap to 5-4.
His brother Nicholas Espain scored another one for Team White before the chukker ended for a 6-4 edge.
With the playing condition of the field getting ruined by the rain, Espain charged the net for an assist for a final goal by Jay de Jesus.
The fifth chukker was called off by game officials because of the unplayable condition of the field, following light rains which trickled down during the afternoon.
“For the team, it was a good game. But, the field became slippery, and it was hard to move,” Zobel said.
Zobel, who was nursing a sore left shoulder after the game, added that they are just getting started with their season.
Earlier, Green took the low goal game with an 8-4 win over Yellow, with Jay de Jesus coming up with three points.
Behind, 3-4 in the fourth chukker, Team Green brought in their experienced players and slotted in goals in the final seven minutes.
Southeast Asian Games veteran Santi Juban equalized the count, before assaults from Julian Constantino and Jay de Jesus allowed Green to move away, 6-4.