Malaysia retained sole possession of the SEA Games Polo crown, defeating home favourites Philippines in the final of the A Division today, at the Inigo Zobel Polo Facility in Calatagan, Philippines. Malaysia reversed Tuesday’s qualifying defeat, dominating the final to win 7 – 5 1/2.
For once Malaysia started quickly. Tengku Shazril was on fire, with two goals in the first chukka, showing his excellent stickwork and superb finishing to take Malaysia ahead 2 – 1/2. Philippines did not get on the board till towards the end of the second chukka. They traded goals, but at half time, Malaysia was comfortably ahead 4 – 2 1/2.
Gus Aguirre brought Philippines back into the game in the third chukka. His two goals gave them a 1/2 goal lead as Philippines held the Malaysians scoreless in the third. But it was short-lived. Malaysia’s three goals in the final chukka was gave them the cushion they needed, playing out the clock to win their fourth SEA Games Polo championship.
Tengku Shazril was the man of the match, but it was as much the tireless work of Amran Selamat, who created space and time for his Prince to operate. It was a surgical operation on a Philippines team that relied solely on Gus Aguirre. Rashid and Amran thwarted the threat of Aguirre, the 4-goaler who had dominated on Tuesday. With Mohd Shariezal (Ejat) taking his man out all day, it was left to Tengku Shazril to run the show. And that the Pahang Prince did.
Tengku Shazril and Rashid Hasnan were in tears after the win. It was so emotional because Malaysia had come here not expecting to win it. RMPA had initially not even expected to send a team as the cost of flying horses was prohibitive. Dato’ Inigo Zobel asked Malaysia to support Philippines SEA Games Polo effort, and promised us decent horses. To support polo in the SEA Games, Malaysia agreed, not expecting to be able to win on borrowed horses.
Dato’ Inigo’s horses were more than decent. RMPA President Dato’ Mohamed Moiz thanked Dato’ Inigo for his generosity and sportsmanship. “RMPA is very fortunate that YAM Tengku Muda Pahang, through his very close personal relationship with Dato’ Inigo Zobel, was able to ensure that Malaysia, through the kind generosity of Dato’ Inigo Zobel, got some very good horses from Dato’ Inigo’s string.
Dato’ Inigo’s manager Manot Montilla, was very helpful and committed to find us horses that would allow us to play competitively and safely.”
Still, to beat the Philippines on horses you only got to know last week, while they played their own horses, is EPIC. It should not have happened.
Why were we able to do this? Because the RMPA Polo Leagues has given us enough pro polo that our quality of players and depth in numbers were too much for the other countries. Malaysia plays real tournaments for six months of the year: Low, Medium and High Goal. Our players are used to pressure, competition, coming up with strategies and executing tactics to win games. That our RMPA Polo Leagues have been the foundation of our SEA Games successes in 2007, 2017 and 2019 is beyond question.
Young Rashid will always remember his second SEA Games gold as it comes a month after his wedding. Amran was the dynamo on the field, but after the game, he hardly had words – he was spent. For Tengku Shazril, it was his third gold medal to go along with his golds from Bangkok in 2007 and Kuala Lumpur in 2017.
Shaik Reismann, for once a non-playing captain, said, “We won this time by pure determination of not wanting to let go of the title Defending Champions. The SEA Games Gold Medal belongs to Malaysia and we are still the Champions! Today the Malaysian Polo Team created history and I am so humbled and proud to be part of this team.”
The proud record of winning every SEA Games Polo Gold since 1983 still stands for Malaysia. No matter what happens in the 2-goal B Division next week, Malaysia are still SEA Games Polo champions.
Related Links:
30SEAGPolo: Philippines vs Malaysia in the Final
30SEAGPolo: Philippines Rises
30SEAGPolo: Brunei and Malaysia win
SEA Games Polo: A Division
Argentina and The Philippines
