PH polo team relegated to bronze match after loss to Thailand

BANGKOK – The Philippine polo team found host team Thailand a tough nut to crack, absorbing a 1.5-11 defeat in the mixed 2-4 goals semifinals in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games at the Siam Polo Park Samut Prakan on Monday.

The Filipinos were held scoreless by the Thais through the first three frames, before team captain Stefano Juban finally got the Philippines on the board in a futile effort in the waning minutes.

The loss not only denied the Philippines a chance at a gold medal, but also its shot at replicating its silver-medal finish in the 2019 SEA

Games – the last time the sport was held in the biennial meet.

So disappointed was Team Philippines that it politely declined an interview after the match, although they drew praises from the opposing side.

“I think it's always been difficult to play against them and to be honest, they have been more and more organized each year that we have played against them,” Apichet Srivaddhanaprabha said of Team PH.

All is not lost for the Filipinos, however, as they can still land a podium finish against the loser of the other semifinals' match between Brunei and Malaysia currently being played as of press time.

The battle for bronze is set Wednesday, Dec. 10 at the same venue. (ICE)