MANILA, Philippines – Here’s a whiff of fresh, inspiring news in the 30th SEA Games.

The national polo team snatched a 6-4.5 triumph over Indonesia on Thursday, 29 November 2019, to assure the Philippines of its first silver in the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games while staying on track for a gold medal against Brunei at the Iñigo Zobel Polo Facility in Calatagan, Batangas.

Team Philippines, made up of Stefano Tuban, Tomas Bitong, Miguel Lopez and Gus Aguirre fought back from 1-1/2 and 2-2 1/5 deficits before seizing control at 4-3 1/2 then holding sway to finish with 1 1/2-point victory

Aguirre scored five of the Philippines’ six goals.

The Philippines will face in a gold medal match against the reigning champion Malaysia on Sunday as Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam will play for the battle-for-bronze match.

The Philippines dropped a tough 8-8 1/2 decision to Brunei in Sunday’s opener of the A Division: 4-6 Goals Qualifying League but won on Tuesday over Malaysia with an 8 1/2-5 victory before defeating the Indonesians in its make-or-break bid for the finals. (Lloyd Tagbago/IAMIGO/CNS)