Filipina polo player Nicole Eusebio-Fulgencio may have come up just short of victory with the Global All Stars, but her standout performance in Malaysia earned her the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, a breakthrough that the Philippine National Federation of Polo Players (PNFPP) hopes will bring the sport closer to the Filipinos.

Representing the Philippines in the Global All Stars team during the SEA Games pre-test match last 27 and 28 June at the Kuala Lumpur Polo Club, Eusebio-Fulgencio emerged as the best player on the field after leading a multinational squad composed of players from Australia, Pakistan, Singapore, and the Philippines.

The exhibition match, staged as a curtain-raiser for Malaysia’s women’s polo season, also served as a test event ahead of the 34th Southeast Asian Games next year, where organizers are exploring the inclusion of an all-women’s polo competition.

“It means everything,” said Eusebio-Fulgencio after receiving MVP honors.

“I started learning to ride when I was 8, and by 12 I was holding a mallet, never imagining I could go beyond Bulacan, Manila, and Batangas. And there I was playing on an international stage and being named MVP. But beyond the personal milestone, what matters most to me is putting Philippine women’s polo on the ASEAN map. If my game can show even one woman that she belongs in a male-dominated sport, then this win is so much bigger than me.”

Despite playing together for the first time and riding borrowed horses, the Global All Stars built a commanding early lead behind Eusebio-Fulgencio, who scored the opening goal before setting up another score.

Malaysia eventually rallied to snatch the match in the closing seconds after converting a penalty, but Eusebio-Fulgencio’s all-around display earned her the tournament’s top individual honor.

For PNFPP president Pedro Roxas II, the recognition validated the steady progress of Philippine polo, particularly its women’s program.

“What Nicole has done is show that not only is women’s polo relevant in the Philippines, but also at a competitive level,” Roxas said.

“Besides representing our country, winning the MVP award is an achievement we can all be proud of. To be able to shine without prior practice with the team and being on borrowed horses is extremely impressive.”