Filipina polo player Nicole Eusebio-Fulgencio may have come up just short of victory with the Global All Stars.
Still, her standout performance in Malaysia earned the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award — a breakthrough the Philippine National Federation of Polo Players hopes will bring the sport closer to more Filipinos.
Representing the Philippines in the Global All Stars team during the June 27-28 SEA Games pre-test match 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, 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.”
(C) PNFPP
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.”
More importantly, he believes performances like Eusebio-Fulgencio’s can help reshape the public perception of a sport that has long been viewed as exclusive and inaccessible.
“The federation hopes that by showing that our athletes can be successful, it can attract more interest and help grow the sport that we all love,” he said. “Nicole has shown that we are competitive and can fight to be the best. Showing up on short notice, outside of the main polo season, and then being the best player on the field is incredible. It speaks to her talent and game sense.
“We have shown the other participating nations that the Philippines has the talent to take them all on.”
The federation also intends to capitalize on the momentum by creating more overseas opportunities for Filipino players.
“As a federation, one of our primary goals is to find and create new opportunities for our players to continue growing and be competitive against other nations,” Roxas said.
According to PNFPP secretary-general Camila Lastrilla-Curto, Eusebio-Fulgencio’s participation was part of the federation’s long-term effort to provide international exposure, particularly during the Philippine rainy season when domestic polo activity slows down.
“Malaysia is one of the strongest polo nations in Southeast Asia and will host the 2027 SEA Games, so competing there is strategically important for our national program,” Lastrilla-Curto explained.
She said the opportunity was made possible through the federation’s partnership with the Royal Malaysian Polo Association and the Kuala Lumpur Polo Club, with support from Agha Khan and Deborah Boittreau.
“When the idea of staging what is believed to be the region’s first all-women’s polo category at the SEA Games came up, we knew it was important for the Philippines to be represented by one of our top female athletes, and Nicole was the perfect choice,” Lastrilla-Curto said.
Lastrilla-Curto added that Eusebio-Fulgencio’s achievement reflects years of investment in developing local talent.
“Winning MVP is a wonderful personal achievement, but it’s also recognition of the work being done to develop polo in the country,” she said.
“Nicole’s achievement shows that Filipinas across different sports are in excellent company and on a remarkable trajectory for success.”
(C) PNFPP
A product of North Polo Club’s grassroots program in Bulacan and a member of the Philippine team that competed in the 30th SEA Games, Eusebio-Fulgencio has balanced elite competition with life outside the sport.
She currently serves as a director of Big Ben Group while also embracing a new role as a first-time mother.
“I’ve spent this whole stretch of my life as a working student-athlete, and I’m also a new mom, only nine months post-partum,” she shared.
“It isn’t easy, but I’ve learned that when your priorities are clear, you find a way to show up fully in every role.”
Polo, she added, has become her outlet despite the demands of business and family life.
“The moment you’re on a horse, you’re forced to give it your full 100%. Your whole focus goes into staying on the saddle, and everything else just falls away,” she said.
“It’s a short escape, and honestly a great de-stressor… Polo is my ‘me time.’ I make sure to get on the field three to four times a week.”
After sharing the field with teammates from four different countries, Eusebio-Fulgencio said the experience reinforced the power of women’s sports.
“The biggest lesson is that women lift other women,” she said.
“The encouragement and positive reinforcement between teammates genuinely changed the game for me… It reminded me that a woman’s strength is never about how big she is. It’s about how much she refuses to back down.”
She hopes her journey encourages more Filipinas to pursue the sport regardless of the challenges.
“The first step is simply believing you can, because the only person who can ever limit you is yourself,” she said.
“It takes real discipline and time management, but it’s always thrilling to prove the strength of a Filipina in a sport most people still see as a man’s game. If you want it, go for it.”
