NICOLE Eusebio-Fulgencio returned from Malaysia without the result she wanted, but with something just as meaningful.
The Filipina polo player emerged as the Most Valuable Player of the June 27-28 Southeast Asian Games pre-test match at the Kuala Lumpur Polo Club after starring for the multinational Global All Stars, giving Philippine polo another breakthrough on the regional stage.
The exhibition match, which featured a Global All Stars side made up of players from the Philippines, Australia, Pakistan, and Singapore against host Malaysia, served as a test event as organizers study the possibility of introducing an all-women's polo competition in the 2027 SEA Games.
"It means everything," Eusebio-Fulgencio said.
"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."
Eusebio-Fulgencio wasted little time making an impact despite the unfamiliar setup. Playing alongside teammates she had never shared the field with and riding borrowed horses, she scored the opening goal and set up another as the Global All Stars surged ahead.
Malaysia, however, rallied late and snatched victory through a penalty conversion in the closing moments, though the Filipina's complete performance was enough to earn MVP honors.
For Philippine National Federation of Polo Players president Pedro Roxas II, the award was proof that Filipino riders can thrive against the region's best.
"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."
Roxas said Eusebio-Fulgencio's performance could also help broaden polo's reach in the Philippines.
"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 now hopes to create more international opportunities for local players to continue their development.
"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.
For the future of PH polo
Secretary-general Camila Lastrilla-Curto said the Malaysia trip was part of a long-term plan to expose Filipino athletes overseas, especially during the local rainy season when domestic polo competitions are limited.
"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," she said.
Lastrilla-Curto added that the invitation was made possible through the federation's partnership with the Royal Malaysian Polo Association and the Kuala Lumpur Polo Club, backed by 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," she said.
She believes Eusebio-Fulgencio's MVP honor reflects the gains made by the federation's grassroots program.
"Winning MVP is a wonderful personal achievement, but it's also recognition of the work being done to develop polo in the country," Lastrilla-Curto said.
"Nicole's achievement shows that Filipinas across different sports are in excellent company and on a remarkable trajectory for success."
A graduate of North Polo Club's grassroots program in Bulacan, Eusebio-Fulgencio also represented the country in the 2019 SEA Games and now balances polo with her role as a director of Big Ben Group and life 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 said.
"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."
She said the demands of the sport have become a welcome escape from the pressures of everyday life.
"The moment you're on a horse, you're forced to give it your full 100 percent. Your whole focus goes into staying on the saddle, and everything else just falls away.
"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."
Beyond the MVP trophy, Eusebio-Fulgencio said the experience reminded her of the bond shared by women in 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 more Filipinas will follow that same path.
"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."
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