Romero, GlobalPort wrap up impressive run in polo ‘olympics’
Globalport
Mikee Romero has wrapped up a dream campaign at the highest level of international polo, riding high after an unforgettable season at the National Polo Center in Wellington, Florida.
Competing against the world’s elite, Romero described the experience as akin to participating in the “Olympics of polo.”
“This has been an exhilarating and rewarding experience,” said Romero.
The GlobalPort team completed its two-month run in the prestigious Gauntlet of Polo—a series of elite tournaments that concludes with the US Open Polo Championship.
Organized by the United States Polo Association (USPA), the Gauntlet consists of three major tournaments: the C.V. Whitney Cup, the USPA Gold Cup, and the US Open—all staged at the National Polo Center in Wellington.
Despite being first-time participants in the highly competitive 22-goal Gauntlet series, GlobalPort made a strong impression and earned Romero the distinction of being the first Filipino to compete in the US Open.
The team reached the semifinals of the Whitney Cup, came close to qualifying for the USPA Gold Cup quarterfinals, and advanced to the quarterfinals of the US Open.
Their Gauntlet of Polo journey ended in heartbreaking fashion last Saturday against La Dolfina/Catamount in the US Open quarterfinals. The Philippine-based team held a narrow 10–9 lead with just 80 seconds remaining in the sixth and final chukker.
Catamount struck twice in quick succession to snatch an 11–10 victory—ending GlobalPort’s remarkable run.
Still, it was a highly commendable debut season. Romero also made history as the first Filipino to score a goal in his debut Gauntlet game.
Beyond the Gauntlet, GlobalPort also claimed victory in the Sterling Cup and finished runner-up in the Bronze Cup, both notable side tournaments.
Under the leadership of 10-goaler Bartolome Castagnola, the season’s second-highest scorer, GlobalPort managed to defeat three of the four semifinalists throughout the season—defending US Open champion and Whitney Cup winner La Dolfina/Tamera, Park Place, and La Dolfina/Catamount.
The only semifinalist to remain unbeaten against them was Coca-Cola, who prevailed in their lone encounter.
Romero, a businessman, sports patron, and three-term party-list congressman, expressed pride in the team’s accomplishments in their first foray into world-class polo.
“We had a good run,” he said. “Even as a fresh team, we beat some of the best teams and showed we could compete at the highest level.”
With the season over, Romero is set to return to the Philippines to oversee his business interests and resume his role as campaign manager for the 1Pacman party list. In the upcoming elections, his daughter Milka steps in as the group’s first nominee, taking over from her father, who concludes three congressional terms in June.
