Mikee Romero made history as he barged his way into the Top 25 of the World Polo Tour (WPT) amateur rankings to emerge as the first Filipino to achieve such a feat.
Romero is now ranked 24th in the latest rankings after collecting 110 points. With this, he surpassed Thailand’s Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, Malaysia’s Garvy Beh, and Brunei’s Mateen Bolkiah to become Southeast Asia’s top amateur polo player as well.
“It still feels surreal,” Romero said.
“To be among the Top 25 is a huge honor—but it’s more than a personal milestone. This is a triumph for every Filipino who dares to dream, for a nation that never had a place on this field—until now.”
The development came after Romero and GlobalPort’s campaign at the prestigious 2025 Gauntlet of Polo, which featured three tournaments in the C.V. Whitney Cup, the USPA Gold Cup, and the U.S. Open Polo Championship.
They reached the semifinals of C.V. Whitney Cup before putting up a gallant fight at the USPA Gold Cup. GlobalPort then cruised to the quarterfinals of US Open, but eventually lost to La Dolfina/Catamount with a heartbreaking 11-10 defeat.
“For us, it wasn’t just about winning—it was about belonging,” Romero declared. “Belonging to the world stage. And I believe we’ve earned that right,” Romero added.
Romero stressed the latest feats are only the beginning for Philippine polo, saying there’s more to come for the country in the global stage.
“This is just the beginning,” Romero said. “We are no longer just spectators—we are players in the arena. And I promise you, the Filipino will ride again.”
—Bea Micaller/JKC, GMA Integrated News