MANILA, Philippines — With a rousing debut in the 2025 Gauntlet of Polo, Filipino businessman, lawmaker and sportsman Mikee Romero made history in breaking into the Top 25 of the World Polo Tour (WPT) amateur rankings.
GlobalPort came through with remarkable runs in the elite series – considered the Olympics of Polo – with team owner Romero earning 110 WPT points to crack the ranking and even become Southeast Asia’s top amateur polo player, galloping past Thailand’s Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha and Brunei’s Mateen Bolkiah.
“It still feels surreal. 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,” said Romero, now ranked No. 24 in the world.
“For us, it wasn’t just about winning, it was about belonging,” Romero also said. “Belonging to the world stage. And I believe we’ve earned that right.”
Romero and his GlobalPort Polo Team made a Cinderella run, pulling the rug from global powerhouses La Dolfina/Tamera and Park Place – teams that eventually claimed the series’ top honors.
GlobalPort reached the semifinals of the C.V. Whitney Cup, came within striking distance in the USPA Gold Cup, and just fell short in the US Open quarterfinals, losing 11-10 to La Dolfina/Catamount after leading by a goal with just 80 seconds remaining.
The GlobalPort riders also secured second place in the USPA Bronze Cup and captured the Sterling Cup, further cementing their legitimacy on the global stage.