WELLINGTON, Florida – As Mikee Romero continues to live his dream in what he refers to as the “Olympics of polo,” his GlobalPort team enters the homestretch of the pinnacle of the sport’s competition in the US Open polo championship at the National Polo Center.
GlobalPort has reached the quarterfinals of the US Open, the third and final jewel in the Gauntlet of Polo, the sport’s triple crown in the USA.
This prestigious series began with the C.V. Whitney Cup and was followed by the United States Polo Association (USPA) Gold Cup.
Romero’s quartet entered the US Open following a creditable performance during the winter season in Florida.
As a prelude to the US Open, they reached the semifinals in the Whitney Cup, secured second place in the Bronze Cup, and won the Sterling Cup.
“It’s a dream come true to participate in this competition, the Olympics of polo,” said Romero, a businessman and sports patron who is stepping down after nine years as a congressman for the 1Pacman Party-list.
Romero, who has bequeathed his political advocacy to his daughter Milka for the upcoming elections, is drawing inspiration from a 19-year-old Filipina who stunned the sporting world with her giant-killing spree not far from Wellington.
He cheered and watched as Alex Eala joined the elite circle of women’s tennis by defeating three Grand Slam champions, including world No. 2 Iga Swiatek of Poland, at the Miami Open, one of the toughest tennis events outside the Grand Slam tournaments.
“She is truly inspiring and worthy of emulation,” Romero said after watching her demolish Swiatek in the quarterfinals before ultimately losing to Jessica Pegula in the semifinals.
Romero hopes his GlobalPort team will reach the semifinals as well.
GiobalPort clawed back from three goals down in the first half, then dominated heavy favorite Park Place in the second half for a 10-8 victory that sent the Philippine-based quartet into the quarterfinals of the US Open on Tuesday.
The victory vaulted GlobalPort to fourth place in the 12-team scramble for the eight quarterfinal slots with a 2-1 record.
Its only loss came from tournament favorite La Dolfina/Tamera, the defending champion and winner of the Whitney Cup.
GlobalPort plays La Dolfina/Catamount in the quarterfinals on Saturday, seeking to book a ticket to the semis and a repeat of its 15-14 extra chukker victory over the same team in the Whitney Cup.
Romero’s quartet trailed by three goals at the end of the second and third chukkers, 2-5 and 3-6, respectively. But the deficit and the rain delay in the third chukker failed to dampen the spirit of GlobalPort.
GlobalPort rallied behind 10-goaler Bartolome Castagnola for a 3-1 run in the fourth chukker.
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Nico Escobar and Beltran Laulhe joined the scoring party while Romero ran a tight defense that held Park Place, the USPA Open champion, scoreless in the fifth chukker.
So stingy was GlobalPort’s defense that Park Place scored only one goal for almost 12 minutes while yielding seven in the fourth and fifth chukkers.
That 7-1 run gave GlobalPort a 10-7 edge going into the sixth and final chukker. By the time Park Place scored again on Hilario Ulloa’s goal with 4:44 left, the match was almost beyond reach.
