Rep. Mikee Romero —Photo from his office
The Philippine flag will fly for the first time at the 2025 US Open Polo Championship when Rep. Mikee Romero and his Globalport Polo team face off against the world’s best in Wellington, Florida, starting on March 24.
Globalport will be making history when it takes to the pitch in the world’s most prestigious polo event. For the first time, the tournament will feature a Filipino and a team carrying the Philippine flag.
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It will not be the first time Romero, a three-term congressman and one of the country’s most prominent sportsmen and SEA Games Bronze Medalist will play under the Philippine tricolor. He has represented the country in several international polo competitions, but it will be the first time he plays in the sport’s biggest stage.
Romero, a former varsity basketball player, has been a leading figure in Philippine sports with his involvement in basketball, cycling, shooting, volleyball, and polo, among other sports. He was elected party list representative of 1-Pacman in 2016. His business interests include ports operations, airlines and power.
“It’s a big honor for me to represent the country in this US Open,” said Romero, who will be serving out his third term as 1-Pacman party list representative this year.
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“While qualifying for the US Open is accomplishment enough, we hope to make an impact on the competition as we mount a challenge on the dominance of the established powers of the polo world.”
Globalport Polo enters the 2025 competition with a formidable lineup spearheaded by one of the best players in the world — Barto Castagnola. Ranked No. 2 globally, Castagnola comes off an impressive victory in the Argentine Open and the UK Gold Cup.
His experience and skill will be invaluable to the team, which also includes 17-year-old prodigy Beltran Laughle, a 6-goaler who is making a name for himself as one of the sport’s most promising young talents.
Rounding out the team is Lucas Alberdi, an American-born player known for his strategic approach and solid performance on the field.
Tournament has 120-year history
The US Polo Open, organized by the United States Polo Association (USPA), is the most prestigious polo tournament globally, boasting a rich 120-year history. Held annually in Wellington, the 22-goal competition attracts the world’s finest polo players. It will be played from March 24 to April to April 20, 2025.
This year, Globalport Polo will make history as the first team based in Asia to compete in this renowned championship, Globalport Polo’s entry marks a significant breakthrough for both the Philippines and polo in Southeast Asia.
The 2024 US Polo Open championship, which served as the backdrop for the Netflix series Polo, has generated widespread interest in the game. The series, produced by Prince Harry and Meghan of Sussex, UK, offered an inside look at the intense competition and drama surrounding the event, further cementing the US Polo Open’s reputation as the sport’s premier showcase.
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All eyes will be on Globalport Polo as it prepares to debut in the competition. The team’s qualification signals the growing influence of the Philippines in international polo and is expected to bring new excitement to the sport in the country and the Southeast Asian region.
