IN a historic jump for Philippine polo, businessman/ sportsman Mikee Romero has become the first Filipino to break into the Top 25 of the World Polo Tour (WPT) amateur rankings.
Romero now stands at world rank No. 24, with 110 WPT points earned through a stunning debut at the 2025 Gauntlet of Polo, the most prestigious and demanding polo series in the world.
With this feat, he not only becomes the highest-ranked Filipino in WPT history but also surpasses Thailand’s Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha and Brunei’s Mateen Bolkiah to become Southeast Asia’s top amateur polo player.
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The Gauntlet of Polo — often called the “Olympics of Polo” — is held at the National Polo Center in Florida and comprises three iconic tournaments: the C.V. Whitney Cup, the USPA Gold Cup, and the U.S. Open Polo Championship.
For more than a century, this hallowed turf has been the playground of Argentine, American, and European titans. But in 2025, Romero made a breakthrough in a sport once thought out of reach for Southeast Asia.
“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.”
Romero’s GlobalPort Polo Team delivered one of the Gauntlet’s most unexpected and inspiring runs. They toppled 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 fell heartbreakingly short in the US Open quarterfinals, losing 11–10 to La Dolfina/Catamount after leading by a goal with just 80 seconds remaining.
Along the way, they also secured second place in the USPA Bronze Cup and captured the Sterling Cup, further cementing their legitimacy on the global stage.
“For us, it wasn’t just about winning — it was about belonging,” Romero said. “Belonging to the world stage. And I believe we’ve earned that right.”
The WPT ranks players based on their performance in the most competitive tournaments around the globe.
“This is just the beginning,” Romero said. “We are no longer just spectators — we are players in the arena."
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