Romero rises to world No. 24

Businessman and sportsman Mikee Romero has galloped into prominence after becoming the first Filipino to break into the Top 25 of the World Polo Tour (WPT) amateur rankings.

In a moment that will be etched in the annals of Philippine sports history, Romero now stands at world rank No. 24, with 110 WPT points earned through a stunning debut at the 2025 Gauntlet of Polo.

His feat in the most prestigious and demanding polo series in the world not only propelled Romero as the highest-ranked Filipino in WPT history but also surpassed Thailand’s Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha and Brunei’s Mateen Bolkiah to become Southeast Asia’s top amateur polo player.

“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,” he added.

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 US Open Polo Championship.

The hallowed turf has been the playground of Argentine, American, and European titans for over a century. But in 2025, the thunder of Filipino hoofbeats broke through the silence, rewriting history in a sport once thought out of reach for Southeast Asia.

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 surged to 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.