Mikee Romero breaks into world polo top 25

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Philippine polo player Mikee Romero rises to world No. 24, making him not only the highest-ranked Filipino but also the top Southeast Asian amateur

MANILA, Philippines – Sportsman Mikee Romero has galloped into prominence, becoming the first Filipino to break into the top 25 of the World Polo Tour (WPT) amateur rankings.

Romero, who’s also a  businessman and lawmaker, rose to No. 24 with 110 WPT points earned through a stunning debut in the 2025 Gauntlet of Polo, one of the most prestigious polo series in the world. 

The feat made Romero not only the highest-ranked Filipino in WPT history but also the top Southeast Asian amateur polo player as he surpassed Thailand’s Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha and Brunei’s Mateen Bolkiah. 

“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.”

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 CV Whitney Cup, the USPA Gold Cup, and the US Open Polo Championship. 

For more than a century, this hallowed turf has been the playground of Argentine, American, and European titans. 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 CV 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.

The team also secured second place in the USPA Bronze Cup and captured the Sterling Cup — further cementing its 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. And I promise you, the Filipino will ride again.” – Rappler.com