Philippine polo is going places, and not just anywhere but the rarefied heights of the US Open Polo Championship.

A team led by sportsman-businessman Mikee Romero will compete at the showpiece event regarded as the Olympics of the sport in a history-making campaign in Wellington, Florida.

A select field of 12 teams will see action at the US Open Polo, and Romero’s Philippine-Globalport team is the first Asia-based side to qualify for the glamorous event. 

“The US OPEN is the Olympics of polo. It is a dream,” said the 1Pacman representative, obviously proud and ecstatic to lead a Philippine team at the sport’s highest level slated from March 24 to April 20, 2025.

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.

And for a Filipino to reach the Olympics of a sport that boasts a 120-year history and is known for only the rich and the wealthy, with royalties Prince Harry and Meghan of Sussex, United Kingdom even producing a Netflix series about the intense competition and drama surrounding it, it makes it more rewarding for Romero.

And who would not be? 

Being one of the only 12 teams set to compete in the US Polo Open which is expected to attract some of the world’s finest, Globalport Polo already made quite a feat.

But Romero and his crew will not be there for the sake of mere status and participation. 

“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. “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.”

There's pride and honor at stake especially for the country and for his 15-year polo career fortified by numerous battles from across Southeast Asia, US, UK and Argentina.

And with challenging the powerhouse and introducing Philippine polo to the world in mind, Globalport is parading a formidable roster to fly the country’s color up high in the US Open Polo.

Members of the PH-Globalport team are world No. 2 Barto Castagnola of Argentina, 17-year-old prodigy Beltran Laughle and Lucas Alberdi, an American-born player known for his strategic approach and solid performance on the field.

With a 10-goal handicap, Castagnola is coming off impressive win in the Argentine Open – long acknowledged as the best polo country. He also reigned in the UK Gold Cup.

Beltran, on the other hand, is fast becoming a household name, what with his immense talent – not to mention creativity on the field.

Romero and Globalport polo is not only transcending an unfamiliar territory for Filipinos but their exploits in the US Open Polo could be the trailblaze that they need to enter another sport where they could flourish and make the country proud.