1 day ago
5
Olmin Leyba - The Philippine Star
March 25, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — GlobalPort is undaunted by the task of taking on the powerhouses as it embarks on its historic campaign in the US Open Polo Championship tomorrow (Thursday Manila time) in Wellington, Florida.
Drawn in Bracket I, the crew led by 1Pacman party list Rep. Mikee Romero is set for cross-bracket clashes with two former US Open champion teams from Bracket II, La Dolfina Tamera and Park Place, as well as BTA as GlobalPort takes a bow as the first Philippine-based squad to set foot on the prestigious grounds of Wellington.
GlobalPort needs to finish in the Top 8 among 12 teams in the preliminary stage to advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament offering $100,000 to the winner.
“Luck of the draw again. We are up against a bracket of death. Against two former champion teams of the US Open. First game against La Dolfina Tamera, who is considered to be the GOAT of polo or the Michael Jordan of polo, Adolfo Cambiaso,” said Romero, the outgoing 1Pacman party list representative.
After La Dolfina Tamera, GlobalPort is slated to lock horns with BTA on March 31 before wrapping up its group assignments against high-touted Park Place on April 5.
“Our game against BTA would be the highlight of the day, but it will just be the start of a tough climb as we battle Park Place next, which is a former champion,” Romero said.
The top-ranked Cambiaso and his La Dolfina Tamera teammates Alejandro Poma, Diego Cavanag and Matt Copola are coming off a title run in the C.V Whitney Cup last month. Park Place, composed of Andre Bolodin, Louis Hine, Hilario Ullo and Mariano Gonzalez Jr., is also heavily favored having won the just-concluded US Gold Cup.
But Romero and his Argentine teammates, world No. 4 Bartolome Castagnola, rising star Beltran Laulhe, Lucas Diaz Alberdi and substitutes Nico Escobar and Santos Merlos, are ready for the tough challenge.
GlobalPort is riding on the crest of a championship in the Sterling Cup where it toppled defending champion Maltese Falcons, 12-11, in the finals.
