Romero, GlobalPort score historic polo win in US

GLOBALPORT of the Philippines made history in the World Polo League, scoring an amazing come-from-behind win in the Tommy Hitchcock Jr. Legacy Memorial in its Triple Crown of Polo opener before a big Sunday crowd at Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington, Florida.

Given a ghost of a chance to win the prestigious event after falling behind by 9 goals (12-3) in the second chukker, the team of Rep. Mikee Romero, Polito Pieres, Sapo Caset, and Facundo Obregon rallied mightily to beat Travieso, 17-13, and complete the biggest comeback in the history of the 5-year-old league.

“Great team effort, great win for GlobalPort, and a big boost for Philippine polo, said Romero of their historic win in the highest polo in the Unites States.

What made Romero and GlobalPort’s victory doubly meaningful was that it accomplished the feat right on its first try.

“That made our title win a lot sweeter,” added Romero who was all praise to Caset’s incredible performance.

The talismanic Argentine, who is a 10-goaler, scored 9 in GlobalPort’s blazing comeback as he combined speed, strength and grace in catching his defenders off-guard. That made him the unanimous MVP of the game.

Even Caset was surprised with their come-from-behind win, saying: “It was an incredible comeback.”

Romero said they started awfully slow and cold as they allowed their rivals to 4-0 and 12-7 leads at the half.

But with Caset shouting “Vamos! Vamos!, Team GlobalPort eventually woke up and put on a show with Caset and Pieres working very well in the middle, Romero in front and Obregon at back.

Slowly but surely, GlobalPort produced valiant runs before finally taking a 13-12 lead, which proved huge enough to take the fight of their rivals.

Pieres finished with seven goals as Globalport outshot Travieso, 23-14.

It was the first time in over six dedaces that a Philippine entry has taken the Line Honours at the Rolex China Race, organized by the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club in co-operation with the Manila Yacht Club and with the finish hosted by Subic Bay Yacht Club.

The Rolex China Sea Race, the best offshore race in Asia, returned to Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour after five years of absence because of the coronavirus pandemic. First held in 1962, this year marks the 61st anniversary of this offshore classic, the oldest blue water race in Asia.

The biennial race takes competitors 565-nautical miles (1,046 kilometers) across the South China Sea to Subic Bay, considered a real test of sailing skill, energy, persistence and team spirit.

Echauz’s, Rachel Pugh 75 Standard Insurance Centennial 5, is no stranger to this flagship offshore race, having participated in nine editions of the race, with the boat’s name twice engraved on the China Sea Race Trophy in 1998 and 2008.

The all-Filipino team is composed of current and former Philippines National Sailing Team athletes and from the Philippine Navy, including women laser sailors Alaisa Belmonte and Paula Bombeo.