Global Port dominates two US Polo Cup tiffs

MANILA, Philippines -  Global Port Polo team, led by patron Mikee Romero, scored a major victory in the US by dominating the recent United States Polo Associations (USPA) Championship Cups in St. Louis, Missouri.

Drawing a superb performance from Mexican-American team captain Pelon Escapite, Global Port captured the 2012 USPA Silver Cup before annexing the prestigious USPA Inter-Circuit Cup.

The USPA Inter-Circuit Cup is the biggest polo tournament in Central America. The high-goal event requires a team to have three professional players and one polo patron.

Aside from Romero, also the president of Philippine National Shooting Association (PNSA), and Escapite, other members of the team were Fil-Am Anthony Garcia and American Peter Van Gunther who flashed fine form to foil their rivals’ spirited challenge.

Escapite was named MVP of the Inter-Circuit Cup while Garcia’s horses were named best playing ponies of the tournament.

“The Philippines is now worth mentioning in the polo circuits in the US,” said Romero.

The twin championships put Global Port, which will make its debut in the PBA, into the blue book of the USPA as the first Filipino-led team to win one of the most glamorous USPA high-goal tournaments in the US. The last time a team won a twin championship was 10 years ago.

Romero’s team beat the squad of former Budweiser-Busch brewery owner Billy Busch’s 12-Goal team which was skippered by veteran US Polo Open finalist and former 9-goaler polo legend Hector Galindo.