Romero, GlobalPort pals make quarters

MANILA, Philippines — GlobalPort fought through a gloomy weather and an early deficit to pull the rug from under newly crowned US Gold Cup champion Park Place and book a spot in the quarterfinals of the US Open Polo Championships at the National Polo Center in Wellington Florida.

Led by team owner and sport patron Mikee Romero, GlobalPort battled back from a huge 2-5 deficit in the contest that was momentarily halted by rain and lightning delay at the end of the second chukker.

The break, however, proved to be what GlobalPort needed as the team composed themselves and got their act together for the come-from-behind win over the United Kingdom-based team of Russian sponsor Andrey Bordain.

Bartolome Castagnola led the way for GlobalPort with five goals – including two in the fourth chukker when the team made its run and cut Park Place’s advantage to just one, 6-7.

GlobalPort held Park Place scoreless in the next chukker, and Castagnola tied the game at 7-apiece. There was simply no looking back from there as three straight goals from Beltran Laulhe and Nico Escobar gave GlobalPort a commanding 10-7 lead in the sixth.

With the win, GlobalPort ended the group stage of the 22-goal tournament on a two-game win streak after also taking down BTA, 10-7 in its second game.