WELLINGTON, FL., Feb. 27, 2025---Globalport won its debut in the USPA Bronze Trophy 12-Goal Tournament Wednesday at Grand Champions Polo Club.
By Sharon Robb
Photos by Candace Ferreira
Globalport (Mikee Romero, 0, Lucas Alberdi, 6, Jack Whitman, 2, Anthony Garcia, 4) broke open a close game to defeat Los Machitos (Larry Austin, 0, Antonio Aguerre, 2, Torito Ruiz, 7, Martin Velez Suarez 2), 11-8.
Philippines-based Globalport has been competing in the U.S. off and on since 2013 and competitively since 2022. Mikee Romero made his U.S. debut at Grand Champions Polo Club.
"Grand Champions has always been very nice to us," Garcia said. "They open the doors for us all the time. Mikee's first introduction to polo in Florida was at Grand Champions. It will always remain a place where we will go to every winter when we have the chance to play."
There were 11 lead changes in the first half that ended at 6-6 with Ruiz converting a 40-yard penalty to tie the game.
Globalport outshot Los Machitos, 12-6, and led in throw-ins, 7-4, in the first half but couldn't take advantage. Los Machitos led knock-ins, 6-3. Globalport led in fouls, 4-2.
"We'll take it day by day," Garcia said. "We can always improve. We had a bit of a problem third chukker. We have to control our fouls a little bit which put us in a hole."
Globalport shut out Los Machitos, 2-0, in the fourth chukker to take an 8-6 lead. Globalport never trailed after that. Globalport outscored Los Machitos, 5-2, in the second half.
"We didn't really change anything," Garcia said. "I told the boys to follow the system and stay with it, not to get desparate if we get down a goal or two, keep at it and follow what we said what we would do from the get-go and not to change many things.
"The other team was really good. They have a couple good underrated young guys. When you are playing against Torito Ruiz, arguably one of the best players in the world, and you beat a team like that it's always a plus."
In the fourth chukker, Whitman's 30-yard penalty conversion gave Globalport a 7-6 lead with 1:47 left in the chukker. A minute later, Alberdi followed up with a long goal from the field for an 8-6 advantage and first time Globalport had a two-goal cushion.
In a penalty-filled fifth chukker, only two goals were scored, a 40-yard penalty conversion by Ruiz to trail, 8-7 with 6:43 left and one by Alberdi with 2:52 remaining to regain Globalport's two-goal cushion, 9-7.
Ruiz cut the lead by one, 9-8, when he scored off a backhand to open the sixth chukker. But after that it was all Globalport with Mikee Romero scoring his first goal of the game for a 10-8 lead and Whitman scoring in the final minute. Los Machitos had its share of scoring opportunities but couldn't capitalize.
Globalport continued to dominate the shots in the second half, finishing 22-16 shots on goal. Los Machitos led knock-ins, 11-9 and fouls 11-10. Each team won nine throw-ins.
"I like the idea of shooting," Garcia said. "I wish we could make more shots on goal. You're better off swinging before aiming than aiming before swinging."
For Globalport, Alberdi scored a team-high five goals and Jack Whitman had four goals. Mikee Romero and Anthony Garcia each had one. Torito Ruiz had a game-high six goals and Martin Velez Suarez added one goal. Los Machitos, an 11-goal rated team, picked up one goal on handicap.
Last year's winner was Maharlika (Gina Padilla, 0, Miguel (Miki) Astrada Jr., 2, Santino Magrini, 4, Matias Magrini, 6) who defeated Los Altos (Alvaro Fernandez, 0, Keko Magrini, 6, Memo Gracida, 3, Luis Saraco, 3), 13-9, at La Herradura Polo Club in Santa Ynez, Calif.
It is the first time Grand Champions, the nation's largest club, is hosting the USPA Bronze Trophy 12 Goal Tournament.
Established in 1980, the Bronze Trophy is a prestigious national tournament played at the 8- to 12-goal level. Originally hosted at Gulfstream Polo Club (now defunct) in Lake Worth until its closure, the tournament relocated in 2015 to New Bridge Polo & Country Club in Aiken, S.C.