Argentine 10-goaler Juan Martin Nero, the Number 3 ranked polo player in the world, is rumored to be joining Steve Van Andel’s Orchard Hill polo team for the 2016 US Open Championship at the International Polo Club this week. (Photo by Alex Pacheco)
Ten days ago Orchard Hill (Steve Van Andel, Julian de Lusarreta, Polito Pieres and Facundo Pieres), the only team in the tournament with two 10-goal players on its roster (Facundo Pieres and Polito Pieres), saw both of their premiere players sidelined before the end of the first half of play in quarterfinal action of the 2016 USPA Gold Cup. Facundo Pieres, the Number 2 ranked player in the world, was forced to withdraw from the game in the opening seconds with a fractured finger suffered in their previous match while cousin Polito Pieres, the Number 8th ranked player in the game suffered a fall in the third period that resulted in a separated shoulder and ended his season.
Argentine 9-goaler Hilario Ulloa filled in for Facundo Pieres and later, 8-goaler Lucas Criado replaced the injured Polito Pieres, helping carry Orchard Hill to a 12-9 win over Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, Agustin Merlos, Sebastian Merlos and Nic Roldan) and a berth in the semifinals where they eventually lost to Audi (Marc Ganzi, Rodrigo Andrade, Gonzalito Pieres and Freddie Mannix).
In an effort to bolster the firepower for the US Open competition it is believed that Orchard Hill will be importing Argentine 10-goaler Juan Martin Nero, the Number 3 ranked player in the game. Facundo Pieres has admitted that although his fractured finger continues to cause pain, he will be in the lineup. Nero is a more interesting story.
Initially signed by Lechuza Caracas patron, Victor Vargas, to join with fellow 10-goaler Pelon Stirling on the 2016 Lechuza Caracas Florida lineup, his plans changed and diverted him and his players to the Casa de Campo resort in the Dominican Republic.
Competing with Vargas and his Lechuza Caracas teams in three 22-goal tournaments since January and one 26-goal tournament, the Caribbean Open he went undefeated and has a final competition, the Copa Azimut, sponsored by the luxury yacht builder of the same name. The final game of the Copa Azimut is scheduled to be played on Saturday, April 2nd, the opening day of the US Open.
Following Nero’s final match with Lechuza Caracas on Saturday it is thought that he would fly to Florida where he would join Orchard Hill on the field at noon on Sunday to face Audi in their opening game of the US Open as they attempt to atone for their loss in the 2015 final.
The Orchard Hill camp isn’t confirming the move, but that’s what the smart money is betting on.