Rancho Santa Fe, CA (June 29, 2009) – It was written earlier in this space about Tri Tech/Sorteo’s (now called Tri Tech/Hanalei Bay) comeback over Star Meadow/Hanalei Bay to win their first game in the America’s Cup at the San Diego Polo Club. The expression,” live by the sword, die by the sword” then comes to mind as the Chris Maloney/Ron Bonaguidi crew had a three goal lead (5 – 2) over Jay Thornton and Kelly Maloney’s Jay Bird/Ohana at half-time on Sunday and lost by a score of 11 – 8 when all the votes were counted.
With quarterback Danny Juarez doing everything but standing on his head in the first half, nothing was working as he and Matias Obregon came up empty handed time after time. Although they, and with alot of help from Thornton and Kelly Maloney, came close, they didn’t score at all in the first three and had to settle for the handicap award of two. In the meantime Gaston von Wernich used Juan Curbello as a runner and with huge defensive play by Chris Maloney and Bonaguidi, it looked as if they would easily win their second game and qualify for next Sunday’s final.
What a difference ten minutes can make as the second half was pretty much all the Hawaiian Birds and they outscored the Chris Maloney and Bonaguidi foursome by a 9 – 3 count. If Obregon was muted in the first half, he was at full volume in the second and became the runner that Juarez had to have and he absolutely dominated the final three periods.
Added to the award of two at the start, Obregon had four for the winners, Juarez contributed three (1 foul), and Kelly Maloney and Thornton scored one each.
In defeat, Curbello raised the flag five times, von Wernich twice, and Bonaguidi had one.
The America’s Cup is now tied at one win apiece.
America’s Cup – San Diego Polo Club
Tri Tech/Hanalei Bay (10) – Chris Maloney 1, Ron Bonaguidi, Gaston von Wernich 5, Juan Curbello 4.
Star Meadow/Hanalei Bay (9) – Joy Bancroft -1, Krista Bonaguidi -1, Graham Bray 5, Mariano Fassetta 6.
Jay Bird/Ohana (8) – Jay Thornton, Kelly Maloney, Danny Juarez 4, Matias Obregon 4.
Tony Gregg