Quarterfinal Games Announced for 26-Goal USPA Piaget Gold Cup
at International Polo Club
WELLINGTON, FL (March 15, 2007) – Crab Orchard, led by 10-goaler Adolfo Cambiaso, is the overwhelming favorite as the polo season kicks into a higher gear this weekend with the quarterfinals of the 26-goal USPA Piaget Gold Cup at International Polo Club Palm Beach.
The playoffs begin Saturday at noon when Lechuza Caracas, the last team to clinch a quarterfinal spot, plays Orchard Hill. Victor Vargas’ Lechuza Caracas (2-1) is led by Argentine brothers Sebastian Merlos, a 10-goaler, and Pite, a 9-goaler, along with 6-goaler Jeff Blake of Wellington. Steve Van Andel’s Orchard Hill (1-1), runners-up in the 2006 Stanford U.S. Open, features 9-goaler Lucas Criado of Argentina and 8-goalers Jeff Hall of Houston and Hector Galindo of Wellington.
The USPA Piaget Gold Cup continues with a tripleheader on Sunday beginning at 10 a.m. with a family affair. Division III champion Bendabout (2-0) plays 2006 Stanford U.S. Open champion Las Monjitas (1-1) in a game featuring four Novillo Astrada brothers against each other. Ten-goaler Miguel and 7-goaler Alejandro guide Bendabout while Las Monjitas touts 9-goalers Eduardo and Ignacio.
At noon, the family theme continues when Bob Daniels’ Pony Express, featuring 9-goaler Carlos Gracida, plays La Herradura, led by the legendary Memo Gracida, an 8-goaler at the age of 50. Pony Express is a veteran team with 9-goaler Bautista Heguy, who has regained his scoring touch and flair for the dramatic, along with 8-goaler Pancho Bensadon. La Herradura features three rising stars, with Memo’s 19-year-old son, Julio, a 5-goaler, 22-year-old Fred Mannix Jr. of Calgary and 25-year-old Kris Kampsen of Wellington.
The final match of the weekend, at 3 p.m. on Stanford Field at International Polo Club, features two of the most dynamic individual players in the history of the sport.
The 31-year-old Cambiaso, generally acknowledged as the best player in the world, became the youngest 10-goaler in the history of the sport in 1993 at the age of 17. He turns 32 on April 14.
Crab Orchard (2-0) has been dominant during divisional play, jumping out to 14-0 and 9-0 leads in its two games, outscoring its opponents 28-9. Cambiaso leads the team with 14 goals. Their continued success depends on how well 9-goaler Matias Magrini of Argentina and 7-goaler David Stirling Jr. of Uruguay keep to the game plan of blocking out opponents to free up Cambiaso.
Black Watch (2-1), which defeated Jedi 15-12 in a qualifying game, counters with 10-goaler Facundo Pieres, only 20 years and seen as the heir apparent to Cambiaso with his spectacular individual play. Pieres is the tournament’s leading scorer with 22 goals in three games, including 10 goals against Jedi. If Pieres can play a give-and-go style with older brother, Gonzalito, a 9-goaler, and 6-goaler Nacho Figueras, instead of trying to do it himself, Black Watch can be competitive.
The semifinals are Wednesday at noon and 3 p.m. The final is Sunday, March 25 at 3 p.m. on Stanford Field at International Polo Club.
Fourteen teams entered the 26-goal USPA Piaget Gold Cup, the second of the Big Three tournaments at International Polo Club Palm Beach. The USPA Piaget Gold Cup, which began in 1974, is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the United States and is in first season at International Polo Club.
The polo matches at International Polo Club are open to the public. General admission for the Sunday games at International Polo Club Palm Beach is $10 for adults. Children under 3 enter for free. Tickets may be purchased at the gate on the day of the game or in advance at the stadium box office.
Major sponsors at International Polo Club Palm Beach for the 2007 season include Stanford Private Wealth Management, Piaget, Bombardier Aerospace, Bessemer Trust, Westwind Realty, LLC, Panera Bread, Cartier, CityPlace, Florida Coast Equipment, The Mall at Wellington Green, Omar Trevino Bloodstock, Inc., Palm Beach Daily News, Palm Beach Illustrated, Palm Beach Post, Ritz Carlton Palm Beach, Roederer Estates, The Wellington Institute, Van Cleef & Arpels, Yamana Gold Inc. and Jim Corbin Illustrated Properties.
International Polo Club Palm Beach is located at 3667 120th Avenue South, between Pierson Road and Lake Worth Road in Wellington. For information, directions or ticket purchases, please call the club at (561) 204-5687 or visit the website at www.internationalpoloclub.com.
Scoring Leaders
Player/Team Games Goals
Facundo Pieres, Black Watch 3 22
Sebastian Merlos, Lechuza Caracas 3 19
Pablo MacDonough, Jedi 3 17
Mike Azzaro, Laurence-Wallace 3 16
Agustin Merlos, Laurence-Wallace 3 15
Adolfo Cambiaso, Crab Orchard 2 14
Pite Merlos, Lechuza Caracas 3 14
Jeff Hall, Orchard Hill 2 13
Bautista Heguy, Pony Express 2 13
Julio Arellano, Skeeterville 2 11
Kris Kampsen, La Herradura 2 11
Gonzalito Pieres, Black Watch 3 11
Miguel Novillo Astrada, Bendabout 2 10
Lucas Monteverde, White Birch 2 10
2007 USPA Piaget Gold Cup Quarterfinalist rosters:
Bendabout (26) – Gillian Johnston (2), Alejandro Novillo Astrada (7), Miguel Novillo Astrada (10), Ignacio Toccalino (7)
Black Watch (25) – Neil Hirsch (0), Facundo Pieres (10), Gonzalito Pieres (9), Nacho Figueras (6)
Crab Orchard (26) – George Rawlings (0), Matias Magrini (9), Adolfo Cambiaso (10), David Stirling Jr. (7)
Las Monjitas (26) – Camilo Bautista (0), Sapo Caset (8), Eduardo Novillo Astrada (9), Ignacio Novillo Astrada (9)
Lechuza Caracas (26) – Victor Vargas (1), Sebastian Merlos (10), Pite Merlos (9), Jeff Blake (6)
La Herradura (26) – Fred Mannix Jr. (7), Memo Gracida (8), Julio Gracida (5), Kris Kampsen (6)
Orchard Hill (25) – Steve Van Andel (0), Hector Galindo (8), Lucas Criado (9), Jeff Hall (8)
Pony Express (26) – Bob Daniels (0), Pancho Bensadon (8), Carlos Gracida (9), Bautista Heguy (9)
Past Champions
2006 – New Bridge La Dolfina
2005 – Millarville
2004 – White Birch
2003 – White Birch
2002 – White Birch
2001 – Boca Polo
2000 – Isla Carroll
1999 – Outback
1998 – White Birch
1997 – White Birch
1996 – White Birch
1995 – Ellerston White
1994 – Michelob
1993 – Cellular One
1992 – Revlon
1991 – Cellular One
1990 – Les Diables Bleus
1989 – White Birch
1988 – White Birch
1987 – White Birch
1986 – White Birch
1985 – Chasqui
1984 – White Birch
1983 – White Birch
1982 – Boehm
1981 – Boca Raton
1980 – Retama
1979 – Retama
1978 – Abercrombie & Kent
1977 – Lone Oak
1976 – Willow Bend
1975 – Tulsa-Dallas
1974 – Milwaukee