San Saba Defeats Las Monjitas 11-8 in Opening Game of
26-goal C.V. Whitney Cup at International Polo Club Palm Beach
WELLINGTON, FL (February 21, 2007) – Javier Novillo Astrada proved that one brother is sometimes better than two as San Saba defeated Las Monjitas 11-8 in the opening match of the single-elimination 26-goal C.V. Whitney Cup Wednesday at International Polo Club Palm Beach.
Las Monjitas, the defending 26-goal Stanford U.S. Open champion, features Eduardo and Nacho Novillo Astrada. Two other brothers, Miguel and Alejandro Novillo Astrada, play for Bendabout.
Familial knowledge helped Javier, at 31 the middle of five brothers, prepare his teammates.
“It made it a little easier because I know how they play, but they also know how I play,” said Javier. “I’m very happy to win. Because this is a knock-out tournament, it’s important for us to win to have a chance.
“I didn’t have a bet with my brothers, but I had dinner at (Las Monjitas patron) Camilo’s (Bautista) last night, so that will have to do.”
San Saba led the entire game as Las Monjitas closed to within one goal several time, the last time at 9-8 on Sapo Caset’s score with 4:01 left in the game.
But Toto Collardin converted a 30-yard penalty shot with 2:11 remaining and Astrada sealed the victory with a goal with only 29 seconds left.
Javier Novillo Astrada, Collardin and Paco de Narvaez scored three goals each while patron Dawn Jones added two goals for San Saba, which is playing in its second tournament. This is Las Monjitas’ first game of the season.
Eight-goaler Sapo Caset led Las Monjitas with five goals while Eduardo Novillo Astrada, at 34 the oldest brother, scored two goals and 28-year-old Ignacio “Nacho” Novillo Astrada added one goal. Patron Camilo Bautista did not score.
The tournament continues with a tripleheader on Thursday beginning at 10 a.m. when Bendabout, led by 10-goaler Miguel Novillo Astrada, plays Orchard Hill, led by 9-goaler Lucas Criado. It will be Orchard Hill’s first game of the season.
Lechuza Caracas, with 10-goaler Sebastian Merlos making his first appearance of the high-goal season, plays Pony Express, led by 9-goaler Carlos Gracida, at noon. At 3 p.m., Crab Orchard, featuring the one-two combination of 10-goaler Adolfo Cambiaso and 9-goaler Matias Magrini, plays Skeeterville at 3 p.m.
The semifinals are scheduled for Wednesday, February 28 and the final is set for Sunday, March 4 at 3 p.m. on Stanford Field at International Polo Club.
The tournament, first held in 1979, is named in memory of Cornelius Vanderbilt “Sonny” Whitney, who along with his cousin John Hay Whitney, were important polo patrons in the 1930’s. The son of Hall of Fame patron Harry Payne Whitney, C.V. won the U.S. Open three times (twice against his cousin), and was a renowned owner and breeder of thoroughbred racehorses.
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 12 enter for free. Tickets may be purchased at the gate on the day of the game or in advance at the stadium box office.
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.
2007 C.V. Whitney Cup 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)
Catamount (26) – Scott Devon (3), Adam Snow (9), Nicolas Roldan (8), Martin Zegers (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)
Laurence-Wallace (26) – Elizabeth Iorio (0), Agustin Merlos (10), Mike Azzaro (9), Luis Escobar (7)
Lechuza Caracas (26) – Victor Vargas (1), Sebastian Merlos (10), Pite Merlos (9), Jeff Blake (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), TBA
San Saba (25) – Tommy Lee Jones (0), Toto Collardin (7), Javier Novillo Astrada (9), Paco de Narvaez (9)
Skeeterville (26) – Skeeter Johnston (2), Julio Arellano (8), Owen Rinehart (8), Marcos di Paola (8)
White Birch – Peter Brant (4), Lucas Monteverde (9), Mariano Aguerre (10), Ulysses Escapite (3)
Wednesday’s result
San Saba 11, Las Monjitas 8
Thursday
Orchard Hill vs. Bendabout, 10 a.m.
Lechuza Caracas vs. Pony Express, noon
Crab Orchard vs. Skeeterville, 3 p.m.
Sunday, February 25
Laurence-Wallace vs. winner of Las Monjitas vs. San Saba, 10 a.m.
White Birch vs. winner of Lechuza Caracas vs. Pony Express, noon
Black Watch vs. winner of Crab Orchard vs. Skeeterville, noon
Catamount vs. winner of Orchard Hill vs. Bendabout, 3 p.m.
Past Champions
2006 – Jedi
2005 – White Birch
2004 – Catamount
2003 – Las Monjitas
2202 – Lechuza Caracas
2001 – White Birch
2000 – White Birch
1999 – Lechuza Caracas
1998 – Pony Express
1997 – Bud Light
1996 – White Birch
1995 – White Birch
1994 – Calumet Farm
1993 – BTA
1992 – Millarville
1991 – Fort Lauderdale
1990 – Michelob
1989 – Fort Lauderdale
1988 – Fort Lauderdale
1987 – Maui
1986 – Carter Ranch
1985 – Texas Lone Star
1984 – San Antonio
1983 – San Antonio
1982 – Southern Hills
1981 – Fort Lauderdale
1980 – Tulsa
1979 – Tulsa