Cambiaso Leads Crab Orchard Against Undefeated Jedi In Title Game of Stanford U.S. Open Sunday at International Polo Club
WELLINGTON, FL (April 20, 2007) – And then there were two.
Pre-tournament favorite Crab Orchard, led by the amazing Adolfo Cambiaso, plays undefeated Jedi, sparked by the dynamic duo of Pablo MacDonough and Juan Martin Nero, in the pinnacle of the high-goal winter season, the 26-goal Stanford U.S. Open final Sunday at 3 p.m. at International Polo Club Palm Beach.
Jedi, in its first U.S. Open since 2002, defeated Crab Orchard 10-8 earlier this month during divisional play. The eight goals is Crab Orchard’s lowest offensive total of the season.
Crab Orchard is playing in its first U.S. Open since 2000 but has been the dominant team at International Polo Club, going 11-2 in 26-goal games in 2007.
“We want to beat them,” said 9-goaler Matias Magrini of Crab Orchard, referring to Jedi. “Juan Martin and Pablo are playing very well together. I think it will be a good final, a nice final for everyone.”
While Crab Orchard has been garnering most of the attention and headlines, Jedi has slipped in under the radar except for the most discerning polo fans.
Although this is only their second 26-goal tournament of the season, patron Torsten Koch’s Jedi has compiled a very respectable 5-2 record, peaking with four consecutive wins in the Stanford U.S. Open.
Nero and MacDonough are both 9-goalers and both 25 years old. MacDonough, playing the No. 4 position, is the team’s leading scorer in the Stanford U.S. Open with 24 goals. Nero, playing the No. 3 position, is second with 14 goals and has an incredible knack for being in the right place at the right time.
“They are amazing,” said 22-year-old Magoo Laprida, a 7-goaler who plays No. 2 for Jedi. “If I have to choose, they are the ones I want on my team as polo players and because they are great guys. Every day they surprise me.”
MacDonough realizes he has terrific chemistry with Nero.
Pablo on Juan Martin
“He’s always there,” said MacDonough about Nero. “He’s probably the best player in the world, with Cambiaso. He (Nero) makes it a lot easier for me.”
Cambiaso, who turned 32 on April 14, is generally acknowledged as the best player in the world. He became the youngest 10-goaler in the history of the sport in 1993 at the age of 17. The father of two has won the U.S. Open three times and was named the Most Valuable Player all three tournaments.
With the 34-year-old Magrini, they have had one of the greatest seasons in recent history, winning the 26-goal USPA Piaget Gold Cup and both 22-goal tournaments – the Joe Barry Memorial Cup and the Ylvisaker Cup presented by Carter – as members of New Bridge La Dolfina. Along with patron George Rawlings, the wild card in the Stanford U.S. Open final might be 8-goaler David Stirling Jr. of Uruguay.
The championship match of the Stanford U.S. Open presented by Bombardier is the culmination of the ultra-competitive winter polo season and more than 7,000 spectators are expected to attend.
Historically, the U.S. Open has always been the grand prize of polo in North America. It is one of only three tournaments played at the 26-goal echelon, the highest-rated tournament in the United States. The others are the C.V. Whitney Cup and USPA Piaget Gold Cup, both also played at International Polo Club.
The first U.S. Open title game was played in 1904 at Van Cortlandt Park in New York City where the Wanderers defeated the Freebooters 4 ½-3, the lowest scoring final in the history of the tournament.
The polo matches at International Polo Club are open to the public. General admission for the Stanford U.S. Open presented by Bombardier final on Sunday at 3 p.m. is $15 for adults. Children under 3 enter for free. Tickets may be purchased at Gate A on the day of the game.
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.
Saturday’s schedule
Hall of Fame Cup Final
Black Watch vs. Laurence-Wallace/Paladin Rally, 3 p.m.
Sunday’s schedule
Stanford U.S. Open Final
Crab Orchard vs. Jedi, 3 p.m.
2007 Stanford U.S. Open Scoring Leaders
Player/Team Games Goals
Adolfo Cambiaso, Crab Orchard 5 43
Pablo MacDonough, Jedi 4 24
Lucas Monteverde, White Birch 4 23
Pite Merlos, Lechuza Caracas 4 21
Matias Magrini, Crab Orchard 5 20
Bautista Heguy, Pony Express 3 19
Julio Arellano, Skeeterville 3 18
Sebastian Merlos, Lechuza Caracas 4 18
Sapo Caset, Las Monjitas 3 15
Juan Martin Nero, Jedi 4 14
Javier Novillo Astrada, San Saba 3 13
Nicolas Roldan, Catamount 2 12
Fred Mannix Jr., Millarville 3 12
Paco de Narvaez, San Saba 3 12
Agustin Merlos, Laurence-Wallace 2 11
Hector Galindo, Orchard Hill 4 11
Jeff Hall, Orchard Hill 4 11
Mike Azzaro, Laurence-Wallace 2 10
Facundo Pieres, Black Watch 2 10
Lucas Criado, Orchard Hill 4 10