Most of us were hoping La Elina would come out smoking and hold out in the end, but the problem was Facundo Pieres had another idea: bury the dream. Which he did within 30 seconds. And then again and again, until, well, it was over at the end of 2 chukars. It reminded me of St. Peters in the NCAA recently, who were flying until the finals where they hit a wall. It wasn’t fun to watch La Elina’s mistakes that were often, as were their misses, but it was the way it was today. La Elina ran into a buzzsaw, and the commander of the buzzsaw was Facundo and some 4 legged friends. Friends who may have been the best string I have ever seen anywhere.
It was still a good game being the finals. But sad to say, the semi-finals often seem like the real finals. I am not sure if seeding would help, but luck of the draw often does not. Anyway, it was a game that showed how well mounted Pilot was and how strong FP really is. I think Jared Zenni was also amazingly mounted, and Juan Martine and young Weisz have to be two of the best 5 goal players in the country. But Pilot is one of the most organized operations in Polo today and are very similar to Gonzalo Pieres and Whitebirch and Memo Gracida and Retama, 20 years ago. Here’s the catch though, the latter did it with 8 horses each, usually playing 5 of them in the finals. Today it’s pretty simple: Money walks and talks as well as talent, but it takes one to get the other. I heard Toby on Global Polo ask today when was last time a team without a 10 goaler won the open? I think it was 2014 when Mariano Aguirre had just been dropped to 9 and ALEGRIA won with Julian Mannix of Calgary.
The new way of polo started in the 90’s when Tim Gannon hired Cambiaso, and polo changed from 8 to 15 superstar horses and superstars players. It became a different game, in which we no longer have 4 to 6 goal patrons, because they only need to buy the best to get the most. Up until this era, Gonzalo P., Memo G., and Carlos G., did it making teams and playing TEAM Polo, with 3 to 6 goaler Patrons. I do have to say Facundo P. used his team and they played amazing. Not only today, but throughout last 2 tournaments, with only park Place in their league from what I could see. I think the Brothers Castagnolias may change the game again to run and hit, however, to make the game better, you need to limit horses per game, so in-turn you level out teams like Pilot and La Elina, and improve pros and patrons. And it will be a sport young patrons (which are in very short supply) will want to play because they want to be players, not just payers.
Cya
internationalpoloconnection.com 