They may not be eligible to play in 20 goal Polo next year as Handicaps may send them up, but for this US OPEN it was sure fun to watch. They really don’t care how bouncy the field is, they just hit it. Whether 2 ft off the ground or 6ft, they could reach it and they often hit it about 90% of the time. It started even today, and at the end of the first chukkar it was 3 to 1, with 2 missed goal shots. LINY won the second, 2 to 1, leading by 3, but then lost the 3rd, 3 to 2, and went into half time up by 2. In the 4th, well, it was maybe the worst chukkar of high goal season with 7 fouls against FMB, 2 or 3 of them being # 1’s. Cry-Auto (Criado) went loco but never got a yellow and they lost the chukkar 3 to 1 (all penalty shots I think). But chukkar 5 was another game. Peke and Facundo took control and took the ball often and fast, and came out winning 2 to 1. They missed a couple of easy chances to get closer, as they were down by 3 and headed into the final chukkar, but they had it on their mind with some brilliant plays. Even Criado woke up, quit talking, and started running–closing it within 1 with 1:40 to go. They lost the next throw in though, and, like all superstars, Poroto showed why he is one and closed the door, going 150 in 15 to put it up by 2. Peke scored the closer with 12 seconds left and the rest is History! They won by 1, and whether by 1 or 10, a W is a W, and the sun sets in SBPOLO High Goal.
We’ve seen something I don’t think has ever happened before–I AM SURE OF IT IN SANTA BARBARA, AND PRETTY SURE NOWHERE IN USA: A TEAM THIS YOUNG WINNING A 20 GOAL TOURNAMENT.
Here’s a look at this team :
#1 Santino Magrini: Not flashy but so team oriented. He made so many plays happen today and for the past 3 weeks
# 2 Paquito De Naravez: The youngest and very quick. Always there and making a play.
# 3 Keko Magrini: Already 4 and last time he played 4 was last year. (I’m not sure that was right). He may be on his way to the big one soon with his #4 (Poroto).
# 4 Poroto Cambiaso: The name scares you if playing against it, but he magnifies it and he’s only 16 like Keko, but holy S–t. He looks like one of the kids on uniwheels, but he is not. In the air? No problem. He can keep it in the air for 150 yards, no problem. He anticipates so well and know it’s his ball.
It was great being here seeing this, especially because in 50 yrs of polo, I’ve never seen it. Something odd was said to me the other day. A Lady said: why do sons of high goal players never reach their Fathers peak?
I said many do, and she asked when? I said come to the game this afternoon. Obviously she was unaware that Gonzalo Pieres only has 3 10 goal sons (or did). But after the game she said “wow that boy is doing well !!!!!!!!!!!” All I could say is YEP.
CYA AND WELL DONE L.I.N.Y. STILL NOT SURE WHAT IT MEANS BUT MATIAS MAGRINI TOLD ME IT MEANS ((( I LOVE NEW YORK ))) maybe ?
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