REMATCH REDEMPTION – LA DOLFINA ENDS VALIENTE GAUNTLET BID WITH USPA GOLD VICTORY
On Sunday, March 24, C.V. Whitney Cup finalists and Gauntlet heavyweights Valiente (Bob Jornayvaz, Mariano “Peke” Gonzalez Jr., Paco de Narvaez Jr., Adolfo Cambiaso) and La Dolfina (Jeff Hildebrand, Rufino Merlos, Poroto Cambiaso, Tomas Panelo) met in their second consecutive final on U.S. Polo Assn. Field One at the National Polo Center (NPC) in Wellington, Florida. In a rematch of the first final in the Gauntlet of Polo series, defending USPA Gold Cup champions Poroto Cambiaso and Panelo led La Dolfina alongside team sponsor Hildebrand and 16-year-old Merlos. Confident from the first throw-in, La Dolfina established the lead and did not relinquish it. Their impressive display of determination clinched the organization’s first title on American soil and $50,000 in prize money. Tomas Panelo was named Most Valuable Player after leading La Dolfina with six goals in Sunday’s final.
Prior to the main event, tournament newcomers Clearwater (Lucas Criado Jr., Raul “Gringo” Colombres, Jared Zenni, Chip Campbell) went head-to-head against Tamera (Alejandro Poma, Segundo Saravi, Matias Torres Zavaleta, Diego Cavanagh) on NPC Field 6 to determine the victor of the inaugural USPA Gold Cup subsidiary, the Retama Cup. Following a buzzer-beater at the end of the fifth from Saravi, the two teams entered the final chukker deadlocked 9-all. Working off the momentum Saravi provided, Tamara added five goals to the scoreboard to claim a decisive 14-10 victory. Matias Torres Zavaleta earned Most Valuable Player.
Both the USPA Gold Cup Final and Retama Cup Final are available to watch On-Demand via the USPA Polo Network.
