Globalport staged one of the biggest comebacks of the season to make its way into the USPA 12-Goal Bronze Cup championship final on Tuesday at Grand Champions Polo Club.
By Sharon Robb
Photos by Candace Ferreira
Globalport (Mikee Romero, 0, Jack Whitman, 2, Beltran Laulhe, 6, Anthony Garcia, 4), trailing Casablanca (Benji Daniels, 1, Santos Bollini, 2, Martin Jauregui, 6, Juan Bollini, 3) 8-3 in the first half, rallied 6-1 in the second half to force an overtime and go on to win, 10-9, on Friday. Laulhe shook loose defenders to score the winning goal with 6:20 left in overtime.
The stage is now set for a thrilling rematch between unbeaten (3-0) Quite on Z (Alecia Seidler, -1, Artemio Figueras, 2, Joaquin Panelo, 6, Hilario Figueras, 5) and Globalport (2-1). In bracket play, Quite on Z came on strong in the second half to hand Globalport its first loss of the tournament with a 9-8 victory.
On Friday, it was Globalport’s turn to come on strong in the second half against Casablanca.
“It was a great game, lots of fun,” Garcia said. “For a while there it looked like we were going to get washed out.”
Trailing 8-3 going into the fourth chukker, Globalport started controlling the offensive attack. The teams exchanged goals in the fourth chukker with Jauregui scoring from a standstill at 2:45 and Whitman scoring with a minute remaining to make 9-4.
Globalport picked up the momentum in the fifth chukker to take advantage of Casablanca foul trouble outscoring them, 2-0, behind two 30-yard penalty conversions by Whitman to cut the lead to 9-6.
Globalport reeled in Casablanca in the sixth chukker outscoring them 5-0 behind a balanced attack. Whitman got his team within one goal, 9-8, working his way through a crowd to score and celebrate with a well-deserved fist pump. With 3:01 left in regulation Laulhe, on a quick horse, scored out of the air to tie the game at 9-9. Both teams had scoring opportunities but couldn’t capitalize ending the game in overtime and setting up Laulhe’s heroics. Casablanca had the first chance in overtime to score with a clean shot but the ball sailed right.
In the final stats, Casablanca outshot Globalport 18-15, and led throw-ins, 13-7 and fouls, 12-9. Globalport led knock-ins, 9-5.
The first half was a completely different game with Jauregui providing all the offense Casablanca needed. In the fast-paced half, Casablanca capitalized on Globalport’s forced errors with a relentless defense.
Casablanca led 3-1 after the opening chukker, 6-2 after the second and 8-3 at the half, seemingly setting them up for a strong second half.
In the first half, Casablanca outshot Globalport, 13-5 and led throwins, 9-4. Globalport had five knock-ins to Casablanca’s two.
Whitman had a team-high seven goals including five penalty conversions and Lauhle added three goals. Jauregui scored all nine of Casablanca’s goals.
It is the first time Grand Champions, the nation’s largest club, is hosting the USPA Bronze Trophy 12 Goal Tournament.
Last year’s winner was Maharlika (Gina Padilla, 0, Miguel (Miki) Astrada Jr., 2, Santino Magrini, 4, Matias Magrini, 6) who defeated Los Altos (Alvaro Fernandez, 0, Keko Magrini, 6, Memo Gracida, 3, Luis Saraco, 3), 13-9, at La Herradura Polo Club in Santa Ynez, Calif.
Established in 1980, the Bronze Trophy is a prestigious national tournament played at the 8- to 12-goal level. Originally hosted at Gulfstream Polo Club (now defunct) in Lake Worth until its closure, the tournament relocated in 2015 to New Bridge Polo & Country Club in Aiken, S.C.
During the winter polo season, Grand Champions Polo Club, the nation’s largest and most innovative USPA-sanctioned polo club nestled in the heart of the world’s winter equestrian capital, hosts a wide range of tournaments: 6, 8, 12, 20, and 26-goal leagues, 26-goal World Polo League, The Polo School Women’s Weekly Polo League, WCT Finals, several Polo Training Foundation junior tournaments, World Polo League Pride and Sunset Chukkers & Cocktails at both Grand Champions and Santa Rita Polo Farm.
Grand Champions and Santa Rita Polo Farm is the largest and most unique private 102-acre polo facility in Wellington with 212 stalls in nine self-contained barns, two tracks, five climate-controlled tack rooms, vet room, staff quarters, guest house and four polo fields with state-of-the-art underground irrigation and short work arena. The club has 10 well-manicured world-class fields at GCPC and Santa Rita.