This year’s US Trust Cup goes to the young generation of polo players. In the final of the three-day tournament team Casablanca, consisting of Mike Azzaro and hopeful young talents Wes Finlayson, Juancito Bollini and Grant Ganzi, defeated their opponent ELG with Avery Chapman, Marc Ganzi, Carlitos Gracida and top player Nic Roldan. Team Casablanca won in overtime by 12-11 at Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington, Florida.
At the start, Casablanca received one goal by handicap from ELG, but quickly lost the initial advantage. In the first half of the match ELG took the lead, but Casablanca did not surrender and equalized again and again. After a nearly scoreless third chukker, Wes Finlayson scored and put his team Casablanca into a one-goal half-time lead, 6-5.
At the beginning of the second half of the match, Casablanca scored several times and outpaced ELG by 9-5. But ELG did not retire and made up leeway. Four goals by Nic Roldan narrowed the gap to 10-9. With just over a minute left in regulation time, Mike Azzaro tied it up at 11-11. Forty-three seconds into overtime Mike Azzaro scored and Casablanca celebrated the 12-11 victory. At the award ceremony Mike Azzaro was named Most Valubale Player and Marc Ganzi’s Lima received Best Playing Pony honors.
The teams:
Casablanca
Grant Ganzi
Juancito Bollini
Mike Azzaro
Wes Finlayson
ELG
Avery Chapman
Marc Ganzi
Nic Roldan
Carlitos Gracida
