A season that looked as planned in advance reaches the final episode with an open ending. La Natividad La Dolfina remains the favorite, but the good performance of Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufú They reignited the intrigue throughout the Triple Crown and the excitement generated by the midweek semifinals. The definition of the 132nd Argentine Open Championshipthis Sunday at 4:30 p.m. on the main field of the Campo Argentino de Polo, It looks alive until the end.
Only time will tell whether it was a year of transition or the start of a trend that will continue over time. The alliance between the two Cañuelas teams at the end of 2024 revolutionized the world of polo by restructuring all teams. The formula has been adopted in most new formations: one part consists of established players joining forces, another part consists of talented young people taking their first steps.
The corner of La Natividad La Dolfina celebrates its fiftieth anniversary Adolfo Cambiaso looking for more glory (more and more: he’s aiming for his 19th title and fifth Triple Crown), along with the future of this sport who already knows what it means to reach the top: his nephews Bartholomew (24) and Camilo Castagnola (22) and his son of the same name, alias bean (20). At the front there are two eternal rivals of Cambiaso Gonzalo (42) and Facundo Pieres (39), who also know how much the trophy forged by the River Plate Polo Association weighs, who also bet on the future by meeting the cousins Cruz and Antonio Heguy (both 22). Semi-classic, you could say. Or a double generational duel. Crucially, this season, those who have taken the lead on the two teams and are responsible for getting them to this stage are the youngest. labels on the side, It promises to be a great game.
La Natividad La Dolfina comes with the Hurlingham and Tortugas titles under their belt and is looking to become the sixth team to win the Triple Crown. Its four members have starred in the last four finals in the Cathedral (three for the Castagnola team, one for the Cambiaso team). He showed an ascending performance in the season where he won his 11 gamesbut stumbled in the semi-finals and had to fight until the end to beat UAE Polo. He appealed to his winning aura, although he also showed signs of vulnerability.
Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufú settled in very quickly. He faced Dream Team II twice and was the one who played best. In the Hurlingham semi-final he made it to the extra chukker (13-12) and had the last ball to tie the game in the final game in Tortugas, but he failed and ended up losing again by one (12-11).
In these two previous events, as well as in Wednesday’s semi-final, Camilo “Jeta” Castagnola was decisive in the final minutes. He scored the golden goal in Hurlingham and three of the last four goals in Tortuguitas. Containing it during the eight chukkers is the pink team’s mission. The person responsible: Cruz Heguy, the back who completely recreates the genes of his father Eduardo.
Jeta, the obsession
“Concentration, intensity, the eight chukkers, the horses will also be very important in the second innings and in the final,” Cruz said in an interview with THE NATION regarding the keys to having opportunities. “We have to be organized and not miss the target. The four are animals, they have everything, but we have to be very close, especially to the Jeta. He is the most important.”
Although intermittent, La Natividad La Dolfina’s No. 1 has been crucial in key moments this season. Two of his outstanding goals ensured a very even semi-final.
“I love playing games like this and nothing is decided until the final bell.”Jeta had said after the victory over UAE Polo. “I’m not worried about how we play. We can do better, but we know it will be a game that will be decided in the last chukker.”
The 14,000 spectators who will fill the cathedral want his predictions to come true. As of last night, only side A stands were available for $180,000.
“The two semi-finals were decided by details. La Natividad La Dolfina reacted very well in the end, but that also gives us a chance as we were close in the previous two games.” “If we play well, we can beat them”Cruz trusts.
Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufú does not rely on a single player, but to be on par with the Galacticos they need the solvency of the defense, the experience of Gonzalo, the talent of Facundo (especially in crucial moments) and Antonio’s omnipresence, his best value this year.
It was an atypical preparation for both, after a game of high intensity and overwhelming heat and with very few days of recovery for the “machines”, which is unusual. How the drivers arrive can make the difference for some people.
The La Dolfina crèche runs with the advantage of having another day of restwhich could be a factor if there were only 72 hours between the semi-final and the final for their rival. “I’m calm but worried,” Cruz admitted. “I had no idea what we had achieved. To be in the final is a dream come true. We have set ourselves no other goal than to have a good time and play as well as we can.”
In addition, the Cañuelas team has more experience in this type of games. Cambiaso, without elaborating, will play the 21st definition in a row, the 29th in his career. However, it is the first time for Cruz and Antonio. Of course, not only the Pieres, but also their parents (Eduardo and Alberto -h.-), winners of four Opens, are there to advise them. “We will meet for the first time in the afternoon to talk about the final, I will ask a few questions,” Cruz said in the morning. “Apart from the fact that I have taken part in other finals, Palermo is a unique experience.”
Dream Team II is undefeated despite proving fallible. Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufú already knows how to play them. Cambiaso and the Pieres are going to remake an old classic, that’s true. This time the boys decide their fate.
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