Sunday, December 7, 2025. It is just after 8 p.m. at the Campo Argentino de Polo. An hour ago the new champion of the Palermo Open was just inaugurated: The La Dolfina nativity scene. The team of Castagnola (Jeta and Barto) and the Cambiasos (Adolfito and Poroto) They keep partying, taking notes, We celebrate the title and the Triple Crown. Because they are completing the perfect season, are unbeaten in 12 games and have also won at the other tournaments: Hurlingham and Tortugas. In the grandstand area, “La 24” heats up the fans’ snare drums and throats. The night will be long.
The night is perfect. The music plays. The murmur is incessant in the bars and snack bars. The last game is over, with the 17:13 victory over Ellerstina Indios Chapaleufú, another great team of the season. The nation’s president is already gone, Javier Mileiand his entourage. The president watched the game always wearing the helmet with the Argentine colors that he gave him last year. Adolfo Cambiaso. He celebrated and took photos on the podium. He is a polo fan and the legend of Cañuelas.
In one of the bars, Milo Fernandez Araujoformer coach of the golden era of La Dofina and four-time champion of Palermo with Chapaleufú II, talks to friends and entourage. Everything is normal until someone comes and comments…
-Hey, how strange about the MVP. I don’t know what the jury saw.
-Why, what happened?
-Because they gave it to Poroto Cambiaso.
Fernández Araujo opens his eyes wide and looks surprised…
-How did they give it to Poroto?
-Yes, yes, Poroto won.
Milo confirms the information. No one was taking blood pressure, but body temperature had skyrocketed. He picked up his phone, searched for the voting chat and fired off his message: “Don’t ask me to make a choice anymore when you do what you want later. Why are you asking???”
It’s 8:12 p.m. and an unexpected scandal has just broken out. Out of nowhere. Fernández Araujo was one of the three juries responsible for selecting the most valuable player in the final. The other two were Santiago Despite and Juan Ignacio “Pite” Merloswho is currently a commentator for ESPN. Three juries. A simple vote unless everyone chooses a different player. Fernández Araujo, Merlos and Despite make up the High Handicap Tournament Subcommittee, which consists of various members. This subcommittee also includes the President of the Argentine Polo Association (AAP), Benjamin Araya.
The WhatsApp group is called “Tournament Subcommittee” and consists of several members, including the three final juries. At 6:10 p.m., Luz Lalora member of the Argentine Polo Association with extensive experience (he is part of the sports section and the tournament organization), sent a message to the three: “Hello, when the game is over, give me the player.” Everything normal.
Responses arrived between 7:03 p.m. and 5:03 p.m. and 7:05 p.m. The first voice came from Merlos: “Bean”. The second from Despite: “Barto”. There was a draw. Fernández Araujo broke the tie. “Barto”. The reports leave no doubt: The MVP of the Palermo 2025 final is Bartolomé Castagnola (h.), back of La Natividad La Dolfina.
That was that Kitchen the vote and LA NACION leads the chats on this topic. What happened in the middle? How could it happen that after a vote by three people with clear failure, the MVP award was given to the wrong person? Without, of course, detracting from the performance of Poroto Cambiaso, who shone in defense and was also the top scorer of the game with 7 goals. According to the jury, many other participants in Palermo and even LA NACION (who recorded it in their daily note) The party’s figure was Bartolomé Castagnola (h.).
That’s why Fernández Araujo, nicknamed “Mou” for his coaching skills, exploded at 8:12 p.m. when he learned of the result, just as the real José Mourinho, the famous Portuguese football coach, usually explodes. And his message in the chat was succinct.
Immediately, Santi Despite asked in surprise, “Who did they give the MVP to?” When he found out, he replied, “Weeeee.” And always in the same chat he would say in a conciliatory tone: “Slow down, Milo, hahahaha.” But Fernández Araujo was flew of fever: “Shut up.” About 9 minutes passed before a message from the third jury, Pite Merlos, appeared: “I knew, that’s why I used Beans.”
A minute later, Luz Lalor, who received the votes, wrote: “I was confused, I apologize.” And a second message: “I don’t know what happened to me.”
Merlos’ sentence (“I knew it, that’s why I added beans”) alarmed many and aroused suspicion: What did the former 10-goal and Palermo champion know? It cannot be ruled out that it was some kind of joke to relax and calm Fernández Araujo at that moment. But it was inappropriate wording given what had happened to the vote.
The unique event, which is clearly nonsense, It gained more and more fame over time and the chats were leaked. For example, the next day the traditional Copa Los Potrillos tournament, the children’s festival, took place at the AAP grounds in Pilar. And the exclusive theme was “The MVP of the Finals.”
The week after the final in Palermo is usually busy. Because of the effects, because of the changes in the teams (which there were again, massive ones), to the modifications to the handicaps. The other news this year was Cambiaso’s confirmation of his continuity, at least one more season with La Natividad La Dolfina, in search of Juancarlitos Harriott’s record of 20 titles in Palermo (Adolfito has 19). But “the topic” that dominated the scene was that of the MVP.
LA NACION sent a message to Benjamín ArayaPresident of the Argentine Polo Federation to receive the official explanation of the event and in particular what had happened to the “failed”. The response received was short: “We have already spoken to the people who should be spoken to. And what should be explained has been explained.”
What impact did the event have on the interior of La Natividad, the headquarters of the Castagnola family in Cañuelas? Obviously with surprise and logical rejection. Not because of Poroto Cambiaso himself, it is clear: No. 2 of La Natividad La Dolfina was left in the middle of the scene without any interference, but the person directly affected was one of his companions and, moreover, a first cousin and lifelong friend. In addition, the relationship between Lolo Castagnola, the boys’ father, and Poroto has always been exceptional.
The internal rejection is procedural. “How can they make a mistake when they have three votes and two of them for one player? What mistake are you talking about?”is the synthesis of the idea. They also confirmed in La Natividad that the Argentine Polo Federation had contacted Barto Castagnola to apologize for the incident.
At this point, considering returning a prize to someone who won it is a complex and unpleasant decision and would further expose the mistake made. Or the decision made, for whatever reason.
Some say, “Uh, but they won the cup, the main title. That award isn’t that relevant.” Every distinction has its value. It is difficult for a player to consider a second award more valuable than the champion’s trophy, but every trophy has its meaning and recognition. These are the horse prizes, the fair play prize, the revelation prize. And of course that of the most valuable player in the most important polo game in the world. It reflects not only performance on the field, but also a whole year’s preparation, investment in horses, personal care, image and camaraderie. Poroto Cambiaso could have been all of these, they are qualities that enrich his short career. But there is a reality: The one who played best in the final was Barto Castagnola and the prize was his. The jury wasn’t wrong.
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