NEWS

Article courtesy of Grand Champions Polo Club

The Bronze Trophy concluded on Tuesday, March 11, at Grand Champions Polo Club (GCPC) in Wellington, Florida, pitting Quite on Z (Artemio Figueras Blaquier, Joaquin Panelo, Hilario Figueras, sub. Pablo Falabella Jr.) against Globalport (Michael Romero, Jack Whitman*, Beltran Laulhé, Anthony Garcia). Heading into the finale undefeated, Quite on Z led with confidence, dominating the second half to claim an impressive 11-5 victory.

In only their second year of playing at GCPC, Quite on Z, led by owner Alecia Seidler, has been the most dominant team at the club this season. Sidelined due to illness, Seidler was replaced by Falabella Jr. for the Bronze Trophy final. Returning from a previous injury, Figueras was able to join Quite on Z during preliminary play and proved crucial in boosting the team’s winning record.

The first half was tightly contested, but Quite on Z controlled the offensive attack, with goals from Panelo and Figueras establishing a 2-1 edge heading into the third chukker. Opening the third period, Figueras launched a 140-yard pass to his younger brother Figueras Blaquier for the goal, extending the lead 3-1. Whitman responded for Globalport in final 15 seconds of the first half, narrowing the gap 2-3 at the break.

Quite on Z's game plan was simple—prevent Globalport from making a comeback. “We watched Globalport’s last game against Casablanca and we saw that Casablanca had a good lead at halftime,” Figueras said. “We said, let’s focus and not let them try and come back to the game because they are good finishers.”

Quite on Z seized control in the fourth chukker. On his fourth attempt from center field, Figueras drained the shot to extend the white team’s lead 6-2.

Continuing its dominance in the fifth chukker, Quite on Z added two more unanswered goals from Panelo. Globalport’s Romero was able to respond with a neckshot in the final moments of the fifth chukker, but Quite on Z remained in control, 9-3. Known for its comebacks, Globalport could not get past its opponents’ relentless defense, as Quite on Z ultimately galloped away with the 11-5 triumph.

Hosting the Bronze Trophy for the first time at GCPC, Figueras reflected on the honor of earning the prestigious title, “Winning this is awesome. It’s a very special trophy, a very old trophy. It has a lot of history. It’s been around for a very long time, so it’s great to win.”

Leading Quite on Z with five goals in the final, Most Valuable Player was awarded to Hilario Figueras. Malvon, a 9-year-old mare, played and owned by Figueras was named the American Polo Horse Association Best Playing Pony, having played in the first and sixth chukkers. Bred from the Figueras family’s successful Cria Yatay operation in Argentina, Figueras shared, “I brought him to the U.S. last year, it was his first year playing here. He is a great horse with a very big heart. He runs and runs and plays once or twice every single game. He is a very important horse for me.” Additionally, Egipcia, played and owned by Joaquin Panelo earned Grand Champion’s Best Playing Pony honors.

*Jack Whitman is an Active Team USPA Member. Team USPA is a USPA program designed to enhance and grow the sport of polo in the United States by identifying young, talented American players and providing mentored training and playing opportunities leading to a pool of higher rated amateur and pro players and the resultant giveback to the sport of polo.

All photos courtesy of ©Candace Ferreira.