Casablanca, Tonkawa Play For World Polo League Triple Crown Title Saturday At Grand Champions
- Candace Ferreira
- 2 minutes ago
- 4 min read
WELLINGTON, FL., April 18, 2025---Casablanca and Tonkawa advanced into the World Polo League Triple Crown of Polo final Saturday at Grand Champions Polo Club.
By Sharon Robb
Photos by Candace Ferreira
Casablanca (Grant Ganzi, 3, Hilario Figueras, 6, Rufino Bensadon, 8, Sapo Caset, 9) won a hardfought 12-9 battle against Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, 0, Mackie Weisz, 6, Tommy Panelo, 10, Juan Martin Nero, 10) on Tonkawa's home field.
It will be a grudge match of sorts after Casablanca handed previously unbeaten Tonkawa its' first loss of the highly-competitive tournament on Thursday. Both teams are 2-1. Travieso and Maltese Falcons finished 1-2.
Casablanca has already won two WPL titles this season and would like to make it three in the WPL season-ender. Tonkawa is coming off its Palm Beach Open win.
The lead changed hands 12 times before Casablanca settled into a 9-8 lead early in the fifth chukker and extended it to a three-goal advantage for the win.
In the opening chukker, Tonkawa jumped out to a 2-0 lead with goals from Weisz and Panelo. Panelo scored again for a 3-1 lead with 3:03 left in the chukker. Caset's 40-yard penalty conversion cut the lead to 3-2.
Caset opened the second chukker with a goal after his ball-hawking defensive stop on Weisz goal attempt. Nero then connected with Panelo for a goal and 4-3 lead to end the second chukker.
Figueras opened the third chukker with a goal to tie the game, 4-4. Three minutes later, Hildebrand hit Panelo for a goal and 5-4 lead. After the pony courtesy change, Bensadon scored to tie the game again, 5-5. Hildebrand finished the third chukker converting a 40-yard penalty for a 6-5 lead going into the half.
In a close first half, Casablanca outshot Tonkawa, 11-6, but Tonkawa led knock-ins, 6-0. Casablanca was quick on the throw-ins, 9-4. The teams combined for three fouls.
The lead changed hands five times in a shooting contest during the fourth chukker which ended with Caset scoring on a long goal to end the chukker, 8-8.
Casablanca took control of the momentum in the fifth and sixth chukkers. Caset scored to open the chukker with a 9-8 lead. Five minutes later, Caset connected on a pass to Figueras for a goal and 10-8 advantage. It was the first two-goal lead for Casablanca going into the sixth chukker.
Panelo scored from 120 yards out to cut the lead to 10-9 with 6:50 left in the game. Two minutes later Ganzi, doing a lot of defensive work, drew a foul on Panelo and Caset converted another 30-yarder for an 11-9 lead. Tonkawa had its share of scoring opportunities but was unable to convert. Caset took possession with 1:47 remaining and controlled the tempo. After another foul on Tonkawa, Bensadon had a spot hit which turned into a Figueras goal with 19 seconds left.
For the game, Casablanca outshot Tonkawa, 19-10 and Tonkawa led in knock-ins, 7-1. Casablanca continued to win more throw-ins, 12-8. Tonkawa led fouls, 4-2.
Caset scored a game-high seven goals including two penalty conversions. Bensadon had three goals and Figueras added two.
For Tonkawa, Panelo led with four goals. Weisz and Nero each had two goals and Hildebrand had one.
Casablanca switched back to the same lineup order that has worked so well in the past. "We went back to the way we started it last season and it's worked out well," Ganzi said earlier in the week.
"Every team is different, every opponent is different. I'm a firm believer in adapting to the team we play against. The more everyone rotates, the more easier it is to switch things. It was helpful to us and allows us to play a more simple open game of polo."
The much-anticipated WPL Triple Crown of Polo is the fourth and final tournament of the winter season. The WPL, now in its seventh season, continues to make history as the only 26-goal tournament polo played outside of Argentina.
In last year's Triple Crown of Polo, Park Place (Andrey Borodin, 0, Juan Britos, 9, Hilario Ulloa, 10, Joaquin Panelo, 6) held on for a thrilling 12-11 victory over defending champion and previously undefeated Audi (Marc Ganzi, 1, Nacho Figueras, 5, Jeta Castagnola, 10, Pablo MacDonough, 10). Panelo was MVP.
The coveted Triple Crown of Polo trophy is comprised of three separate trophies that fit perfectly together to create an entire polo scene that is breathtaking in sterling silver.
The WPL tournament winners will be inscribed on the trophy and added to an impressive list of teams that feature several top players including Sebastian Merlos, Mike Azzaro, Tommy Biddle, Adam Snow, Nic Roldan, Matias Magrini, Jeff Hall, Mariano Gonzalez, Michel Dorignac, Kris Kampsen, Gringo Colombres and Jeta Castagnola.
The first three 2025 WPL tournaments have thrilled fans and livestream viewing audiences. The WPL kicked off its seventh season on Feb. 16th making history with a first-of-its kind matchup. Casablanca captured the first-ever WPL 32-Goal All-Star Challenge Riemenschneider Memorial.
In front of a packed house, Casablanca (Sapo Caset, 9, Grant Ganzi, 3, Tommy Panelo, 10, Juan Martin Nero, 10) led from start to finish to defeat Santa Rita (Nic Roldan, 7, Tomacho Pieres, 6, Pablo MacDonough, 10, Juan Martin Zubia, 9), 8-5. Caset led Casablanca with a game-high five goals and was named MVP.
Casablanca made it two in a row capturing the Founders Cup with a hardfought 14-12 win over Alegria (Jason Crowder, 5, Fred Mannix, 7, Nic Roldan, 7, Tommy Collingwood, 5). Caset earned his second MVP award.
Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, 0, Mackie Weisz, 6, Pablo MacDonough, 10, Juan Martin Nero, 10) defeated Travieso (Tony Calle, 3, Pipe Vercellino, 7, Juan Martin Zubia, 9, Fred Mannix, 7), 13-12, to win the Palm Beach Open and finished undefeated at 4-0.