It was an even match, with a high level of polo interrupted at times by fouls and closed play. The first chukka saw both teams score two goals a piece, but in the second, Postage Stamp, lead by Mariano Aguerre and Joaquín Panelo, won a narrow advantage. They held that difference into the fourth, where they managed a four goal lead (10-6). Everything seemed set for a smooth victory, but Travieso reacted in the fifth, thanks to Sebastian Merlos, and they managed to tie the game 11-all with just a few minutes left in the match.
In the last seconds, Brandon Phillips came through to score the deciding goal, giving Postage Stamp the victory. Mariano Aguerre, conditioned by a crippling pain in his arm, left for the hospital straight away, sensing a possible fracture.
The face-off was the main event of the day, the Sunday Game, held as usual in the Engel & Volkers stadium at International Polo Club de Palm Beach, with a notable number of spectators cheering on their favourite teams.
Prior to the match, several other teams made their debut in the Ylvisaker Cup, which remembers the much beloved Bill Ylvisaker, former 7-goal player, winner of the US Open and the Coronation Cup, Chairman of the USPA, co-founder of the Polo Training Foundation, and one of the developers of Palm Beach Polo & Country Club.
Early on in the day, Tonkawa beat GSA by 12 goals to 7, scoring an average of two goals per chukka versus one from their rivals. At noon, Valiente defeated Coca Cola 10-6. The game marked the 2018 debut of Adolfo Cambiaso and Bob Jornayvaz, winners of the 2017 US Triple Crown.
SUNDAY GAME: POSTAGE STAMP 12-11 TRAVIESO (at IPC field 1)
Postage Stamp: Annabelle Gundlach A, Brandon Phillips 5 (4 goals), Mariano Aguerre 9 (3), Joaquín Panelo 6 (5). Total: 20.
Travieso: Teo Calle 1, Tony Calle 3 (2 goals), Sebastián Merlos 9 (5), Tomás García del Río 7 (4). Total: 20.
Score Postage Stamp: 2-2, 5-4, 8-6, 10-6, 10-8, 12-11.
MVP: Joaquín Panelo.
BPP: Gato Negro, played by Sebastián Merlos.
TONKAWA 12-7 GSA (at Isla Carroll East)
Tonkawa: Jeff Hildebrand A, Sterling Giannico 3 (1 goal), Sapo Caset 10 (6), Julián de Lusarreta 7 (5). Total: 20.
GSA: Henry Porter 2, Dylan Rossiter 4 (2 goals), Mariano González 7 (5), Matías Magrini 7. Total: 20.
Score Tonkawa: 3-0, 5-1, 7-2, 10-4, 10-6, 12-7.
VALIENTE 10-6 COCA-COLA (at IPC field 5)
Valiente: Bautista Panelo 2 (1 goal), Santi Torres 6 (2), Adolfo Cambiaso 10 (5), Bob Jornayvaz 2 (2). Total: 20.
Coca-Cola: Gillian Johnston 2, Sugar Erskine 6 (1 goal), Julio Arellano 8 (2), Steve Krueger 4 (3). Total: 20.
Score Valiente: 3-1, 5-3, 6-4, 8-4, 9-5, 10-6.
Matches on Saturday:
SD FARMS 10-7 LA INDIANA
SD Farms: Sayyu Dantata 2 (3 goals), Adam Snow 5, Iñaki Laprida 7 (6), Peco Polledo 6 (1). Total: 20.
La Indiana: Michael Bickford 2, Toro Ruiz 5 (4 goals), Facundo Obregon 6 (1), Jeff Hall 7 (2). Total: 20.
Score SD Farms: 1-1, 2-2, 4-3, 5-3, 8-6, 10-7.
CARILLON MIAMI BEACH 10-8 PRESTIGE WORLDWIDE
Carillon Miami Beach: Jim Zenni A (1 goal), Agustín Obregon 5 (1), Hilario Ulloa 10 (5), Jared Zenni 5 (3). Total: 20.
Prestige Worldwide: Will Johnston 2 (2 goals), Carlucho Arellano 5 (3), Miguel Novillo Astrada 9 (3), Steve Orthwein 4. Total: 20.
Score Carillon Miami Beach: 1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-8, 10-8.
The Ylvisaker Cup will resume on Tuesday with the following order of play:
12pm: SD Farms vs Colorado
3pm: Pilot vs La Indiana