P O L O I N T H E PA M PA S
His own path Poroto earns a spot in next Triple Crown By Lucas Noel • Photos by Sergio Llamera
Brazilian Rodrigo Ribeiro de Andrade outpaces Manuel Elizalde in the final of the Cámara de Diputados Cup.
Early in the season, everything suggested ‘Poroto’ Cambiaso would have a place next season as a starter of La Dolfina along with his father Adolfo. That was until he won the Cámara de Diputados Cup with La Dolfina Brava, surpassing the play-off and earning the team a coveted spot in this year’s Triple Crown. At age 14, Poroto became the youngest player in history to participate in the Triple Crown. The possibility was given to him by his father when he was chosen to substitute for the injured Juan Martín Nero on La Dolfina. The decision aroused controversy in the Argentine polo world when the association suddenly raised his handicap by two goals, enabling him to play. Eduardo Novillo Astrada, president of the association, admitted the decision included not just sporting considerations but marketing as well. What is certain is once the season began, Poroto took charge of burying any discussion about his rating
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with a daring and quality rarely seen for a polo player of his age. Now, 15 years old, the son of the best player in the world managed to lift the Cámara de Diputados Cup with his team La Dolfina Brava and obtained the qualification for the Tortugas, Hurlingham and Palermo Opens, thanks to a resounding victory in the playoff. At the association’s Alfredo Lalor Complex in Pilar, LD Brava won its group undefeated in the Cámara de Diputados Cup. It debuted, beating Chapa Uno Thai Polo (Juan Zubiaurre, Bautista Ortiz de Urbina, Julián de Lusarreta, Alfonso Pieres), 15-12, then defeated El Overo UAE (Lucas Monteverde, Tomás Panelo, Guillermo Willington, Jacinto Crotto), 12-8, and La Cañada (Genaro Ringa, Lucas Diaz Alberdi, Victorino Ruiz Jorba, Martin Aguerre), 13-6. In the semifinals it turned an incredible match and won with two fantastic goals from Poroto: the tying goal at 6:22
