In the presence of Chief Guest Pakistan’s Minister of State for Revenue Hammad Azhar and guest of honor Hamdan CEO Kamal Nasir, Pebble Breakers made a fabulous comeback to register a tournament victory against Master Paints Black, claiming the prestigious 14- goal Hamdan Aibak Polo Cup on Sunday.
The victors edged out the tournament favorites Masters Paints Black by half a point with the final score 7-6.5. The key player for Pebble breakers was Juan Cruz Lasada, who managed to score four times and his counterpart for the Master Paint Blacks was Matias Vial Perez, who scored thrice.
Master Paints Black was awarded 0.5 point at the beginning of the game due to handicap disparity. Pebble breakers started off strongly. A field goal by Losada gave them a 1-0 short-lived lead which was bested by Black’s Ahmed Ali by the way of 2 consecutive goals to conclude the first chukker at 2-1. In the second chukker, both teams were able to convert two goals. Raja Temur and Matias contributed one each for Master Paints Black while Hamza and Losada converted one goal each for Pebble Breakers.
While still holding the lead at the end of the 2nd chukker, Master Paints Black kicked off the 3rd chukker by extending their lead to 5-3 when Matias registering his first goal of the evening. Losada of the Pebble Breakers managed to chip off their lead by converting a 30 yarder, ending the chukker at 5-4.
With the game slipping from their grasp, Pebble breakers were able to make a brilliant comeback by scoring thrice in the final chukker. Losada led his team by scoring first, Hamza and Saqib followed suit, both of them scoring once in the final chukker. By scoring another brilliant goal, Matias tried to prevent his side’s defeat, but his attempts proved to be futile as it was too late and Pebble Breakers held a minor lead at the concluding whistle of the game to seal the victory.
The subsidiary final also saw a great game of Polo in which Barry’s came out victorious against Diamond Paints/Newage by 8-6.
Bautista Bayuger essentially stole the match away from Diamond Paints/Newage, scoring 6 times in the game. Hissam Ali Hyder of Diamond volleyed four goals and Salvador Ulloa and Mir Shoaib Ahmed each struck a single goal.
Among other notables present on the occasion were Lahore Polo Club President Malik Atif Yar Tiwana, executive committee members Omer Saeed Niazi, Usman Haye, Saqib Khan Khakwani, members and their families and a great number of polo enthusiasts.
