Source:  News Release/Sharon Robb for PMG Inc.

YP.Com, Longfield Will Play For Piaget Memorial Day Cup
Sunday At Grand Champions Polo Club

WELLINGTON, FL ---YP.Com, making its spring circuit debut, will play Longfield in the season-ending final of the Piaget Memorial Day Cup Sunday at Grand Champions Polo Club.

Longfield, led by 8-goaler Nic Roldan, defeated Inter-Continental Hotels, 8-6, in Friday's semifinal round to advance.

In the other semifinal, 7-goaler Mike Azzaro scored the winning goal on a penalty shot in the final minute of regulation play to lead YP.Com to a thrilling 8-7 victory over Audi.

For YP.Com it was all about team chemistry. The foursome of Melissa Ganzi, David Krantz, Juan Bollini and Azzaro played well. Azzaro and Bollini have played together several times in past years and it showed.

Melissa Ganzi led YP.Com with three goals, including opening scores in the first and second chukkers. Bollini and Azzaro each had two goals and Krantz added one goal.

"We were patient," Azzaro said. "They started slowing it down in the second half and we adjusted. We had to open it up a little bit. We started keeping the ball a little bit more until we got to midfield and then released it. That made a big difference."

Audi's Grant Ganzi (1) coming up to defend Mike Azzaro of YP.Com (3). Photo by Scott Fisher

The game pitted Melissa Ganzi against her teenage son, Grant. Now Ganzi will face her husband, Marc, in the championship.

"It's always complicated to play against your son," Ganzi said.

"It was a good game and our team played well," Ganzi said. "Juan and Mike have experience playing together before so it's just picking up where they left off. They are good teammates and they play well together."

YP.Com's David Krantz (2) in pursuit of Audi's Lucas Lalor (3) trying to control the ball downfield. Photo by Scott Fisher

The tournament marked the return of Krantz, who was making his first Grand Champions appearance this year. Krantz has played with Bollini and Ganzi.

"We had the chemistry, how could they beat us," Ganzi said.

The game was tied twice in the first two chukkers before Azzaro and Krantz scored back-to-back goals to give YP.Com a 4-2 lead at the half.

After YP.Com missed two goals in the fourth chukker, Audi came back to tie the game at 4-4 on Grant Ganzi's goal  with 11 seconds left.

Audi slowed the game pace down and went ahead, 5-4, early in the fifth chukker on JJ Celis' goal. Melissa Ganzi's third goal of the game at the 1:51 tied the game at 5-5 and a minute later Bollini scored in a crowd for a 6-5 lead.

The seesaw battle continued in the final chukker with Celis scoring on a breakaway, tying the game at 6-6. Celis scored another goal two minutes later for a 7-6 lead.

Bollini continued his heroics breaking away from defenders for an incredible shot under his horse's belly to score the tying goal (7-7) goal with 1:50 remaining, opening the door for Azzaro's game-winner.

"Chemistry is very important," Bollini said. "Mike and I played together a long time ago. We always play good together, we understand each other. The key for us was controlling the defense and moving forward.

YP.Com's Mike Azzaro (3) gets control of the ball with teammate Juan Bollini backing him up and Audi's Leo Mandelbaum (2) defending. Photo by Scott Fisher

"We knew we had to be patient, that was the key," Bollini said. "We put the pressure on them."

Krantz, based in Atlanta, played well despite not playing polo for six months. Krantz has been playing polo off-and-on for fifteen years. After an eight-year layoff, he started competing at Grand Champions two years ago.

"I've been working so it's a pleasure and a treat to come down here," Krantz said. "I try to play at least a tournament each season. I love coming down and seeing Marc and Melissa and playing with Juan, he's been a good coach for me.

Audi's Lucas Lalor (3) and his pony lean into the shot with YP.Com's David Krantz (2) defending. Photo by Scott Fisher

"Playing with people so good like Mike and Juan, it gives me great confidence when they get the ball and hit it up to you and you can just go. I have never played with Mike before. To me this is like a fantasy camp, these are guys that you read about."

Azzaro, playing with a bruised shin, is competing in his second consecutive Grand Champions tournament after returning from San Antonio.

"This team is good to play with, it was fun," said Azzaro, who has his wedding anniversary and three kids' birthdays tattooed on his upper arm.

"Juan always plays hard, he's a strong player. Melissa has improved a whole lot since the last time I played with her. She's great to back the ball to because she's very consistent. David had a really good game for not playing for six months. To come in and play the way he did, he did very well."

For Audi, Lucas Lalor led scoring with four goals. Celis scored two goals and Grant Ganzi added another.

Inter-Continental's Alejandro Poma (1) and Gene Goldstein (4) battle Longfield's Hannah Buchan (1) for the ball with Longfield teammate Nic Roldan (3) coming up.

In the Longfield Inter-Continental semifinal, Roldan, still nursing two fractured ribs, led scoring for the second consecutive game with five goals. In two games, Roldan has scored 15 goals.

Teammate Marc Ganzi scored three second-half goals, sparking his team's come-from-behind rally.

Longfield's Marc Ganzi (2) gets ready to hit the ball as Inter-Continental's Gene Goldstein (4) defends and Longfield teammate Hannah Buchan (1) backing Ganzi up. Photo by Scott Fisher

Down 5-3 at the half, Longfield outscored Inter-Continental Hotels, 5-1 in the second half.

Carlucho Arellano led Inter-Continental's scoring with three goals. Alejandro Poma added two and Gene Goldstein had one. Longfield held Brandon Phillips scoreless.

The MVP of Sunday's championship final will be awarded the new Piaget Polo 45 by Lauren Duffy, Piaget Assistant Vice President of Retail Sales and Marketing.

Six 12-goal rated teams are competing in the spring season-ending four-day tournament.

The games are free and open to the public.

The 2013 season has been Grand Champions most competitive with four different champions emerging: ELG/Psycho Bunny (Palm City Open), Power Horse (Polo Gear Invitational), Audi (USPA Spring Challenge and Eastern Challenge) and Pony Express (USPA Sun Cup).

GRAND CHAMPIONS SPRING SCHEDULE

May 22-26: The Memorial by Piaget

GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB

WHERE: On the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington.

INFORMATION: There are great field side views for tournament action at the home base of pro teams Audi and Piaget. Everyone is welcome to watch polo in a relaxed atmosphere during the spring and fall tournament season and other special events including the International Cup in November, Buzz Welker Memorial Junior Tournament in March, Women's Championship Tournament and Gay Polo League International Tournament, both in April.

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