Feb 03, 2021 6:33 PM
Story courtesy of International Polo Club Palm Beach
Competing throughout the 18-goal season with Beverly Polo (Bill Ballhaus, Lucas Diaz Alberdi, Hilario Figueras, Jorge “Tolito” Fernandez Ocampo Jr., Peke Gonzalez*), Hilario Figueras welcomed the new year with a strong start after his team reached the Joe Barry Memorial Final and earned a spot in the Ylvisaker Cup Semifinal at the International Polo Club Palm Beach (Wellington, Florida). Raised to a 4-goal handicap in 2021, Figueras has justified the increase, leading Beverly Polo in goals for both the Ylvisaker Cup and 18-goal season. Given the responsibility of taking Beverly Polo’s Penalty 2 and 3 attempts, Figueras has converted a perfect nine for nine in the Ylvisaker Cup; a trend he will look to continue entering the semifinal against Tamera.
One of the youngest players this season at just 20 years old, Figueras comes from a notable polo-playing family, the son of polo player and model Nacho Figueras. Prior to joining Beverly Polo for his first major season of high-goal competition at IPC, Figueras has competed in Santa Barbara (California) as well as recently in Virginia with Ballhaus and the Beverly Polo organization. Familiar playing alongside both Ballhaus and Ocampo Jr., the trio were finalists in the $50,000 National 12-Goal Tournament (Grand Champions Polo Club) in 2018. Although still in the early stages of his career, Figueras can add the 2020 St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship to his list of accolades.
Building on his experiences each year, Figueras has excelled with Beverly Polo, ranking third among all players in scoring with 20 goals in the Joe Barry Memorial and Ylvisaker Cup. While his focus in open play has been on the defensive side of the ball in the number four position, he has pushed to the top of the scoring list with 75% of his goals coming from the penalty line. Figueras’ impact for Beverly Polo has been in his consistency, gaining possession with 12 throw-in wins, ranking second on the team, while avoiding fouling by committing just three fouls in three games of the Ylvisaker Cup. Scoring five goals against Tamera in their previous match-up, Figueras will be focused on slowing tournament scoring leader Diego Cavanagh in hopes of reaching his third consecutive final to start the year.
Beverly Polo will challenge Tamera in the Ylvisaker Cup Semifinal on Thursday, February 4, at 12:00pm ET to determine which team will advance to the final. The Semifinal and Final will be livestreamed exclusively on Global Polo TV.
*Peke Gonzalez is an Active Team USPA Member. Team USPA is a USPA program designed to enhance and grow the sport of polo in the United States by identifying young, talented American players and providing mentored training and playing opportunities leading to a pool of higher rated amateur and pro players and the resultant giveback to the sport of polo
Effective Date: Saturday, May 16, 2020
The suspension of USPA Tournaments and Events will be lifted for USPA Member Clubs in locales where hosting polo matches and tournaments is permitted under applicable state and local laws, executive orders and similar decrees. The USPA Member Clubs in these locales are encouraged to follow all such requirements of their state and local authorities with respect to polo operations. In addition, we also encourage all USPA Member Clubs to take the precautions recommended by the CDC. We are preparing a detailed list of best practices for USPA Member Clubs as they return to hosting USPA Tournaments and Events and plan to circulate these guidelines within the next week. We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely and will notify you if we determine a different course of action is necessary.
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