On Sunday, August 31, La Karina (Brian Boyd, Nicolas “Nico” Escobar*, Felipe “Pipe” Vercellino, Carlos “Carlitos” Gracida Jr.) battled Carbenella (Ben Soleimani, Santiago “Santi” Torres*, Ignacio “Nacho” Badiola, Ignacio “Iñaki”Laprida) in the high-stakes championship match of the West Coast’s premier polo event, the U.S. Polo Assn. Pacific Coast Open (PCO), hosted by Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club (SBPRC) in Carpinteria, California. Fueled by a capacity crowd, the apex of the high-goal season proved a test of endurance. Matching each other stride for stride until the final chukker, the team in blue leaned on the experience and accuracy of reigning champion Vercellino to clinch La Karina’s first PCO title.
Kicking-off Sunday’s Southern California showdown, two goals from Torres in the opening chukker gave Carbenella a 2-1 edge. Shifting the momentum, contributions from La Karina’s Vercellino and Escobar propelled the blue team to its first lead, 3-2. In a high-scoring third period, Laprida led Carbenella from the penalty line, but a dominant response from Vercellino sent the teams into the break tied 6-all.
GOAL HIGHLIGHTS
Chukker 3 – Felipe “Pipe” Vercellino
Chukker 4 – Carbenella’s Santiago “Santi” Torres
Chukker 2 – La Karina’s Felipe “Pipe” Vercellino
Chukker 2 – La Karina’s Nicolas “Nico” Escobar
Chukker 3 – Carbenella’s Santiago “Santi” Torres
Chukker 3 – Felipe “Pipe” Vercellino
Chukker 4 – Carbenella’s Santiago “Santi” Torres
Chukker 2 – La Karina’s Felipe “Pipe” Vercellino
Chukker 2 – La Karina’s Nicolas “Nico” Escobar
SEPTEMBER 1, 2025
Neck and neck throughout the fourth chukker, back-to-back goals from Torres restored Carbenella’s lead, 8-7. Two goals from Vercellino briefly put La Karina ahead once more, but a Penalty 2 from Laprida ended the fifth chukker in another tie. Breaking the deadlock in the final minutes of play, two crucial conversions off the mallet of Vercellino ultimately delivered La Karina the 12-10 victory.
PLAYER INTERVIEWS
La Karina’s Nicolas “Nico” Escobar
La Karina’s Brian Boyd
La Karina’s Felipe “Pipe” Vercellino
La Karina’s Nicolas “Nico” Escobar
La Karina’s Felipe “Pipe” Vercellino
La Karina’s Felipe “Pipe” Vercellino
La Karina’s Felipe “Pipe” Vercellino
La Karina’s Brian Boyd
La Karina’s Nicolas “Nico” Escobar
La Karina’s Brian Boyd
La Karina’s Felipe “Pipe” Vercellino
La Karina’s Nicolas “Nico” Escobar
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Leading La Karina with nine goals in the final, Felipe “Pipe” Vercellino was named Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive year. Vercellino’s latest victory marked his fourth (2017, 2019, 2024) PCO title, with fellow 2017 Farmers & Merchants Bank teammate Nicolas “Nico” Escobar claiming his second victory. Brian Boyd and Carlos “Carlitos” Gracida Jr. etched their names onto the five-foot trophy for the first time, with Gracida Jr. proudly joining his Hall of Fame father, Carlos Gracida, and uncle, Guillermo “Memo” Gracida Jr.
Best Playing Pony was awarded to Ignacio “Iñaki” Laprida’s Biceps Slash (GT Argos x Moro Ferrari). The 8-year-old mare played in the second and fifth chukkers and made a brief return in the sixth.
The U.S. Polo Assn. Pacific Coast Open is available On-Demand.WATCH HERE
*Nicolas “Nico” Escobar is a Graduating Team USPA Member and Santiago “Santi” Torres is Team USPA alumnus. 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.
All photos courtesy of ©David Lominska.