The Setai Rallies For First U.S. Open Win; Next Up, La Fe/Eastern Hay On Monday

WELLINGTON, FL., April 3, 2025---On a hot, humid day, The Setai, making its U.S. Open Polo Championship debut, won its first game Wednesday at National Polo Center.

By Sharon Robb

Photos by Candace Ferreira

After losing a 13-12 overtime heartbreaker to Pilot in its opener, The Setai (Melissa Ganzi/Marc Ganzi 0, Gonzalito Pieres, 8, Nic Roldan, 7, Santi Toccalino, 7) rallied in the second half to hand Brookshire (Scott Wood 0, Segundo Saravi 5, Toly Ulloa 7, Jeta Castagnola 10) its first loss, 13-12.

The Setai (1-1) continues bracket play on Monday against La Fe/Eastern Hay (Louis Devaleix 1, Robi Bilbao 5, Keko Magrini 6, Francisco Elizalde 9), 13-8 losers to Coca-Cola, also on Wednesday. There are now six teams at 1-1.

The Setai outscored Brookshire, 8-5, in the second half with five unanswered goals to clinch the win.

In the fourth chukker, after Castagnola gave Brookshire an 8-5 lead with 6:04 remaining, Melissa Ganzi's horse was hit hard by a ball with 1:49 left. Ganzi, shaken and concerned for her horse, left the game and was replaced by her husband Marc Ganzi, just coming off a three-month layoff for major shoulder surgery and rehab.

After a short break for the player substitition, Pieres and Roldan came up with defensive assists for Toccalino who scored goals at 1:33 and :55 seconds in the fourth chukker and 6:53 in the fifth to tie the game, 8-8. After two missed scoring opportunities by The Setai, Castagnola scored three consecutive goals for an 11-8 lead.

The Setai fought back again late in the fifth chukker after Castagnola missed a 40-yard penalty. The momentum then shifted when Roldan stole the ball and scored on a near side neck shot to trail 11-9 going into the sixth chukker. From then on, it was all The Setai.

Roldan opened the sixth chukker with another goal at the 6:30 mark to trail 11-10. Two minutes later, Roldan drew a foul setting up Toccalino's 30-yard penalty to tie the game, 11-11. Castagnola was called for a turning violation setting up a 60-yard penalty. Toccalino took the shot with Ganzi deflecting away from his horse into the goal mouth to give The Setai its first lead since the first half, 12-11.

Brookshire, unraveling with several unforced errors (18 for the game), missed a scoring opportunity with 3:18 left. Ganzi then drew a foul on Ulloa giving The Setai a center hit while using up the clock. Brookshire was called for a right- of-way violation on Toccalino, setting up his final heroics of the game. His 60-yard penalty conversion attempt was deflected but turned into a safety which Toccalino converted with 40 seconds left to seal the game. Castagnola scored the final goal.

The first half was just as close. The Setai shot 43 percent (3-of-7) and Brookshire shot 40 percent (4-of-10). The Setai was 2-for-2 and Brookshire was 3-of-4 in penalty shots. Brookshire led in fouls, 8-7, and throw-ins, 7-6. There were only a total of three knock-ins taken.

The Setai, looking sharper than it did in its opener, started off strong early in the opening chukker with Pieres stealing the ball and turning it into a goal. After Castagnola converted a 60-yard penalty, The Setai grabbed a 3-1 lead with Pieres' goal off the throw-in and Toccalino's 30-yard penalty conversion after Melissa Ganzi drew the foul. Castagnola scored back-to-back goals to tie, 3-3, heading into the second chukker.

The Setai had its share of opportunities from the center line but couldn't finish while Brookshire scored two more goals by Ulloa and Castagnola in the second chukker for a 5-3 advantage. Toccalino's 40-yard penalty conversion cut the lead to 5-4 with a minute left.

The Setai tied the game, 5-5, on Toccalino's goal with a defensive assist from Roldan with 5:52 left. In the final two minutes of the first half, Castagnola converted a 30-yard penalty and Saravi scored on a cut shot for a 7-5 halftime lead.

Toccalino led The Setai with a team-high nine goals. Pieres and Roldan each had two goals. For Brookshire, Castagnola had a team-high nine goals. Ulloa and Saravi each added one.

For the game, The Setai shot 47 percent (7-of-15) and Brookshire shot 37 percent (7-of-19). Brookshire led in throw-ins won, 13-11. The Setai led in knock-ins taken, 7-5. There were 30 fouls in the game with Brookshire committing 18. The Setai converted 6-of-8 penalty shots and Brookshire 5-of-7.

All teams play three preliminary cross bracket matches each. Bracket I will play Bracket II and Bracket III will play Bracket IV. Following preliminary play, teams ranked 1-8 will automatically advance to the quarterfinals. If two teams have tied records and they have played each other, the tie is broken by who beat who. All other ties will be broken by a one- player shootout. To determine quarterfinal pairings, teams ranked 1, 2, 3, 4 will draw from teams ranked 5, 6, 7, 8. Ranking will be on record first, then net goals, then coin toss.

It was only The Setai's third game as a team. The Setai tuned up for the 12-team tournament in the  USPA Gold Cup subsidiary Bennie Gutierrez Memorial, losing a close one to eventual champion BTA (Nachi Viana, 7, Steve Krueger, 5, Tommy Panelo, 10, Kelly Beal, 0), 9-8.

The Setai is one of 12 teams entered in the U.S. Open, the most prestigious polo tournament in the United States, attracting fans and polo enthusiasts from across the United States and around the world. All games are being live streamed by USPA Polo Network.

In last year's final, La Dolfina (Alejandro Aznar, Rufino Merlos, Poroto Cambiaso, Tommy Panelo) defeated Valiente (Adolfo Cambiaso, Peke Gonzalez Jr., Paco de Narvaez Jr., Joaquin “Pelo” Vilgre La Madrid), 10-7.

The Setai Miami Beach is a longtime supporter of polo. The Setai competes in the annual World Polo League Beach Polo World Cup and after the excitement of each day’s matches, hosts The Setai for Apres Polo, an exclusive evening celebration featuring cocktails, music, and mingling under the Miami Beach sky. It’s been referred to as "the perfect spot to unwind, connect, and celebrate the iconic beach polo event."

The Setai is a diamond among hotels in Miami Beach, where guests feel inspired by a place where undivided attention is tailored to their unique sensibilities and where East meets West. It is a place where time-honored Asian-inspired philosophies endure and are strongly felt throughout masterful dining, leisure and spa experiences, exceptionally appointed accommodations and immersive spaces located on Collins Avenue oceanfront.