Basque pelota blog in english – Dos paredes

Saturday 12^th June, Tolosa

ARITZ LASA beat BEROIZ 22-15

Second Tier Manomanista Final

It was no simple matter to pick a winner ahead of Saturday’s final. Mikel Beroiz had the pedigree in the competition, coming into this year’s tournament as defending champion, but Aritz Lasa had had the better championship thus far. The Tolosa faithful turned out with enthusiasm, and the atmosphere at Beotibar was fitting for a final which promised so much. In the ultimate analysis, Aritz Lasa proved the stronger, rendering the younger player powerless to act by means of a rip roaring serve. Lasa’s victory ended a seven year drought in this competition for pelotaris from Gipuzkoa, the last winner from that province being Kepa Penagarikano, in 2003.

The opening spell of the game appeared to signal great things to come for Beroiz, as the defending champion powered to a 4-1 lead, clearly dominant. However, when he allowed his rival into the game by striking too high, taking the score to 4-2, there was a sharp about turn in the colour of the match. Aritz Lasa, perhaps realising his inferiority in the long rally, used his own chosen balls to the maximum of their potential, winning eleven of his twenty two points with service winners. Beroiz resisted manfully, his best spell coming between 4-7 and 8-7, when he defended like a demon, deploying his powerful left arm when possible. He pushed the score on to 10-8, and once again looked to be in a strong position. However, Lasa had much more to give, and in the ensuing whirlwind, turned an 8-10 deficit into a 20-10 lead. The light had been snuffed out for Beroiz, with permanence. In the face of the Lasa serve, Beroiz was never comfortable and was at times utterly swamped. A top defender should have done rather better.

Aritz Lasa’s txapela is the culmination of a superb sustained effort throughout this tournament, for which he had to qualify through a preliminary round. Beroiz, being the 2009 winner, was granted a bye through the early stages but this year failed to live up to his reputation, squeezing through the quarter finals with the help of Retegi Bi’s defection to the main championship, and edging Urrutikoetxea in the semis by the narrowest of margins. He remains, however, a player of the greatest promise for the future, at the age of only 21. But this was Lasa’s day, the biggest sporting triumph of his 26 years, and one that all of Urretxu should savour.

Scoring sequence: 0-1, 4-1, 4-7, 8-7, 8-8, 10-8, 10-20, 13-20, 13-21, 15-21, 15-22.

Duration: 51 minutes

Strikes of the ball: 179

Service winners: Beroiz 3, Aritz Lasa 11

Winners in open play: Beroiz 11 Aritz Lasa 9

Errors: Beroiz 2, Aritz Lasa 1

Aritz Lasa triumphant

Image from: Gara, Sources: Diario de Navarra, Diario Vasco

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After over two months of competition, the Second Tier Manomanista is down to the last two, and the final takes place at Beotibar on Saturday. Of the finalists, defending champion Mikel Beroiz has had the less protracted run to the final, although he has been far from invincible on the way. As last year’s winner, he was granted a bye in the first stage and entered at the point of the quarter final league. He lost his first match heavily, 13-22 to Retegi Bi, who was to leave the tournament to replace Gonzalez in the Manomanista shortly. He then won a tough fight against Oier Mendizabal by 22 points to 18, before losing again in his last group match, to Inigo Leiza, 17-22. He was therefore very lucky to make it through the semis; if Retegi Bi, who won both his games had remained, he would have been out. However, given his chance, he stepped up to the plate, triumphing in a tense match against Mikel Urrutikoetxea, 22-20, to reach the final.

Aritz Lasa had to work much harder to arrive at the final. He was put, my Aspe, through a pre-qualifying round before he could even take his place in the main competition, and came through this my the proverbial skin of his teeth, 22-21 against Merino. In the first stage proper, he found his form and came through easily against Cabrerizo, 22-13. He then won two of his three matches in the quarter final league, against Asier Berasaluze 22-12, and the second narrowly over exciting debutant Lemuno, 22-21. Not for the first time, Lasa sailed close to the wind here. He lost his third game 18-22 to Urrutikoetxea, who topped the group, but this was of no matter. His semi final was against Leiza, who he despatched without too much fuss, by 22 points to 16.

It is no easy task to pick the winner here. Beroiz, being the defending champion and a confirmed top young talent, is the natural favourite, but he has looked far from totally secure in the past few weeks. Aritz Lasa meanwhile has more experience and appears to be building nicely. He is a consistent performer who would be a richly deserving winner. Tune in on Saturday to see the drama played out.

Friday 11^th June, Logrono

22:25 (CEST) BERASALUZE IX – CECILIO v CABRERIZO II – MERINO

23:30 (CEST) TITIN III – PASCUAL v GONZALEZ – LASKURAIN

Saturday 12^th June, Tolosa

17:25 (CEST) ARRETXE II – MENDIZABAL II v IDOATE – BARRIOLA

Followed by BEROIZ v ARITZ LASA Second Tier Manomanista Final

These matches can be seen at http://www.eitb.com/television/etb-sat

Can Aritz Lasa upset Beroiz?

Image from: Noticias de Gipuzkoa, by Jose Sampedro

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After a week’s reverie, the Manomanista returns this weekend. We are now at the semi final stage and there is nowhere to hide for the final four, for whom victory is now imperative. On paper, the games look fairly clear cut. In the first, Asier Olaizola plays Xala, and while Olaizola has battled royally to reach the last four, Xala is the form player of the year and has reached this stage with imperious ease. An upset is very much on if Olaizola can come out all guns blazing, but it is hard to bet against Xala breezing into the final.

In the second semi final, defending champion Juan Martinez de Irujo takes on Patxi Ruiz. Irujo is hard to stop under any circumstances, but like Xala, he has arrived in the last four undefeated and full of confidence. Patxi Ruiz, often an enigma, cannot be entirely written off, but he will have to play the game of his life. He was perhaps a little lucky to come through the group stages, benefitting as he did from Aimar Olaizola’s untimely injury, but he looked in fine fettle against Retegi Bi, whom he out powered impressively. Irujo, though, is an entirely different prospect.

As an aside, last week the second tier Manomanista competition saw its semi final stage and we now know that the final will be played between defending champion Mikel Beroiz (who beat Urrutikoetxea 22-20) and Aritz Lasa (who beat Leiza 22-16). The final will take place on Saturday 12^th June at Beotibar in Tolosa.

Friday 4^th June, Sodupe

22:25 (CEST) CABRERIZO II – LARRINAGA v IBAI PEREZ – GALARZA VI

23:30 (CEST) TITIN III – LASKURAIN v ARITZ LASA – BARRIOLA

Saturday 5^th June, Pamplona

17:35 (CEST) BERASALUZE VIII – IBAI ZABALA v SARALEGI – BEGINO

Followed by OLAIZOLA I v XALA Manomanista Semi Final

Sunday 6^th June, Eibar

16:55 (CEST) OLAZABAL – ZUBIETA v IDOATE – PASCUAL

Followed by MARTINEZ DE IRUJO – PATXI RUIZ Manomanista Semi Final

All these matches can be viewed online at http://www.eitb.com/television/etb-sat

Xala and Olaizola I lock horns on Saturday

Image from Gara (Juanan RUIZ/ARGAZKI PRESS)

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This weekend it is the turn of Group B in the Manomanista Championship to take centre stage. This is of course a group which has been much changed by injury, and Saturday’s match is between the two substitute players, Arretxe II and Retegi Bi. Both, through no fault of their own, arrive at this point with one loss in bag from the first rotation. On Sunday, the two victors from the first round of matches face each other, with Xala the hot favourite. The man from Iparralde annihilated Gonzalez in his first game, while Patxi Ruiz advanced when Aimar Olaizola fell injured. Ruiz was however playing well up until that point, and will surely take the fight to Xala. In addition, there are two matches from the 2nd Tier Manomanista quarter finals.

Friday 7th May, Orduna

22:25 (CET) BERASALUZE VIII – BEGINO v SARALEGI – APRAIZ

23:35 (CET) LEIZA – BEROIZ 2nd Tier Pairs Championship

Saturday 8th May, Pamplona

17:20 (CET) BERASALUZE VIII – IBAI ZABALA v SARALEGI – OTXANDORENA

Followed by ARRETXE II v RETEGI BI Manomanista Group B

Sunday 9th May, Eibar

17:00 (CET) MENDIZABAL II v MERINO 2nd Tier Manomanista Championship

18:10 (CET) PATXI RUIZ v XALA Manomanista Group B

All these matches can be viewed at http://www.eitb.com/television/etb-sat

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Aspe have announced that Sebastien Gonzalez sustained an injury to his right leg in his match against Xala on Sunday which will rule him out of the remainder of the Manomanista Championship. Following on from the serious injury to Aimar Olaizola, Gonzalez becomes the second pelotari from Group B to bite the dust. His place will now be taken by Retegi Bi, who had already reached the semi finals in the second tier championship. Retegi Bi’s will be replaced by Merino.

He was taken to the San Miguel Clinic in Pamplona for an MRI scan which revealed a grade I-II thigh injury involving broken fibers. He will be treated initially with rest, cryotherapy and taping. Physiotherapy and physical rehabilitation will follow, and it is hoped that he will return to the fronton in five to six weeks.

Source: Aspe

Gonzalez: on the sidelines

Image from: Diario de Navarra, by Eduardo Buxens

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Asegarce have today announced that French Basque Stephane Lemouneau will make his debut on Monday in Tolosa after signing a contract with the empresa for the next two years. He will take the place of Iker Arretxe in the Second Tier Manomanista championship, after the announcement that Arretxe will move into the Manomanista spot left open by Aimar Olaizola.

Source: Asegarce

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Aspe report that Pairs Champion Aitor Zubieta will not be able to start the Second Tier Manomanista Championship. The 26 year old finished the Pairs final with severe pain in his right hand and a medical examination revealed two areas of concern. After a fitness test it was decided to pull him from the championship. His first game would have been tonight, against Aritz Lasa; he has been replaced by Asier Berasaluze.

Source: Aspe

The luckless Zubieta

Image from: El Correo

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Amid much excitement, the 2010 Manomanista Championship commences this weekend with two matches in Group A. The highlight of the weekend promises to be the game on Sunday between defending champion Juan Martinez de Irujo and Abel Barriola, who won in 2002 and has twice been runner up since. Irujo will be the clear favourite; Barriola’s form is unclear given his recent return from long term injury. At his best though, the man from Leitza is a match for anyone in the game. On Saturday, Asier Olaizola plays 2008 winner Oinatz Bengoetxea. This one is harder to call; Bengoetxea should logically be the pick but his form in the Pairs Championship left much to be desired. There is also a televised match in the Second Tier Manomanista, where Asier Beraslauze (the replacement for the injured Pairs Champion Aitor Zubieta) takes on Aritz Lasa.

Friday 16th April, Urretxu

22:25 (CET) APEZETXEA – EULATE v OLAZABAL – ARRUTI

23:30 (CET) BERASALUZE IX v ARITZ LASA Second Tier Manomanista

Saturday 17th April, Pamplona

17:30 (CET) BERASALUZE VIII – APRAIZ v SARALEGI – BEGINO

Followed by: OLAIZOLA I v BENGOETXEA VI Manomanista

Sunday 18th April, Eibar

16:50 (CET) MARTINEZ DE IRUJO v BARRIOLA Manomanista

All matches can be viewed at http://www.eitb.com/television/etb-sat

Barriola is back on the biggest stage

Image from: Noticias de Alava

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The fifteen pelotaris who will take to the fronton in the Second Tier Manomanista Championship were presented to the media in Bilbao today, at the headquarters of sponsor, Ipar Kutxa. Nine are from Asegarce and Six are from Aspe. They are as follows:

For Asegarce: Argote, Arretxe II, Ibai Zabala, Iza, Leiza, Mendizabal II, Olaetxea, Penagarikano and Urrutikoetxea

For Aspe: Aritz Lasa, Beroiz, Cabrerizo, Merino, Retegi Bi and Zubieta

See here for dates and fixtures

Mikel Beroiz returns to defend his title

Image from: Deia

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Friday 26th March, Casalarreina

22:25 (CET) APEZETXEA – LARRINAGA v IBAI PEREZ – GALARZA VI

23:35 (CET) TITIN III – CECILIO v RETEGI BI – BARRIOLA

Saturday 27th March, Pamplona

17:55 (CET) MARTINEZ DE IRUJO – EULATE v OLAIZOLA II – APRAIZ

Followed by: SARALEGI – ESKUDERO v ARRETXE II – IBAI ZABALA 2nd Tier Pairs Final

Sunday 28th March, Eibar

17:05 (CET) URBERUAGA v CABRERIZO II 2nd Tier Manomanista qualification

18:10 (CET) OLAZABAL – PASCUAL v IDOATE – GONI III

To watch, go to http://www.eitb.com/television/etb-sat

Ekaitz Saralegi seeks glory on Saturday

Image from: Diario Vasco

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