Basque pelota blog in english – Dos paredes

Sunday 21st November, Logrono

GONZALEZ beat TITIN III 22-20

Cuatro y Medio Semi Final

The partisan home crowd which packed Adarraga on Sunday came prepared to cheer their hero Titin to victory over the defending champion, Gonzelez. The atmosphere was electric, as befitted a match of such great importance. For a while, it looked as if the fans would be satisfied in grand style, as Titin raced to an 8-0 lead, moving the ball excellently, and leaving Gonzalez with little room to operate. However, Gonzalez refused to be bowed and when he finally gathered himself for an assault brought his full armoury of weapons to the table. He pulled himself back into the contest point by point initially, but then hit a patch of brilliance, winning six points on the trot to come within one point of Titin at 10-11. From there, the protagonists could barely be split, tying at 12, 13, 15, 16, 18 and 20. Either could have produced the winning break, such was the closeness of the rallying, but in the end it was Gonzalez who held his nerve to take a scintillating victory, 22-20. The defending champion has now won one and lost one in the semi final league, and is still very much in the running for the final. Titin is, in contrast, all but out.

Scoring sequence: 1-0 / 8-0 / 8-3 / 10-3 / 11-4 / 11-10 / 12-10 / 12 / 13 / 15 / 16 / 18 / 20 / 20-22

Gonzalez's title defence continues

Image from: Sudouest, by P. Berniere

Share on Facebook

Sunday 14^th November, Logrono

MARTINEZ DE IRUJO beat TITIN III 22-17

Cuatro y Medio Semi Final

Titin III took on Martinez de Irujo in the Riojan fortress of Adarraga yesterday, and must have hoped that the baying home fans would give him the vital edge he required over the tournament favourite. For a few fleeting moments of optimism, it looked as if victory might be on the cards for the tireless veteran, but Irujo, lethal when he comes from behind, put well and truly paid to any false hopes.

Irujo started as he meant to go on, with precision, speed and venom. The man from Ibero put eight points past the local favourite to only two in reply, showing the full range of his shot play and landing winners with incredible accuracy. Titin survived remarkably error free, but had little answer to the onslaught of Irujo. Titin slowly clawed his way back into the game however, taking advantage of seven errors in the match from Irujo, who allowed his rival to close to 7-10, 8-11 and 12-12. From parity at 14-14, Titin surged forward with new found confidence, to lead at 17-14. However, it was not to be, much to the chagrin of the crowd of over 1000, as Irujo showed why he is the best in the game. The Manomansita champion pulled seven straight winners out of the fire, relentless and devastating.

Irujo made significantly more mistakes than Titin across the match, seven to only one, but he also piled up an astonishing seventeen winners, eleven more than his opponent, and it was this which swayed the match. In the middle period, many shots which would earlier have curled inside the line, went out by millimetres, but he relocated his radar in the nick of time, and there was nothing Titin could do in reply. He will now meet Barriola at Labrit on Sunday, while Titin plays this week’s other loser, Gonzalez, back in the bear pit of Adarraga.

Scoring sequence: 0-1, 6-1, 6-2, 8-2, 8-5, 10-5, 10-7, 11-7, 11-8, 12-8, 12-12, 14-12, 14-17, 22-17.

Winners: Irujo 17, Titin 6

Errors: Irujo 7, Titin 1

Service winners: Irujo 2, Titin 3

Service errors: Irujo 0, Titin 0

4 ½ line errors: Irujo 1, Titin 0

Source: Diario de Navarra

Irujo marches on

Image from: Kiroljokoa

Share on Facebook

Sunday 26th September, Logrono

BENGOETXEA VI – PATXI RUIZ beat MARTINEZ DE IRUJO – PASCUAL 22-20

In front of a large, enthusiastic audience at Adarraga, San Mateo’s two best pairs put on a show to remember on Sunday night. In a match full of drama, tension and emotion, the brilliant Oinatz Bengoetxea and his perfect foil Patxi Ruiz seized the prestigious tournament from favourites Irujo and Pascual to put the finishing touches to a wonderful summer. The Asegarce pair had already won at San Fermin and Zarautz (Oinatz also took the San Sebastian title with Barriola) but this was possibly their most satisfying win of all, coming as it did over Irujo, who battled like the champion that he is. Both forwards put on a show, striking eleven winners apiece, and attacking each other all out from the gun, each determined to impose his will on the match. The pace was feverish and there was nothing to chose between them. Despite the focus on the battle up front, it was the rejuvinated Patxi Ruiz, with his three winners from the back, who made the difference. Fittingly, it was he who sealed the win with a glorious forehand. The pair leapt with jubilation as Irujo and Pascual were left to rue their missed chances.

Oinatz and Patxi have been the partnership of the summer, but next time they meet on a fronton they will be opponents. The two have been drawn against each other in the second semi final of the Nitro Cuatro y Medio tournament in Zalla. The other semi involves Martinez de Irujo and Barriola, setting up the mouthwatering prospect of a possible rematch between Oinatz and Irujo in another final. Both games take place on Saturday with the final scheduled for 9th October.

Scoring sequence: 1-0, 1-2, 2-2, 2-3, 3-3, 3-4, 4-4, 4-6, 5-6, 5-8, 6-8, 6-9, 9-9, 9-12, 10-12, 10-13, 11-13, 11-14, 15-14, 15-16, 17-16, 17-19, 19-19, 19-21, 20-21, 20-22.

Winners: Bengoetxea VI 11 (plus 1 service winner), Irujo 11, Ruiz 3, Pascual 0

Errors: Bengoetxea VI 4, Irujo 2, Ruiz 5, Pascual 5

Balls hit: 776

Match time: 76 minutes, with 35:39 minutes of actual playing time

Source Diario Vasco

Oinatz on fire

Image from Deia

Share on Facebook

Thursday 23^rd September, Logrono

MARTINEZ DE IRUJO – PASCUAL beat SARALEGI – BEGINO 22-4

The fans at Adarraga last night anticipated an exciting forward battle between the master Irujo and the in-form Saralegi, who had played perhaps his best ever match as a professional in putting Xala to the sword last week. However, they left disappointed as the Manomanista Champion swept all before him in a display of breathtaking virtuosity. Saralegi and Begino hoped to spring a surprise, but the forward from Amezketa looked tense and anxious, and was never afforded any space to act. Irujo bossed the game from start to finish, doing what he liked, when he liked. Pascual, his reliable partner, did not put a foot wrong, but was for the most part a bystander as the star of the show made hay. To make matters worse for Asegarce, Begino ended the match with stitches in his elbow after a collision with the wall.

Irujo and Pascual advance to Sunday’s final. The identity of their opponents hangs on tonight’s game between Bengoetxea VI – Patxi Ruiz and Olaizola I – Apraiz. If Bengoetxea and Ruiz win, they are through, thanks to the narrow victory over Titin and Barriola they already have in the bag. If they lose, Titin and Barriola may go through on points difference.

Scoring sequence: 0-1, 8-1, 8-2, 15-2, 15-3, 19-3, 19-4, 22-4

Winners: Irujo 13, Pascual 0, Saralegi 2, Begino 1

Service winners: Irujo 5

Errors: Irujo 1, Pascual 0, Saralegi 2, Begino 2

Match time: 43 minutes

Balls hit: 406

Share on Facebook

Friday 24th September, Logrono

22:25 (CEST) MENDIZABAL – URRIZELKI v APEZETXEA – LARRINAGA

23:30 (CEST) OLAIZOLA I* – APRAIZ v BENGOETXEA VI – PATXI RUIZ Torneo San Mateo

*Olaizola  replaces Berasaluze VIII

Sunday 26th September, Logrono

16:55 (CEST) OLAIZOLA I – BELOKI v ARITZ LASA – LASKURAIN

18:05 (CEST) MARTINEZ DE IRUJO – PASCUAL v ????? – ????? Torneo San Mateo Final

To watch, visit http://www.eitb.com/television/etb-sat/en-directo

Share on Facebook

Wednesday 22^nd September, Logrono

TITIN III – MERINO II beat BERASALUZE VIII – APRAIZ 22-4

The young Riojan defender David Merino has been a professional a mere two months. Many in his position would have wilted under the pressure of being required to fill the shoes of the great Abel Barriola, arguably the best defender in the current game, but the 20 year old seized the game from the very first point and was the undoubted star of the evening. The game was brought to an abrupt halt as a contest with the cut to Berasaluze’s hand, which occurred with the score on 10-4 to the eventual winners. The Asegarce forward left the fronton to receive three stitches, and when he returned he was nigh on powerless to stop the rot, but the pattern had been set by then, and it is clear that the better side won. The solid Titin and his young foil made 11 winners between them, five of those coming from Merino, and committed no errors. Their opponents made four winners and nine errors, and from 4-4, they failed to win another point, showing no imagination, no spark and no potency.

Titin and Merino are not yet guaranteed a place in the final, as that will depend on the result of the game between last night’s losers and Bengoetxea VI-Patxi Ruiz. Tonight, Martinez de Irujo and Pascual take on Saralegi and Begino for a place in the last two.

Scoring sequence: 0-1, 4-1, 4-4, 22-4

Winners: Titin III 6, Merino II 5, Berasaluze VIII 4, Apraiz 0.

Errors: Titin III 0, Merino II 0, Berasaluze VIII 3, Apraiz 6

Balls hit: 245

Match time: 41 minutes

New boy David Merino is living up to his promise

Image from Diario de Navarra, sources Diario Vasco, El Correo

Share on Facebook

Tuesday 21st September, Logrono

MARTINEZ DE IRUJO – PASCUAL beat XALA – LASKURAIN 22-20

Last night, Manomanista Champion Juan Martinez de Irujo made his first appearance at San Mateo, and his presence was reflected in the box office, for Adarraga was expectantly full. Sadly for the fans however, this was a match to forget, characterised more by errors than by brilliance. Despite their winning scoreline, Irujo and Pascual shared thirteen unforced errors between them, four more than were struck by their opponents. Irujo also managed nine winners, which saved the day, and he was the best of the quartet, but there was nothing flashy about the triumph. Xala was easily below par, just as he was in his first match where he was utterly undone by Saralegi. Laskurain, standing in for the injured Zubieta, played with enthusiasm but too little accuracy, and was just shaded in the defensive stakes by Pascual, who was the more potent. So, Irujo and Pascual proceed to play Saralegi and Begino on Thursday, their hopes still burning brightly. For the losers however, it is the end of the road.

Scoring sequence: 0-1, 1-1, 1-2, 4-2, 4-4, 7-4, 7-5, 9-5, 9-7, 10-7, 10-9, 12-9, 12-12, 18-12, 18-16, 20-16, 20-20, 22-20

Winners: Irujo 9, Pascual 2, Xala 5, Laskurain 1

Errors: Irujo 5, Pascual 7, Xala 4, Laskuarin 5

Balls played: 486

Match time: 61 minutes

Playing time: 23:33 minutes

Tonight’s match is between Berasaluze VIII – Apraiz and Titin III – Merino II. Merino II replaces Barriola who rests a minor injury to his left wrist. It starts around 20:15 (CEST) and can be followed at pelotalive.

A night to forget for Aritz Laskurain

Image from: Deia, sources: Deia, Diario Vasco, El Correo

Share on Facebook

The San Mateo tournament got underway in Logrono, Rioja, on Sunday and the first two matches have gone rather against the expected. On Sunday, reigning pairs champions XALA and ZUBIETA lost to SARALEGI and BEGINO, 22-16. Ekaitz Saralegi was the undoubted star of the show, notching up 17 winners to Xala’s 5. Whereas Xala was below par, the 31 year old from Amezketa was inspired, displaying dogged defence as well as lethal attack. The defenders were more evenly matched. Xala broke free in an extent in the second part of the match the champions came between three points of their rivals at 16-19, but despite a minor strain to Begino’s arm, the Asegarce pair finished the job.

On Monday, BENGOETXEA VI and PATXI RUIZ scraped through 22-21 against TITIN III and BARRIOLA. In a game full of emotion, the Asegarce pair held sway for the majority of the encounter, leading 13-8, 16-12 and 20-13, with Bengoetxea rampant and Ruiz his perfect foil. However, to rapturous approval from the Logrono faithful, Titin and Barriola scrapped their way back to 17-20, before saving four match points to reach 21-21. The fifth proved one too far though, as a txoko from Ruiz won the day.

The battle continues tonight, as MARTINEZ DE IRUJO and PASCUAL take on XALA and LASKURAIN, who stands in for Zubieta. Tomorrow, Wednesday, TITIN III and BARRIOLA take on BERASALUZE VIII and APRAIZ. There will, sadly, be no coverage on ETB Sat.

The impressive Saralegi

 Image from: Noticias de Gipuzkoa, by Jose Sampedro

Share on Facebook

One of the most important tournaments of the summer, that of San Mateo in Logrono, starts on 19th September, with the final being held on the 26th. The six pairs will compete initially in two pools of three, as follows:

Group A: Martinez de Irujo-Pascual, Xala-Zubieta, Saralegi-Begino

Group B: Titin III-Barriola, Berasaluze VIII-Apraiz, Bengoetxea VI-Patxi Ruiz

For a full run down of fixtures, see Asegarce.

There will also be a mano a mano tournament featuring four young players: Lemuno and Albisu from Asegarce, and Ladis Galarza and Merino II from Aspe.

Logrono, Rioja

Image from donquijote.org

Share on Facebook

Sunday 21^st March, Logrono

GONZALEZ – LASKURAIN beat TITIN III – PASCUAL 22-16

Pairs Semi Finals

After Saturday’s starter, in which Xala and Zubieta cemented their credentials as txapela contenders, came Sunday’s main course which would decide who would meet them at the top table. The eyes of the pelota world alighted upon Adarraga, in the Riojan town of Logrono, the home fronton of Titin III, and the stage seemed set for the local hero to grasp the last pass to the final. The baying crowd certainly hoped and prayed for such an outcome, and for Gonzalez and Laskurain, this fixture must have felt like running headlong into the jaws of the enemy. However, the ‘away’ couple were not to be overawed, and clinched their ticket to Ogueta in commanding style.

Aritz Laskurain, the unassuming but quietly devastating defender from Soraluze in Gipuzkoa, was the man of the match. He has played this year as if newly invigorated, and can now eye his first major final since 2008, when he along with Titin lost in the final of this very competition to Olaizola II and Mendizabal II. He seems a more consistent player these days, having held his form almost the tournament through, and read the game on Sunday with aplomb. He dominated Pascual, who himself has turned in some stellar performances of late, including that of last weekend, which eliminated Irujo and Beroiz. He and Gonzalez went for the jugular from the drop of the flag, racing to a 14-2 lead, and putting Titin under extraordinary pressure in the process. That the eventual losers pulled the score back to 22-16 by the end could be seen as something of a triumph but in reality their comeback ensued only after Gonzalez and Laskurain had let their foot off the gas. All Rioja was stunned into silence.

Many believed that the insatiable desire of Titin, coupled with the ruthless form of Pascual, would see them through, but they reckoned without the emergence of a rival pair who’s eyes are focussed firmly on the prize. The upshot is that Gonzalez will face Xala in attack on April 4^th in the first all-French-Basque forward battle in the history of championship finals. Xala has been the more consistent across the tournament as a whole but Gonzalez on his day can beat anyone in the world, as he showed in the Cuatro y Medio final against Irujo in December. The defensive battle will be no less fascinating, with a white hot Laskurain fighting Zubieta, who has grown by ten feet since January. After nearly three months of enthralling sport, all is set for the Eastertide showdown in Vitoria-Gasteiz.

Scoring sequence: 0-3, 2-6, 2-14, 4-14, 4-15, 5-15, 7-15, 6-16, 10-16, 10-17, 13-17, 13-18, 13-20, 16-20, 16-22.

Aritz Laskurain: in form

Image from: Gara

Share on Facebook