Basque pelota blog in english – Dos paredes

Affairs are hotting up in the Pairs Championship; with six rotions gone, we have a good idea of who may fill the semi final berths. Two pairs have all but qualified, one is all but out, and the rest are fighting for their lives. For the full table visit Manista.com, here. For remaining fixtures, see Asegarce, here.

(Apologies for the lack of in-depth reports; I was unable to see much of the play this weekend!)

Friday 4^th February, Covaleda

GONZALEZ – LASKURAIN beat TITIN III – PASCUAL 22-10

Sebastien Gonzalez and Aritz Laskurain kept alive their hopes of reaching the last four, with what turned into a crushing defeat of Augusto Ibanez and Inigo Pascual in Covaleda. It was expected to be a tight game, and so it proved for the first twenty points, the pairs reaching stalemate at 10-10 after a tough fight, especially in the back division. However, at this juncture, Titin and Pascual inexplicably capitulated, as their opponents took the next 12 points to win 22-10. Gonzalez and Laskurain looked the cooler and the more efficient, as well as the more inventive, and Titin failed to fire, hitting only five winners to Gonzalez’ seven. The signs are good for the winners, but as a contest, the game all but fizzled out. These two pairs now sit level on points in 5^th and 6^th positions, with Gonzalez and Laskurain ahead on points difference.

Scoring sequence: 3-0, 3-1, 4-1, 4-2, 5-2, 5-4, 6-4, 6-6, 7-7, 8-8, 9-9, 10-10, 10-22.

Saturday 5th February, Zalla

OLAIZOLA II – BEGINO beat BERASALUZE VIII – APRAIZ 22-19

Aimar Olaizola and Aritz Begino kept their unbeaten record alive in Zalla on Saturday, but they were made to work for their victory against a pair very much in the ascendant. Olaizola and Begino were ahead throughout the contest, but never managed to shed their opponents from their coat tails. Berasaluze and Apraiz were seven points behind at 6-13 but scrapped their way back into contention, pushing the eventual winners all the way and making them sweat as they squandered their first two match points. The heart of the encounter lay in defence, where the two evenly matched protagonists fielded strings of improbable balls at will. Berasaluze took the fight to Olaizola in attack, reading the game expertly, and finishing with more winners than his rival. However, Olaizola and Begino produced the goods when it mattered, and remain atop the table, as the only partnership not to drop a game 

Scoring sequence: 0-1, 0-5, 1-5, 2-5, 2-6, 3-6, 3-7, 4-7, 4-8, 4-9, 5-9, 5-10, 5-11, 6-11, 6-12, 6-13, 7-13, 12-13, 12-14, 12-16, 13-16, 14-16, 14-17, 14-18, 15-18, 15-19, 16-19, 17-19, 19-20, 17-21, 18-21, 19-21, 19-22.

Saturday 5^th February, Idiazabal 

BENGOETXEA VI – PATXI RUIZ beat OLAIZOLA I – BELOKI 22-9

The game in Idiazabal went entirely as predicted, with a resounding win for Oinatz Bengoetxea and Patxi Ruiz, who got their campaign back on track after some recent wobbles. The greatest disparity in quality lay in the forwards, where Bengoextea easily eclipsed Asier Olaizola, who has had a torrid time in the competition thus far. Olaizola and Beloki made it their aim to wear Patxi Ruiz down, but their strategy backfired, as the defender from Estella displayed some excellent form and refused to be bowed. There was no contingency plan for the reds, or if there was they proved unable to execute it, and they remain bottom, while Bengoetxea and Ruiz cling onto the last qualification spot in fourth.

Scoring sequence: 0-4, 1-4, 1-6, 2-6, 2-7, 4-7, 4-8, 5-8, 5-12, 6-12, 6-16, 7-16, 7-19, 9-19, 9-22

Sunday 6^th February, Eibar

XALA – BARRIOLA beat MARTINEZ DE IRUJO – MERINO II 22-14

Sunday’s match at Astelena promised much excitement, if only because it is increasingly difficult to predict what Irujo and Merino will bring to the table. Aspe’s mixture of youth and experience has failed to gel, but alone, each of its parts is capable of incredible things. However, as the rational predicted, this was an easy victory for Xala and Barriola, the proven and tested class of the empresa. The eventual winners played with firmness of purpose and ruthless efficiency, testing Merino to his limits and exerting total control. As a partnership, they operate like clockwork. Irujo was unable to find any spark in attack until it was far too late. The reds, who were never within reach, face a near impossible fight to qualify for the semi finals, while Xala and Barriola, who sit second, are virtually assured of progression. 

Scoring sequence: 0-2, 1-2, 2-3, 2-7, 3-7, 3-10, 5-10, 5-12, 6-12, 6-13, 7-13, 8-17, 9-17, 10-17, 12-19, 14-19, 14-22.

(Sources: Aspe and Asegarce)

Begino (left) and Olaizola II stay top

Image from Noticias de Navarra, by J. Sampedro

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Friday 28^th January, Estella-Lizarra

BERASALUZE VIII – APRAIZ beat MARTINEZ DE IRUJO – MERINO II 22-7

After their resurgence last week, when they beat Gonzalez and Laskurain comfortably, many assumed that Irujo and Merino II were now back on track, after their disastrous start in the championship. They were the clear favourites for this fifth week match, but the gremlins reappeared for the Aspe duo, as they met a pairing still riding the crest of a wave after their own fourth week win. Berasaluze and Apraiz outgunned their rivals with ease, Pablo dominating even more than he had done against Bengoetxea VI the week before against an Irujo who was a shadow of his usual self, managing only two winners to his opposite number’s twelve. Merino, while promising and at times brilliant, is still developing, and this was not his finest hour. Is it over and out for the experimental pairing.

Saturday 29th January, Pamplona

GONZALEZ – LASKURAIN beat BENGOETXEA VI – PATXI RUIZ 22-7

After their outstanding 2010 as a pairing, much was expected of Oinatz Bengoetxea and Patxi Ruiz in this year’s contest, but alter two successive defeats, it seems the wheels are coming off. Last week they lost in a closer tussle with Berasaluze and Apraiz, but this time round it was a disaster for the Asegarce hopes. They started well, but as Gonzalez and Laskurain, who were yet to win a match in the competition, swung into action, their opponents had no answer and were outplayed in every department. Neither pair is well placed in the overall standings, but their trajectories Could barely be more different.

Sunday 30th January, Logrono

TITIN III – PASCUAL beat OLAIZOLA I – BELOKI 22-20

After two one sided onslaughts came a far closer match down in Rioja. Titin and Pascual squeezed past Asier Olaizola and Beloki to keep their hopes of reaching the last four alive, and they showed great resilience in coming from behind to take the point. For the most part, the sides were evenly matched; Beloki began well but Pascual, playing better than in recent weeks, was able to match him, and likewise at the front, Olaizola and Titin both winner and errors in turn. The Asegarce pair was ahead for much of the match, and although they were never more than four points in arrears, they appeared as if they would keep their noses in front. However, with the score at 17-19, Titin and Pascual pounced, taking five points without reply. Olaizola and Beloki managed to scrape one back, but the momentum had shifted, terminally.

Pablo Berasaluze: in form

Image from Gara

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On Friday, Irun saw a masterclass from tournament favourites Xala and Barriola, who trounced Titin III and Pascual 22-10. But for a late rally orchestrated by Titin, always venemous when behind, it could have been even worse for the losers, who were down 15-5 and 20-6. Titin and Pascual had nothing to throw at their opponents, who controlled every facet of the game. Barriola, as solid as the walls themselves in defence, served up opportunities to Xala on a plate, and Lekuine’s finest did not disappoint, hitting winner after winner past the nose of the Riojan veteran, who could only look on aghast. Pascual was under pressure from Barriola throughout the game, and rarely broke free from his grip. Despite a late flourish, there was no hope for the eventual losers, and their body language said it all. Xala and Barriola march ever onwards.

Martinez de Irujo and Merino II condemned Gonzalez and Laskurain to their fourth straight defeat, winning 22-10 in Pamplona. Irujo, recovered from his hand problems, scored nine winners and three aces, and was in a different league from Gonzalez who appeared largely powerless. Laskurain leaked points while his young opponent, David Merino, returned with aplomb and read the game beautifully. The Riojan talent is growing in confidence all the time in this his first top level tournament. The scoreline was overwhelming: 2-0, 9-1, 11-4, 16-4, 18-9, 20-10 and 22-10. In only 39 minutes and 311 balls, the win was sealed, and Irujo and Merino are very much back in the semi final fight.

David Merino is a stunning prospect

Image from: Noticias de Navarra

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It was a good two days for Asegarce on Friday and Saturday as both their competing couples brought home the spoils in their third rotation Pairs matches.

For Asier Olaizola and Ruben Beloki, it was the first point of the championship, as they had lost their first two games, and they took it well, beating the fancied Gonzalez and Laskurain 22-16 in Getaria. Olaizola, so often overshadowed by the renown of his younger brother, here let fly, taking the game to Gonzalez who never broke free from the shackles placed on him. The strength of his right arm was especially apparent, and he found space out wide with the left, playing the tight angles with aplomb on his way to ten winners. He was partnered ably by Beloki, who was a safer pair of hands than Laskurain, who blew hot and cold. In the end, the win was more comfortable than most had predicted, and will give the Asegarce partnership some much needed confidence in their tough fight to make the top four.

In Pamplona, Oinatz Benogetxea and Patxi Ruiz took a titanic scrap against Titin III and Inigo Pascual, 22-20. The fans at Labrit were treated to a sensational game in which all four protagonists showed extraordinary skill and verve, playing at breakneck speed and with startling inspiration. It was the forwards who took most of the plaudits from the crowd, who chanted their names with fervour. The 42 year old Titin, who celebrated his birthday this past week, defended like a terrier against the all out attack of the far younger Bengoetxea, and the two traded myriad gantxos and txokos, as if determined not to be outdone. In defence, the fight was just as intense, with Pascual and Ruiz displaying their long range hitting skills to gasps from the assembled crowds. Ruiz last week extended his contract with Asegarce until 2014, and on this showing the management should be rubbing their hands in glee. In the end, Bengoetxea and Ruiz had a fraction more to give, and held their nerve for a memorable win. It is their second of the championship and they are clearly contenders.

Patxi Ruiz is experiencing a purple patch

Image from Diario Vasco

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Sunday 9th January, Logrono

ARITZ LASA – MERINO II beat TITIN III – PASCUAL 22-21

Nobody in their right mind gave Aritz Lasa and David Merino much hope ahead of yesterday’s tie at Adarraga. Lasa, standing in for Martinez de Irujo and his injured hand, was reckoned a lowly substitute in comparison with the champion he replaced, and given that the original combination had received a mauling in their first game, their cause seemed hopeless. Neither could one stand by the contention that the pair would be better than the sum of their parts, as the two men had little or no track record as a combination. Facing them were local titan Titin, and Inigo Pascual, a seasoned pairing and wise heads on experienced shoulders. They, in contrast, had won their first match, against the effervescent Berasaluze VIII and Apraiz, and the second looked ripe for the taking. However, nobody could have written the script for what was to follow.

Lasa and Merino, full of blind hope, blitzed the first portion of the game with a little help from Pascual. Belying the future path of the encounter, Titin seized the opening point with a stunning airez, but the next seven points went the way of the underdogs. Amazingly, the first four of them came from Pascual errors; the usually solid defender had mislaid his radar with a vengeance, unable to find the frontis from any angle or distance. If the first four of their points were handed to them on a plate, the next two demonstrated that the reds were nobody’s fools, taken as they were by two Lasa gantxos, perfectly engineered by both players to leave Titin sprawling in desperation. When Lasa missed a ball flush with the side wall, it seemed as if the favourites might restore some order, but he and Merino marched on in continuing confidence. Lasa continued where he had left off and continued to give Titin the runaround, and an ever more assured Merino worked Pascual over until he crumbled yet again. The point on 9-2 demonstrated just how far Titin and Pascual had fallen, when the former left a ball for the latter, who was nowhere to be seen. A bad day morphed into a farce, and at 13-3 the game looked up; not only were the reds proving to be a well oiled partnership, but the inexperienced Merino’s awareness and reading of the game were exemplary when compared to Pascual’s catastrophic efforts.

However, Titin and Pascual had obviously read the proverb about the fat lady, for the game changed in the blinking of an eye; Lasa and Merino’s slide to 15-15 from a position of such dominance is testament in the main to the never-say-die attitude of Titin. The wily veteran served up individual brilliance to end the point scoring party of the reds, whipping a gantxo out wide to Lasa, whose creditable but shallow return left his partner high and dry. Lasa then succumbed to the same disease which had so afflicted Pascual and missed two simple balls, before Titin, dealing his preferred balls, produced two quickfire service winners and two matter-of-fact txokos. As the reds fell into disarray, miscuing at will and out of position, the blues raced to parity.

The result now seemed a foregone conclusion; the greener pair had had their moment in the sun and the correct order had been restored. However, this was to underestimate the sheer willpower and desire to succeed of Lasa and the youthfully determined Merino, who were in no mood to let their opponents’ momentum gather apace. Instead, they clung on, trading point for point in a grim battle. The favourites took a two point lead at 15-17 thanks to a third fluffed txoko from Lasa and the implosion of a bombarded Merino, but they fought from behind to 17-17 and then 18-18. Again, however, they let their guard slip, two errors from the young defender sending Titin and Pascual to the edge of triumph. Surely at 18-21 there was no way back for the game underdogs? But with Adarraga, filled almost equally with Titin’s tifosi and friends of the younger local boy Merino, in full cry, the game tipped into fever pitch as the red pair saved all three match points thanks to two errors from Titin and a terrifyingly tense exchange, brilliantly won with an overarm swipe by an ecstatic Lasa. In comparison with the point which took the game to 21-21, the final rally was something of an anti-climax in terms of quality, but when Titin, diving in despair, hit low, there was nothing muted about the reaction of the victors.

As a game of pelota, the Riojan faithful witnessed both the sublime and the ridiculous, a curate’s egg, but as a spectacle there will surely be few games in the 2011 championship to match it. Both pairs swung from one extreme both of quality and emotion to the other, but finished almost equal in rating. Lasa and Titin were both inspired and stilted in equal measure, and Titin managed more winners than Lasa but also committed more errors. In the back division, the distinction was clearer. Merino was by no means immune to failure, but he was easily the more potent of the two. Pascual demonstrated his superb ability at fielding the long ball on numerous occasions, but he was far too error prone for this to be a factor. Merino was the cooler, the more assured and the more tactically astute, a fact which will boost his confidence no end after the previous week’s drubbing. Many were quick to condemn the Irujo-Merino experiment then, but with the return of the champion when fully recovered, who is to say that greater heights may not be reached?

Scoring sequence: 0-1, 7-1, 7-2, 12-2, 12-3, 13-3, 13-10, 14-10, 14-14, 15-14, 15-15, 15-17, 17-17, 17-18, 18-18, 18-21, 22-21.

Winners: Lasa 9, Titin 13, Merino 1, Pascual 0

Errors: Lasa 4, Titin 6, Merino 4, Pascual 6

Merino II held his nerve

Image from La Rioja, by Jonathan Herreros

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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

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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

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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

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My blog was out of action for a while, and then there was a Tour de France related hiatus on my part, so my report of the San Fermin Pairs Final rather fell by the wayside. However, belatedly, I can report that the showpiece was won by Asegarce pair Oinatz Bengoetxea and Patxi Ruiz, who defeated Titin and Inigo Pascual in a surprisingly one sided final. The 22-12 scoreline was an accurate reflection of a game in which the Aspe duo never really gained a foothold, in the face of some quick-witted, inventive and brutally accurate play from Bengoetxea, who looked better than he has all year. Ruiz too appeared a pelotari reborn, offering sterling support to his forward partner, who struck nine winners on the way to a compherensive win. The pair looked justly delighted, revelling in their success and also no doubt the party atmosphere of the final night of the great Pamplona festival.

EiTB has a video summary of the match here

Success for Oinatz and Patxi

Image from: Noticias de Alava, by Patxi Cascante

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22:25 (CEST) TITIN III – PASCUAL v BENGOETXEA VI – PATXI RUIZ

Tonight sees not only the culmination of the world famous San Fermin Festival in Pamplona, but the climax of the prestigious pelota tournament which accompanies it. Labrit, the city’s historic fronton, will be packed with fans and revellers alike tonight, as Augusto Ibanez (Titin III) and Inigo Pascual take on Oinatz Bengoetxea and Patxi Ruiz for the prize, in one of the biggest tournaments outside of the three major championships.

Titin came through Group B playing alongside Abel Barriola, but he is forced to miss the final with sore hands. Pascual should prove an able substitute, though that will be no comfort to Barriola, who appears to be regaining his form after his long injury layoff. They reached the final thanks to a tense 22-21 win over Martinez de Irujo and Beroiz on Monday, in sweltering conditions. They had previously defeated Saralegi and Apraiz 22-9.

Bengoetxea and Patxi Ruiz experienced a tough ride through Group A, and showed great character to remain unbeaten. Both their matches, first against Berasaluze VIII and Begino (22-20) and then against Gonzalez and Zubieta (22-19) were tight.

Logic suggests Titin and Pascual will be favourites. Despite coming in at short notice, Pascual is a regular partner of Titin so there will be no problems of coordination. Titin is clearly in form, and few have beaten Irujo in recent months. However, although Bengoetxea has not been at his best this year, this run suggests a growing confidence, and Titin will have to overcome his never say die attitude and scrapping defence to reach 22. A grand occasion is on the cards.

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

Inigo Pascual steps in for Barriola at San Fermin

Image from: Diario de Navarra

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