Ander Imaz shows a ball at the Bizkaia fronton. /
The one from Oiartzun wants to “be competitive” in his first Couples final, which he reaches seven years after his debut
Believing and adding are the two verbs that Ander Imaz uses the most to explain his first appearance in the Couples final, this Sunday at the Bizkaia fronton. Seven years after his debut, the defender from Oiartzun has fulfilled “a dream”. “Since I was very young I have lived very intensely with the ball. I have left many things aside to dedicate myself to this sport. In the amateur field he was not under the umbrella of either of the two promoters, and a test with the Baiko technicians, then Asegarce, was enough for him to become part of his squad. “I was a bit lucky, but since then I have worked a lot to be here and live from this.”
His has been a slow maturation process. He has needed a physical adaptation of his slender body -he has gained six kilos- to withstand the matches well and be able to withstand the punishment in the long draws, and has managed to reach the only championship in which the defenders can show off at their best . “I’ve had some pretty good times, but reaching a final is very difficult in any sport. With Laso I hoped to have a good tournament, but from there to reaching the climax there is a difference».
They were not one of the combinations that entered the pools to do so, so they have not had added pressure either. “And we believed in our possibilities. When a pelotari is confident he can be seen. At first he was a little scared because in other competitions he hadn’t given my level, but he wanted to be competitive. If the rivals beat us, it was on their own merits.”
«There is complicity with Laso. We have the confidence to tell each other anything, and I like the way they plan matches.”
The Gipuzkoan defender has found the ideal striker. A colleague who in the strike that led most of his company’s staff a little over a year ago also had a bad time. Laso because he did not renew and was left out of professionalism. He was surprised by Mariezkurrena II’s public accusations that he had leaked information to the company, which led him to file a lawsuit, although he later withdrew it. “We had a pretty bad time for both me and my family. There were games where he went out on the pitch and didn’t have confidence, and he showed. But you learn from everything and it was good for me to mature and grow. I came out stronger.”
Before starting the Couples talked to each other. “I don’t think it was easy for any of them and the matter was settled. Only those of us inside know what happened. People can think what they want, but I’ve always gotten along with Laso because he’s a very close guy».
motivation and optimism
He has been able to corroborate it in the four months they have spent together training and competing in the frontons. Even if things didn’t go well, the Navarran striker “was always smiling and that made things a lot easier for me. His motivation and the optimism that he transmits fill me ».
That has been one of the keys why they have compacted so well in games. “There is complicity. We have confidence to tell each other anything. And I like his way of planning matches.” It was something that I had not experienced before with other couples.
They have prepared the final with Aimar Olaizola and Pablo Berazaluze, and they have been the advisers he has turned to for advice on how to face a duel of these characteristics. “They have told me to enjoy myself because I will never be in a situation like this again. The work is done. Although entering the field with 3,000 people in the stands will be a great impact.
Starting the match well will be paramount for Oiartzun. “The first goals will be important to see where the final is going, and whoever dominates behind will have a lot of wins”. But both defenders are one of those who miss few balls, “and we give everything on the pitch. Rocky, of those that harden the encounters ». If they maintain their level it will be difficult for the match to break. Although he has already more than fulfilled the objective that had been set at the beginning in the Pairs, Ander Imaz will come out “to win”. He is facing a golden opportunity, but he needs to believe and add.