2023-11-10 21:34:47
In nine days he will meet the champion of his 40th edition at the Bizkaia fronton. Altuna III or Peio Etxeberria will wear the txapela of a tournament that was rejected in its beginnings and that managed to establish itself in the nineties to be a fixture on the calendar due to its spectacular nature. The Cuatro y Medio has a pull, although it took a lot to win it. In fact, in its first stage only five editions were held. He disappeared because he did not convince the businessmen. We had to wait until 1989 to see him again on the frontons, although the first campaigns were quick and with few participants.
On his return Julián Retegui won at the age of 35. The Navarrese has four titles in as many finals because he caught him at the end of his career. He closed his record in this modality eight seasons later with the resounding final that many still remember against Titín III in the Ogueta. The one from Erasun came back from 17-21 after 347 shots before some dedicated stands.
Although it was one of the finals that is still in the retina, it was not the only one that was decided by a single goal. On up to five more occasions the emotion has been maintained until the last moment. Akarregi won the first championship with that result, Irujo added the first of the three titles he won after beating Barriola, and Bengoetxea VI achieved the triple crown after beating Altuna III. The one from Amezketa debuted his record in the box after taking the match from Urrutikoetxea, and Ezkurdia beat the Gipuzkoan last year 22-21. Although the dribble game has given way to air play and the material has changed to give it greater speed, in the last decade there are still close results.
Olaziola II is the king
But distance still has its own name. Olaizola II is the king of the ‘cage’. Seven txapelas in eight summit clashes are a very high bar. Goizueta’s has had all kinds of endings. His is one of the largest results (22-5) obtained. He achieved it against Xala in the Atano III in San Sebastián. Eugi also endorsed the same difference to Nagore in the only summit clash of this modality that was played at the Labrit, and which was preceded by a controversy with the material in which the Aoiz player even threatened not to play in the final. «This is a circus, a joke and a parody that I am not willing to consent to. “You cannot break up matches over baskets and deceive the public,” the Navarrese went so far as to point out. They were different times.
Of the 80 finalists – counting this year’s – that the tournament has had, only six have not managed to win the txapela. Bolinaga, Errandonea, Errasti, Xala and Jaka lost their chance. Peio Etxeberria is on time. In his first summit clash against Jokin Altuna, who wants to add his fourth title.
Urrutikoetxea, fuera del Parejas
Mikel Urrutikoetxea will not play for Couples. Baiko announced this Friday the eight pelotaris that he will line up in the second official championship of the season and the Biscayan does not appear. Artola, who has extended his contract for two years, Jaka, Peña II and Laso will be the forwards, while at the back will be Albisu, Aranguren, Imaz and Mariezkurrena II. Jon Alberdi will not continue at Baiko by not accepting his renewal offer.
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