Daily Archives: 24 March, 2009

Manomanista: Koka and Zubieta to play off for championship place

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On Saturday at Labrit, Juantxo Koka from Asegarce and Aitor Zubieta from Aspe will play each other to decide which will gain a place in the draw for the Manomanista Championship. Koka is no stranger to the individual championship, having been runner up to Mikel Goni in 1997. Last year however, he lost to Aritz Begino at the second stage. Zubieta was also an early loser last year, going down to Martinez de Eulate in the opening round. Each will relish his chance to reach the championship and gain the chance to do better this year. The match will not be webcast but will be broadcast on Telecinco in Spain.

In other news, reigning Manomanista champion Oinatz Bengoetxea was in imperious form on Monday in Tolosa. The 24 year old from Leitza was the best performer on show as he and Oier Zearra defeated fellow Asegarce pair Patxi Ruiz and Inigo Leiza 22-10.

Juantxo Koka

Juantxo Koka

Image from: http://www.diariodenavarra.es/actualidad/20080218/fotos/2008021802395810_375.jpg

Second division mano pairs final: victory for Berasaluze IX and Urberuaga

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Saturday 21st March
Amorebieta-Etxano
BERASALUZE IX – URBERUAGA beat MENDIZABAL I – IBAI ZABALA 22-6

In front of a capacity audience in Amorebieta, Asier Berasluze and Xabier Urberuaga were crowned champions in the second tier pairs competition on Saturday. The Aspe pair totally outclassed the Asegarce partnership of Aratz Mendizabal and Ibai Zabala. Zabala played a solid match but could not dent the armoury of 27 year old Bizkaian Urberuaga. The latter gave invaluable support to his attacking partner Beraslauze who used speed and guile to both outwit and out-hit Mendizabal and was especially deadly with his right hand and in his serve. This was a first pairs triumph for the victors, who have both previously won the second tier manomanista title, Beraslauze in 2006 and Urberuaga in 2007. Urberuaga has the added pleasure of going to the top, for the time being, of the manista.com rankings.

Asier Berasaluze

Asier Berasaluze

Image from: http://www.gara.net/Repository/Imagenes/Pub_3/Issue_1457/p045_f01.jpg