As pelota’s top exponents arrived at the final weekend of round robin matches, there were four pairs vying for two places. Pre-tournament favourites Juan Martinez de Irujo and Abel Barriola, Xala and Laskurain, Berasaluze VIII and Albisu, and Bengoetxea VI and Apraiz all had a theoretical chance of making it into third or fourth behind Olaizola II and Beroiz, and Titin III and Merino II who were home and dry. Given the closeness of affairs in the middle of the table, it is little wonder than emotions ran high.

Irujo and Barriola knew that if they lost to Berasaluze and Albisu on Saturday, they would have to rely on Bengoetxea and Apraiz beating Xala and Laskurain on Sunday to stand any chance. Thanks perhaps largely to Albisu, they were forced to sweat it out as the young defender played with poise and style to shade Barriola, thus taking Irujo largely out of the game. The pre-tournament favourites lost 22-12. Berasaluze also rose to the occasion, riding on the crest of Albisu’s wave on his way to eleven winners in open play. Irujo’s errors outnumbered his scoring shots as the Asegarce pair seized every chance that came to them. The pairs were tied at 9-9 but from that juncture, it was all Berasaluze and Albisu. Irujo and Barriola’s demise in this championship has been something of a shock. It almost seemed a forgone conclusion in the opening weeks that they would reach not only the semi-finals but the final itself. How are the mighty fallen.

The lifeline was nowhere to be seen for Irujo and Barriola on Sunday as Xala and Laskurain took a nail biting 22-20 win over Bengoetxea VI and Apraiz in Eibar. This meant that they themselves qualified at the expense both Irujo and Barriola and Bengoetxea and Apraiz. This result also gave Berasaluze and Albisu their official green light. The game was an excellent one, in which the eventual winners led 20-16 before being pegged back to level terms at 20-20. Bengoetxea did everything he could in his bid for qualification and played with great verve, scoring twelve winners to Xala’s nine. Luckily for the Manomanista champion, Laskurain held sway over Apraiz, who was once again inconsistent in defence.

The final match of the qualifying stages was utterly inconsequential, as second placed Titin III and Merino II played Arretxe II and Begino in Tolosa. Amazingly, the underdogs pulled a 22-18 win out of the bag against the Riojan pair, who had surely let their collective foot off the gas. This result means that Arretxe and Begino escape the ignominy of last place and finish in seventh, one place above Aritz Lasa and Zubieta, or whichever pair represented them in any given week.

The semi-finals begin this weekend. On Saturday, Berasaluze VIII and Albisu try to put a halt to the run of Olaizola II and Beroiz in Bilabo, while Titin III and Merino II play Xala and Laskurain at home in Logrono on Sunday.

Irujo has little to smile about

Image: mine