Daily Archives: 4 May, 2012

Promocion Pairs: Belated Congratulations to Jaunarena and Cecilio

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Saturday 28th April, Pamplona

JAUNARENA – CECILIO beat OLAZABAL – LARRINAGA 22-14

Promocion Pairs Final

I was in the Basque Country while the Promocion Pairs final took place but was unable to get to Labrit, and as I had limited internet time while I was there and have devoted this week to writing about the main championship final, this game has been rather overlooked. However, it was no less important to their pairs involved, who had battled since January for place in the last two. Throughout the tournament, Jon Jaunarena and Cecilio Valganon, and Mikel Olazabal and Inaki Larrinaga have been the best and so it was fitting that they should meet to fight it out for the prize. By all accounts the favourites were dominant from 6-7 onwards, with Olazabal failing to push Jaunarena onto the back foot and Larrinaga less effective from long than Cecilio. A txapela here for Cecilio (24, Ezcaray) means that of the four individuals to triumph in the two pairs championships, three are from La Rioja. A golden age for them indeed. This also represents a first professional championship win for 20 year old Leitzarra Jaunarena, who looks set to be the next great player from that talent-rich Navarrese town. Congratulations to them both.

More success for La Rioja in the form of Cecilio

More success for La Rioja in the form of Cecilio

Photo: mine

Pelota on ETB, 4th-6th May

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Friday 4th May, Orduna

22:15 (CEST) SARALEGI – APRAIZ v IDOATE – PASCUAL

Followed by GONZALEZ v URRUTIKOETXEA Manomanista First Round

Sunday 6th May, Eibar

17:00 (CEST) OLAZABAL v ZABALETA Manomaninsta Promocion

Followed by BARRIOLA v BEGINO Manomanista First Round

To watch, go to http://www.eitb.tv, https://www.eitb.eus/es/television/etb-sat/orhttps://www.eitb.eus/es/deportes/deporte-en-directo/

Manomanista Round-Up

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With the Pairs Final still fresh in the mind, the Manomanista Championship kicks off in earnest this week. There have already been various elimination matches for the right to a berth in the main draw. Last Friday, Aritz Lasa beat Aitor Zubieta, clearly lacking in match fitness, 22-4 in Altsasu. Yesterday he played Iker Arretxe in the first round proper, and triumphed 22-10. His next opponent will be Asier Olaizola. Aritz Begino was beaten by Arretxe in their play off, but finds himself back in the draw as a replacement for fellow Asegarce player Mikel Beroiz, who is still afflicted by the injuries he sustained in the Pairs semi finals. His prize is a first round match against Abel Barriola on Sunday. The other first round games are between Gonzalez and Urrutikoetxea (tonight, Orduna) and Olaetxea and Albisu (tomorrow, Tolosa). For the full draw, see ASPE’s website.

The early playoffs in the Promocion championship have also started. Asegarce have given Lemuno and Ibai Zabala passes into the main draw, but the others have to compete to join them. Earlier in April, Apraiz beat Aretxabaleta 22-5 but he was knocked out 22-10 by Rico IV subsequently. Mendizabal II beat Tainta 22-21 and takes on Untoria tomorrow. For ASPE, Gorka and Zabaleta won their opening qualifying matches, beating Ongay and Ladis Galarza respectively. Mendizabal III is also through, having beaten Miguel Merino 22-6. The coming games are between Gorka-Ezkurdia (Arbizu, tonight), Jaunarena-Larrinaga (Sunday) and Olazabal-Zabaleta (Sunday). For the full draw, see here.