Basque pelota blog in english – Dos paredes

Moving house this week has rather messed with my intended coverage of San Mateo, Logrono’s major festival, but there is still much excitement to come in the Riojan capital this weekend. Six pairs squared up when the tournament opened last Saturday, with Olaizola II-Apraiz, Berasaluze VIII-Albisu and Xala-Barriola in Group A, and Gonzalez-Zubieta, Titin III-Merino II and Bengoetxea VI-Begino in Group B. Each pair plays each of the others in their group with the winners of each group progressing to the final, to be held on Sunday. The results of the group matches played thus far are as follows:

Group A

Saturday 15^th September
BERASALUZE VIII – ALBISU beat OLAIZOLA II – APRAIZ 22-20

Tuesday 18^th September
OLAIZOLA II – APRAIZ beat XALA – BARRIOLA 22-12
7-0/7-1/7-2/10-2/10-3/13-3/14-4/15-5/15-6/17-6/17-9/19-9/20-9/20-10/20-11/21-12/22-12

Thursday 20^th September
BERASALUZE VIII – ALBISU beat XALA – BARRIOLA 22-19

As the only unbeaten pair, Berasaluze VIII – Albisu progress to the final.

Group B

Sunday 16^th September
BENGOETXEA VI – BEGINO beat GONZALEZ – ZUBIETA 22-15
3-0/ 3-2/ 4-2/ 4-5/ 5/ 10-5/ 10-8/ 11-8/ 11-16/ 12-16/ 12-17/ 15-17/ 15-22

Wednesday 19^th September
TITIN III – MERINO beat GONZALEZ – ZUBIETA 22-21
4-0/4-1/5-1/5/5-12/6-12/6-15/10-15/10-19/14-19/14-20/20/20-21/21/22-21

The final group match, between TITIN III – MERINO II and BENGOETXEA VI – BEGINO takes place tonight, with the winner progressing to the final. TV coverage details to follow!

Image by Yon Garin under Creative Commons