Tag Archives: Lekeitio

Olaizola II and Apraiz defend title in Lekeitio

1 Reply

Tuesday 4th September, Lekeitio

OLAIZOLA II – APRAIZ  beat BERASALUZE VIII – ALBISU 22-18

The final of the Lekeitio San Antolin tournament was held on Tuesday and saw victory for the 2011 champions in a hard fought duel. I only saw brief snippets so cannot report in too much detail, but the game was extremely close for the first half an hour, with neither pair able to get more than two ahead after Olaizola and Apraiz had overcome an early deficit of 0-4. The match up between Olaizola and Berasaluze, who has been in great shape of late, left nothing to be desired. Berasaluze came at the Manomanista champion all guns blazing, several times passing him crosscourt with his left arm, with an air of ‘anything you can do, I can do better’. Greater consistency put Berasaluze and Albisu into a handsome lead at 16-10 but where Olaizola is involved, almost no comeback is too much of a challenge. He shifted up a gear when his back was the the wall and was able to get on top of his forward rival. At the same time, Albisu’s error count increased in contrast to Apraiz who grew in confidence as the match progressed. Once the favourites got ahead at 19-17, their opponents had few answers and the match was sealed. Aimar Olaizola was deservedly named player of the tournament as he notched up his third festival victory of the summer.

Scoring sequence: 0-4/6-4/6/7/8/9/10-11/10-16/17-16/17/19-17/19-18/22-18
Olaizola II: 2 service winners, 8 winners
Berasaluze VIII: 2 service winners, 7 winners
Match time: 66 minutes with 22:43 of actual play
Balls hit: 444

Alexis Apraiz: confident display

Alexis Apraiz: confident display

Photo: mine


Lekeitio Final: Today!

1 Reply

The final of Lekeitio’s Sanantolines tournament takes place today at 5pm CEST. It pits defending champions Olaizola II and Apraiz against Berasaluze VIII and Albisu. In 2011 they took the title 22-14 over Berasaluze and Begino, meaning that Albisu is the only difference in the line up this time around. In the first semi final, which took place on Saturday, a brilliant Berasaluze led his pair to a 22-16 win over Martinez de Irujo and Merino II. On Sunday, Gonzalez replaced Xala in a pair with Zubieta, and despite a strong start, they proved unable to overcome Olaizola, who hit his stride in the second half of the game just as Gonzalez’s form dipped. They took the victory 22-12. Olaizola and Apraiz will be the favourites thanks largely to the presence of the former, but Berasaluze’s form of late will give he and Albisu a genuine chance.

Tuesday 4th September, Lekeitio

17:00 (CEST) APEZETXEA – PASCUAL v ELEZKANO II – LASKURAIN

Followed by OLAIZOLA II – APRAIZ v BERASALUZE VIII – ALBISU Lekeitio final

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/

Pelota on ETB, 31st August – 2nd September: Lekeitio

2 Replies

The Lekeitio tournament starts this weekend with the first semi final on Saturday between Berasaluze VII and Albisu, and Martinez de Irujo and Merino II. Sunday’s second semi, between Olaizola II and Apraiz, and Xala and Zubieta, will be shown live on ETB (details below). The final is on Tuesday 4th September.

Friday 31st August, Orozko

22:00 (CEST) TAINTA – MENDIZABAL II v ELEZKANO II – OTXANDORENA

Followed by OLAIZOLA II – BEROIZ v BERASALUZE VIII – APRAIZ

Sunday 2nd September, Lekeitio

17: 00 (CEST) OLAIZOLA I – MENDIZABAL II v GONZALEZ – LARRINAGA

Followed by OLAIZOLA II – APRAIZ v XALA – ZUBIETA Torneo Sanantolines de Lekeitio Semi-Final

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/

The fishing town of Lekeitio is the focus this week

The fishing town of Lekeitio is the focus this week

Lekeitio Semi Final: Stunning Berasaluze puts Irujo to the Sword

2 Replies

Friday 2nd September, Lekeitio

BERASALUZE VIII – BEGINO beat MARTINEZ DE IRUJO – PASCUAL 22-13

The one abiding memory from the first Lekeitio semi-final is the scintillating play of Pablo Berasaluze. He was utterly superior to the great Juan Martinez de Irujo in all areas, and the game revolved around him, his irrepressible spirit, insatiable drive and stunning shot making. He manoeuvred Irujo around the fronton as if he was a puppet on a string, supported excellently by champion defender Aritz Begino, who was a pillar of strength from the back and rarely lapsed in his delivery. 

Berasaluze gave the first point away with an almost-perfect gantxo which just skimmed the board, but the two winners which followed signalled his intent, as a looping ball to the corner forced Irujo low and a txoko into space induced a fist pump in its creator. Begino also got in on the act with a  low skidder which foxed Irujo, and soon 0-1 was 6-1. Irujo and Pascual recovered to 9-6 with a run of three points, two of which were rare errors from their opponents and the other a cross court winner handed to Irujo on a plate by Begino. They again briefly threatened a comeback when they closed to 13-10, but Pascual let their momentum slip when his ball from the rear of the fronton hit Berasaluze in the back. From 14-10, the trailing pair managed to accumulate another three points in the game, and the one which took the score to 19-12 showed that Irujo had not completely lost his shot making abilities, as he whipped a gantxo towards the crowd.

However, it was one way traffic in the latter part of the game as Berasaluze, like a never-relaxing terrier, pounced on everything and turned the screw. Irujo was run ragged, with his opponent winning even points where he was forced to scrap, turning defence into searing attack. There was never any doubt about the result, and the Asegarce pair wasted no time in closing out the match as three winners turned 19-13 into 22-13 in the blink of an eye. Berasaluze and Begino embraced in genuine joy at a job stunningly done. They will find out today who they will meet in tomorrow’s final, as Titin III and Zubieta take on Olaizola II and Apraiz.

Scoring sequence: 0-1, 6-1, 6-2, 6-3, 9-3, 9-6, 12-6, 12-8, 13-8, 13-10, 16-10, 16-11, 19-11, 19-12, 19-13, 22-13.

Winners/errors: Berasaluze 15/3, Irujo5/2, Begino 3/4, Pascual 1/2

Balls hit: 329

Match time: 50:24 with 15:50 playing time

Pablo Berasaluze: irrepressible

Pablo Berasaluze: irrepressible

Image from Deia, by Javier Bergás

Lekeitio Final: Irujo and Barriola the Champions

Leave a reply

Sunday 5th September, Lekeitio

MARTINEZ DE IRUJO – BARRIOLA beat BENGOETXEA VI -APRAIZ 22-14

Lekeitio Final

In a long overdue round-up, I can report that Juan Martinez de Irujo and Abel Barriola won the top prize in Lekeitio at the weekend, beating Oinatz Bengoetxea and Alexis Apraiz by 22 points to 14. Irujo and Barriola were the clear favourites, despite the excellent form of Bengoetxea, and justified their billing to take the tournament with ease. They profitted from the inconsistency of Apraiz, who played at a level below his recent best and committed seven errors. Barriola, in contrast, was metronomic, and picked up his third player of the tournament award of the summer. Irujo, with eleven winners, appears to be returning to his best after a spell of indifferent form.

Scoring sequence: 6-0/6-3/8-3/8-6/12-6/12-7/15-7/15-8/15-10/18-10/19-13/19-13 / 21-14/22-14

Total match time: 55 minutes

Actual playing time: 23 minutes

Winners/errors: Irujo 11/4, Bengoetxea 8/4, Barriola 1/0, Apraiz 0/7

Barriola on top again

Barriola on top again

Image from Deia

Lekeitio Final on ETB-Sat, 5th September 2010

2 Replies

The final of the Torneo Lekeitio will be between Bengoetxea VI and Apraiz, and Martinez de Irujo and Barriola. Apologies for the lack of report on the second semi final; I was unable to watch it and have been very pushed for time this weekend! Suffice it to say that Irujo and Barriola totally outclassed Xala and Begino, winning 22-7 to set up today’s clash against the Asegarce pair. Bengoetxea plays in his fourth festival final of the summer, having already won at San Fermin, Zarautz and San Sebastian. He is supported here by the less experienced Apraiz who played a storming semi final, and appears to be gaining in confidence on the highest stage. Barriola is on a monumental roll, having one sixteen matches on the bounce since returning from injury. Manomanista king Irujo, who joins him here, has been in variable form this summer, but will surely come out all guns blazing here. Much will depend on the duel between Barriola and Apraiz; if Apraiz can replicate the cool he has shown in his past two matches, this is anybody’s game.

Sunday 5th September, Lekeitio

17:00 (CEST) OLAIZOLA I – IBAI ZABALA v GONZALEZ – EULATE

18:10 (CEST) MARTINEZ DE IRUJO – BARRIOLA v BENGOETXEA VI – APRAIZ Torneo Lekeitio Final

https://www.eitb.eus/etb-sat/en-directo

Irujo and Barriola are partners today

Irujo and Barriola are partners today

Photo from Gara, by Juanan Ruiz

Lekeitio: Apraiz supports Oinatz to another final

1 Reply

Thursday 2nd September, Lekeitio

BENGOETXEA VI – APRAIZ beat BERASALUZE VIII – ZUBIETA 22-15

Torneo Lekeitio, Semi Final

On Sunday, former Manomanista champion Oinatz Bengoetxea will play in his fourth festival final in a row when he lines up in Lekeitio alongside Alexis Apraiz. In the early part of last night’s match, Beraslauze and Zubieta held the upper hand, finding themselves 4-1 and 8-4 up, but some excellent pressure from the eventual winners, plus a deterioration in the play of Berasaluze, swung the game. Apraiz, who has often appeared nervous on the biggest stage of late, came of age here with a stunning display, supporting game-maker Oinatz like a man of experience. Oinatz took advantage of Berasaluze’s demise, punishing his opposite number while rarely taking undue risks. Zubieta began well, but perhaps influenced by his partner, dropped a level in the mid part of the match, to assist the rampage of the blue pair, who turned 14-14 into 22-15.

Scoring sequence: 2-0, 2-1, 4-1, 4-4, 8-4, 8-8, 10-8, 10-9, 11-9, 11-11, 12-11, 12-12, 14-12, 14-20, 15-20, 15-22

Winners/errors: Bengoetxea VI 6/4, Berasaluze VIII 8/8, Zubieta 2/5, Apraiz 1/1

Total match time: 72:12

Playing time: 3106

Balls played: 611

Apraiz: impressive

Apraiz: impressive

Image from: El Correo

Lekeitio Semis on ETB-Sat: 2nd and 3rd September

3 Replies

The Lekeitio Tournament commences this evening, and pits against each other some attractive and unusual partnerships. Tonight, in the first semi final, Berasaluze VIII plays with Zubieta against in-form Bengoetxea VI and Apraiz. Tomorrow, the irresistable pairing of Martinez de Irujo and Barriola, bidding for his sixteenth consecutive win, takes on Xala and Begino. The final will be held on Sunday.

Thursday 2nd September, Lekeitio

22:35 (CEST) ARRETXE II – MENDIZABAL II v IDOATE – BEROIZ

23:35 (CEST) BERASALUZE VIII – ZUBIETA v BENGOETXEA VI – APRAIZ Torneo Lekeitio Semi Final

Friday 3rd September, Lekeitio

22:35 (CEST) RETEGI BI – L. GALARZA v URRUTIKOETXEA – PENAGARIKANO

22.45 (CEST) MARTINEZ DE IRUJO – BARRIOLA v XALA – BEGINO Torneo Lekeitio Semi Final

Photo from: cuervoblanco.com