It is unknown at this time how many, if any of these matches will be streamed. Hopefully the semis and finals will be. When streams are available I will let you know.
GOOGLE ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF DEIA ARTICLE WHICH INCLUDES THE ENTIRE SCHEDULE.
Balance and new faces at the Markina-Xemein Grand Slam
Alex Goitiandia, Ion Ibarluzea and Gorka Mugartegi 'Atain' are among the new faces in the second Grand Slam of the Jai Alai World Tour. Starts this Friday, starting at 8:00 p.m.
Igor G. Vico NTM
BILBAO | 06 06 23 | 17:50 | Updated at 18:04
Igor G. Vico
In 2022 the firmament of a modality that continues to open new paths was reached. There's the Jai Alai League , which eliminates the muga, or the continued success of the Winter Series , both men's and women's. The path goes through continuing to take steps forward. Another step more.
In 2023: white and orange jerseys at La Universidad and a look to the future. It happens that the University in Markina is not a building built by professors, it is a long, precious pediment, in which it smells of tradition, sweat and leather. The format will be the same: quarterfinal group with two groups of three couples –festivals scheduled for Friday, June 16 and 23–; two semifinal shows –July 2 and 8– and final –July 16, El Carmen–; but it makes use of a string of young local talents.
New blood in the Winter Series
Igor G. Vico
In 2022 they were Jon Zabala , who earned the starting position in the company Eraman! Jai Alai; Jokin Arbe , 2020 Individual champion, and Eñaut Salegi the ones chosen to take part. In this edition, the Markinarra spectrum is broadened. Zabala and Arbe, with plenty of experience, are joined by Alex Goitiandia, Gorka Mugartegi Atain and Ion Ibarluzea . The latter was from the game last year, replacing Lekerika.
compensated groups
Ibarluzea plays with Front Aritz Erkiaga . The one from Ispaster had a dream 2022, but he is aware that the repetition is very complicated. In addition, he comes from receiving a setback in the Donostia Grand Slam. “I am looking forward to playing a good role. At Balda I suffered a hard blow, because we were left out of the semifinals due to my double pass with 14 all. You have to keep fighting and rehearsing. Let's see if La Uni gives me the opportunity to rebuild myself ”, describes the current champion with Jon Zabala.
Alex will be in the same group together with Imanol López. The local was a substitute in the Winter Series and gave a good sample of his nerve. “It is difficult to win, but I hope to reach the final. I think I will adapt well with Imanol ”, he analyzes. Xabier Barandika and Thibault Basque complete branch A.
Friday, June 9 (8:00 p.m.). Group A. Aritz Erkiaga-Ibarluzea against Barandika-Basque. Group B. Arbe-Lekerika against Olharan-Zabala.
Friday, June 16 (8:00 p.m.). Group A. Alex-López against winners of June 9. Group B. Goikoetxea-Atain against winners of June 9.
Friday, June 23 (8:00 p.m.). Group A. Alex-López against losers of June 9. Group B. Goikoetxea-Atain against losers of June 9.
Sunday, July 2 (6:00 p.m.). First semifinal.
Saturday, July 8 (7:00 p.m.). Second semifinal.
Sunday, July 16 (8:00 p.m.). Grand finale, live on ETB-1.
The tickets. Tickets are on sale through the website www.eramanjaialai.com. The price of the quarterfinal festivals is 12 euros; the semifinals, 15 and the final, 20.
Markina's basket tip Grand Slam is more open than ever
The tournament, which starts this Friday, has six compensated couples and three young values who seek to gain a foothold
John Paul Martin
Tuesday, June 6, 2023, 1:48 p.m.
The second edition of the Markina Cesta Punta Grand Slam, scoring for the Jai Ala World Tour circuit, starts this Friday (8:00 p.m.) in the pediment of the Universidad de la Pelota, more open than ever. Most of the six participating couples combine seniority and youth, a circumstance that brings greater uncertainty to a tournament that will live its final on July 16.
The competition will feature four new faces compared to last year. Del Río, Beaskoetxea, Etcheto and Salegi are out, and in their place three young talents from the local school's youth system enter, Alex Goitia, Ibarluzea and Atain, who are looking to gain a foothold, along with Basque. The event maintains the format of last year and will have three league days with two games each. The combinations are divided into two groups. In the first they will play Erkiaga-Ibarluzea, Alex Goitia-López and Barandika-Basque.
The striker from Ispaster, winner last year, is eager to take the sting out of his elimination in the group stage in San Sebastián. "It will be difficult to repeat what happened last season in Markina, but I have already played a game with Ibarluzea and I hope we can play a good role", he highlighted in the presentation made this Tuesday. From his point of view, it is positive that youngsters have opportunities "so that the older ones are not comfortable and feel the pressure of those who come from behind, and so that the public can watch different games", he added.
"A great opportunity"
One of his rivals will be Alex Goitia. The young man from Markin qualifies as "a great opportunity" the possibility of measuring himself against the greatest. «I have not been able to prepare the tournament as I would like because I am coming from an injury and I have had exams, but I will try to do my best. The professionals have a different rhythm and it will be difficult for us to adapt, but I want to reach the final and give the greatest possible show », he underlined.
In the second group will be Goikoetxea-Atain, Arbe-Lekerika and Olharan-Zabala. For the veteran puntista from Zumaia, the championship lacks "a clear favourite." «It is important for the modality that new faces enter. I have a young and very good defender with whom I have not yet played a game, but I hope to do some rehearsal with him before playing », he stated.
After the injury suffered by Lekerika last year, Arbe was unable to play with the defender from Gernika but they have been paired up again. “Both my partner and I arrived at a good time and I am hungry to win the tournament. Let's see if a good start to the summer season allows us to play more games because the summer season is a good getaway", pointed out the striker from Markinarra.
Tickets for the three rounds of the league can be purchased now on the website www.eramanjaialai.com. Last year the pediment touched the crowd every day and this year a similar response is expected.
