‼️THE "FEDERER" OF THE BALL
📸Let's celebrate Jai Alai , take it!
Urko Lekerika-Bailo vs Martin-Zabala: 15-14, 15-7
ARBE-LEKERIKA vs ERKIAGA-IBARLUZEA: 14-15, 13-15
This is how part of the Markina-Xemein chair has nicknamed the Ispaster pelotari. "Erkiaga is the Federer of the ball," they say. Elegant and technical. On the court he measures the steps and the times. In the first set yesterday, he hit an unbelievable dribble—quite soon. No one expected him to get into that ball. He did so without flinching. He didn't move a muscle more than necessary. The public exclaimed "ohhh" and Aritz was already setting up his backhand to launch a two-wall and hide the ball in the net. "The Cordovan!" yelled a fan. An aesthetic marvel.
From the outside, the feeling is that Aritz perfectly measures the times. He knows how to slow down and then, at the right moment, speed up and take over the field. In yesterday's match, he came from behind in the final stretch of each set. In both he accelerated and won. Something similar he did in the decisive game of the league against Goitia and López.
The semifinal began with a shot from the side of Ispaster. Despite the initial advantage of the Blues, Arbe and Lekerika tied on card five and began to take a slight advantage (7-5, 9-6, 10-7 and 11-8). The Blues took out a dead ball, began to dominate the rally and went directly to the fourteenth card (11-14), although in the end it was difficult for them to close the set (14-15).
In the second game, more of the same. Arbe and Lekerika took a considerable advantage (8-4), Erkiaga and Ibarluzea tied (8-8) but the Colorados were ahead again in the last leg of the set (13-11). Even so, and playing with a dead ball, the blues gave the feeling of controlling the game. The life of the Colorados had been broken. The blues made the last four goals in attacks (13-15) and managed to qualify for the final with a victory of two sets to nil.
Asked about the material, Erkiaga confessed that he prioritized the interests of his defender Ibarluzea over his own. "Although I like to play live, I preferred that Ion be comfortable and confident on the court. In theory, I serve better with the live but I think that with the dead I have also taken Arbe's serve well."
Facing the final, Erkiaga puts pressure on his rivals: "In this championship there have been two favorite couples. Barandika-Basque and Olharan-Zabala. They are pelotaris who play all year as professionals. The other couples have been mixed. We have reached the final, but the favorites are Barandika and Basque."
In the match that opened the show, victory for Urko Lekerika and Ruben Bailo against Martin Ormaetxea and Jon Zabala: 15-14, 15-7
The positive note of the day has been the good performance of Lekerika. After three weeks out, the Gernikarra has not felt any discomfort. He has released from the right, choosing to play on the side.
