HEGOALDE (SPAIN)--EREMAN! ZUMAIA MASTERS TOURNAMENT--FINAL--MATCH ARTICLES (WITH GOOGLE ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS) PHOTOS Posted on July 3, 2023 at 11:56:18 PM by jsolo
Everything but victory for Iñaki Goikoetxea
BY Joseba Lezeta
Saint Sebastian
Friday, June 30, 2023, 10:40 p.m. | Updated 10:48 p.m.
Iñaki Goikoetxea only lacked the victory to round off the farewell to Zumaia, his town, last night at the Aitzuri (Fronton), completely full. He fell 2-0 with Manzi (15-13 and 15-8) against Barandika and López in the final of the Zumaia Master Series. The emotions came next. Aitana, his daughter, danced an aurresku for him and then Iker, his son -both embraced by his father in the image-, imposed the txapela on him.
Mugerza, one of her teachers, gave her a chestnut plant as tall as Goiko itself, a symbol of the material used to make baskets. Jon Maia sang two bertsos for him. He received plaques from the Town Hall and the local club. Half an hour after the game ended, people still came up to him to take photos.
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Jai Alai News Facebook (Basque) The article links to 32 photos
‼️THE WARMTH OF THE PEOPLE, THE GREATEST REWARD!
📸We're Jai Alai , Take it!
📌The people of Zumaia have offered a touching tribute to Goikoetxea
📌Barandika and Lopez won the final, 13-15, 8-15
📌For the first time since the opening day, Aitzuri (Fronton) has been filled to the brim
📌With this Masters, a new wind of the zesta-punta has arrived in Zumaia
GOIKOETXEA-MANZI vs BARANDIKA-LOPEZ: 13-15, 8-15
Arbe-Uranga vs Cosme-Zabala: 14-15, 7-15
Moments of great emotion have been experienced at the Aitzuri stadium in Zumaia. We were not used to seeing the front like this. It took seven years for a ball festival to be left without entrance to the front of Zumaia. From the opening day, to be exact. Two components have been combined. On the one hand, the main course: greetings from Iñaki Osa Goikoetxea. But along with that, the new, modern wind of the zesta-punta, related to the festive atmosphere. Many who have gone to see Frontoira Goikoetxea have been eager to see the zesta punta again.
The festival started with a friendly match, with Cosme Agirre and Unai Uranga from Zuma. The forward dominated with Zabala, and played well. Cosme has been brave and strong in finishing and has given a show. Overall a spectacular and entertaining game.
The Final:
Victory, two sets and zero, blue (13-15, 8-15).
For the main match of the festival, the four puntistas came out from the audience to the cheers and applause of the public. In the final of the Master Series, Goiko and Manci have worked hard. They went behind on the scoreboard, against Barandika and Lopez. They make a very strong couple. Capable of winning any championship on any front. Which couple can beat Barandika and Lopez today? Xavier is in a very good game. Hungry to win, looking for the ball, rebounding brilliantly and above all efficient. Lopez has almost never missed a ball today. They started 2-6 in the first game before and it was difficult for Iñaki to get into the game. But it's in. He scored two points in a row with his hands (4-8, 5-8) and Barandika responded with a perfect check (6-9).
Manzi did well and passed another test today to play with the best. It is a safe pilot, and a guarantee for any figure. The Mutrician Tantu made the ball well behind (9-11) and Goiko continued to narrow the scoreboard, with two goals, deliberately thrown into the middle (10-12). In the last round of this set, when the ball came to life, the four protagonists gave a show. Jumping up the wall, playing from top to bottom with the right or leaving the opponent "on the bridge". Intense zest. The cheerful tip of the basket. But played seriously. Ask Barandika otherwise. He closed the first game with a perfect double wall (13-15).
In the second set, people wanted emotion but the score did not help. The Blues continued hard, Goikoetxea in their efforts but Barandika and Lopez always had the advantage (0-2, 1-4, 3-6). Manzi showed a very good defense today, he took several shots and even ran to the third box and already took it. At halftime, however, the difference was four points (4-8) and the game ended 8-15.
The emotion exploded as soon as the game ended. Goikoetxea has received a beautiful and touching tribute. With the journalist Arritxu Iribar as the presenter, the Masters awards were distributed first and then the tributes. Of the municipality, of the cesta school and especially of the children. Daughter Aitana danced the prelude and son Iker put on the hat. Jon Maia has also clearly stated in two verses what the people of Zumai think: "It was a big top, but even bigger Iñaki".
Finally, a very special gift from Mugerza, Goiko's first master at the front. Iñaki received the chestnut plant from Mugerza. Chestnut, the material used to make schistera. Goikoetxea later came from the seed sown by Mugerza and today we all went home with the feeling that another seed had been sown in Zumaia.
The upper house will not return. Lopez will also retire at some point. But the zesta-punta show has won in Zumaia. Or Zumaia has won. Those who have gone to see Goikoetxea, because they have also seen the zesta punta. New brush tip. It has become a fashionable sport in many other places. There is a lot of work to be done in Zumaia but the seed has been sown. Now it's time to pour the fertilizer and water it to turn it into a beautiful and fruitful tree, which is already possible in other towns.
