HEGOALDE (SPAIN)--ERAMAN!--ANNOUNCEMENT OF GERNIKA GRAND SLAM--TEAMS, AND COMPLETE SCHEDULE--JULY 15-AUGUST 12, 2023--GOOGLE ENGLISH TRANSLATION Posted on July 11, 2023 at 10:59:56 PM by jsolo
Jai Alai News Facebook (Castilian, includes 20 photos)
FINAL WILL BE STREAMED ON EITB, AS FAR AS I KNOW. IF THERE ARE MORE, I WILL LINK TO THEM.
GOOGLE ENGLISH TRANSLATION:
‼️MAXIMUM EXPECTATION WITH RECORD OF BONUSES IN THE GRAND SLAM OF GERNIKA!
📸Take it!
The summer basket season has arrived in Gernika. The pelotaris, after having already competed on several courts in Euskal Herria, arrive this Saturday at the Cathedral of the basket-punta. The Jai Alai is experiencing a heyday in most of the pediments but the Gerniqués setting and the atmosphere of the Cathedral are unique. From July 15 to August 12, Gernika's Saturdays will be a guarantee of great Jai Alai nights. This year the bonus that is used for all Grand Slam festivals has been provided again, breaking new records.
➡️Three young promises and no clear favorite
The current champions Olharan and López will not be able to repeat their victory. On two occasions they have won this Grand Slam together but in this edition they will play separately. Furthermore, in the case of Imanol, the man from Zumaia has won the last two championships in Gernika.
The Grand Slam last summer and the winter Winter Series. On this occasion he will form a couple with the young Aarón González de Matauko from Alava.
The striker from Vitoria-Gasteiz (23 years old) is one of the best puntistas on the amateur field and in Gernika he will have the opportunity to play alongside the best puntistas of the moment. He will not be the only young pelotari in the tournament. Urko Lekerikabeaskoa, Unai's younger brother (he turns 23 this Thursday) will team up with Thibault Basque, runner-up last year. Urko was able to enter as a substitute in several games of the past Winter Series.
The case of Mikel Manzisidor is different. The one from Mutriku, also 23 years old, has been training with the best for some time. In Gernika he will play with Goikoetxea. The same striker with whom he has won the Lekeitio Master Series or with whom he has finished second in Zumaia. In 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic, Manzi became Grand Slam champion but the circumstances were exceptional. The matches were played without an audience and the competition was completed with several fans as many
of the puntistas were in the United States. Right now, Manzi is playing the tournament in Mexico and in the next few days he will return from Aztec lands. Jean Olharan and Unai Lekerika make one of the scariest couples. Between the two they accumulate four Grand Slams but now the challenge is to win it together.
Barandika and Zabala make a very strong couple. The striker from Gernika has risen to the highest rung of the happy squads and is in his best moment. Erkiaga and Del Rio form the most dangerous couple. If they understand each other well and have a live ball, they can put their opponents in serious difficulties.
The Grand Slam will have five days. The first three will be in the league. The two best couples will go to the semifinals and the grand final will be played on August 12. Fans who cannot go to the pediment can follow the game through Euskal Telebista.
🔴GROUP A
BARANDIKA-ZABALA
GOIKOETXEA-MANZI
URKO-BASQUE
🔵GROUP B
ERKIAGA-DEL RIO
OLHARAN-LEKERIKA
AARON-LOPEZ
➡️CALENDAR
📅July 15, 9:00 p.m. 1st day of the league
Barandika-Zabala vs Urko-Basque
Olharan-Lekerika vs Aaron-López
📅July 21, 9:00 p.m. 2nd round of the league
Goikoetxea-Manzi vs Urko-Basque
Erkiaga-Del Rio vs Aaron-López
📅July 29, 9:00 p.m. 3rd day of the league
Barandika-Zabala vs Goikoetxea-Manzi
Olharan-Lekerika vs Erkiaga-Del Rio
📅August 5, 9:00 p.m. semifinals
📅August 12, 9:00 p.m. GRAN FINAL (Basque Television)
🏆GERNIKA GRAND SLAM CHAMPIONS
2017- Olharan-Lopez
2018- Goikoetxea-Lekerika
2019- Beaskoetxea-Lopez
2020- Beaskoetxea-Manci (***Pandemic year. Mostplayers in the US)
2021- Erkiaga-Lekerika
2022- Olharan-Lopez
