Laso runs over Elezkano and Zabaleta

Valdano used to say that when Ronaldo caught the ball he did not attack a striker, he attacked a herd of buffalo. Elezkano II and Zabaleta must have felt something like that last night in Hendaia against Unai Laso. Brave, the one from Bizkarreta seized the initiative of the match and pushed the leaders to their third consecutive defeat (15-22), with an overwhelming second half of the match. An uncontested run of 2-14 from 13-8.

The four pelotaris arrived at the Daniel Ugarte hendaiarra aware that it is a very fast pediment, with a floor that shines like a mirror. And they did not strive to appease its characteristics, but to exploit them. The ball was hardly allowed to bounce, because it would still be necessary to go to Hondarribia to look for it. There was expectation to see if Zabaleta made his punch count or Laso his shot. The pediment was full. Only the trumpeter who wanted to hear Bizkarreta’s was missing, but instead there were dulzaineros. Apparently, the change was okay with him.

He seized the initiative of the game, disarming Zabaleta, who never managed to get him out of his game and take him to his field. The best Laso came out, the brave and cheeky pelotari. The one that fans like. The one who grows with the challenge, this time having the leaders in front of him. He looked for the game of air at all times –eleven times to the rest of the serve– and on many occasions he entered from very far. But he did a lot of damage, before an Elezkano overwhelmed by events. He didn’t take a step forward to attack, but he didn’t know how to defend Laso’s attacks either, who on a couple of occasions sent him to the court seats, which are very far away at this Hendaye fronton.

Laso ran over the leaders, who in a symbolic image of what the match was, ended up bloodied. Elezkano, in the right knee and Zabaleta, in the left and in the middle finger of the right hand, for which he had to leave the field momentarily to be treated. He does not come out unscathed from a crossroads with Unai Laso at this time. To all this, Ander Imaz played like a general. He left his partner to show off, but he held the game with an iron hand, the one you need to have to volley in four or five extremely violent balls from Zabaleta and keep those goals alive for Laso to finish them off. The oiartzuarra was the necessary accomplice for the assault of the one from Bizkarreta.

Elezkano and Zabaleta are still leaders because they won 22-11 in the first round match, but this matchday two other couples can catch up: Irribarria-Rezusta and Altuna III-Martija. And the accounts will have to be renewed.