Saturday, October 26, 2024, 02:00
The starting odds of 100 to 50 in favor of Iñaki Artola – 25 to 100 down – suggested that last night’s game in Tafalla was a formality for Alegia’s. Quite the opposite happened. Iraitz Zubizarreta developed indigestion, suffered a lot like the rest and, to make matters worse, in the 18-18 minute he noticed a puncture in the back of his right thigh that forced him to receive medical attention in the locker room. Back on the court, he served without any basis, he was not even able to run and was defeated 18-22. Not only that, but he is a serious doubt for the final match against Erik Jaka.
This is how Artola recounted the moment of the injury. «I noticed something on the back of my thigh when I went for the ball in the txoko. I was hoping, and I still hope, that it was cramps. But back on the court, I noticed something and couldn’t do anything. Fear has entered my bones. “We will have to wait for the results of the tests, but experience tells me that it could be a fiber breakage.”
The Cuatro y Medio Championship came to Iñaki Artola’s way after getting hurt in Logroño. It seemed that the victory against Ezkurdia helped him straighten out, but the muscle problems hit him again.
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Playing time:
64 minutes and 29 seconds. -
Good shots:
257. -
Serving points:
Artola, 2. Zubizarreta, 7. -
Serving faults:
Artola, 0. Zubizarreta, 0. -
You pass four and a half:
Artola, 0. Zubizarreta, 0. So many at stake: Artola, 10. Zubizarreta, 14. -
So many lost:
Artola, 1. Zubizarreta, 6. -
Marker:
0-2, 2-2, 2-4, 4-4, 4-8, 7-8, 7-9, 16-9, 16-13, 17-13, 17-18, 18-18 y 18-22. -
Scores of ten or more hits:
9 (five for Artola and four for Zubizarreta). -
Exit odds:
100 to 50 in favor of Artola. 25 to 100 below. -
Bottlers:
Iker Iriarte marked the step for Iñaki Artola and Endika Apalategi, for Iraitz Zubizarreta. -
Incidences:
the Ereta de Tafalla brought together 409 spectators. Montxo Murillo received a tribute for 42 years of dedication to the local ball club.
Zubizarreta III is the other side of the coin. With the Artola competition in the air for the remainder of the league, the Ataundarra arrives alive to the last weekend of this phase. Thanks to the Ereta result, Jaka has the opportunity this Monday at Ogueta to certify his place in the semifinals. If he wins, he will get the pass. On the other hand, it is possible that victory will not be enough for Altuna III, who if he loses to Lizartza’s team will play everything against Zubizarreta on the third day.
Aside from what happened to Artola, Zubizarreta III demonstrated his worth at this distance after his shadow wandered before Jaka in Soria. His serve brought Artola down the street of bitterness and he showed both good defense and ability to finish the goal. It lacks punch, but it handles itself well at this distance.
Group B’s shift this Sunday
Group B takes over from A this Sunday with two games. From the one that Unai Laso and Peio Etxeberria compete in a Labrit in Pamplona that will be close to full (ETB1, 5:00 p.m.), a semi-finalist may already emerge. In Bizkaia in Bilbao, at the same time but without live television, Elordi and Peña II compete for a good part of their survival options in the tournament. Whoever wins will take a step forward.
