Joseba Ezkurdia and Xabi Tolosa are not giving up in the Couples Championship after adding their second victory of the tournament yesterday after beating Altuna III and Martija 18-22 at the Labrit in Pamplona. The bottom of the competition took the cat to the water to stay alive by winning a very tough and even game in which there were thirteen draws on the scoreboard. Altuna III, less inspired and more erratic than usual, missed three balls with eighteen equals so that the match fell on the blue side. Tolosa, the best of the four pelotaris yesterday, ended up closing the game himself, hitting the wall with a ball that was difficult for Martija to carry.
The game went long, until the hour and a quarter of the game with 667 good balls. While Ezkurdia and Tolosa could be expected to run out of steam in the final stretch, just the opposite happened. Altuna III and Martija reached the last mandatory break with an advantage (18-17), but the blue pair sentenced with a score of five goals. Long before they hugged on the scoreboard up to thirteen times. There were draws at one, four and eight, until the carousel arrived and exchange of blows. From the equal eight there were ties in all numbers until 18-18. The Labrit vibrated beautifully with a hook from Martija after 66 balls to good.
Altuna fails and Tolosa ends
Jokin Altuna finished with six goals at stake, but missed another as Ezkurdia and Tolosa reached their second victory. The one from Arbizu concluded the match with nine goals, while Tolosa showed a great level in attack, but also in defensive tasks. The one from Anoeta only missed one ball, 7-8, after not being able to take a pitch from nine and a half to good. During the rest of the match he was sure to accompany Ezkurdia and was even able to score three goals, one of them thanks to a left-footed ball that ended up on the rebound. I guessed 12-13.
The game was tied until 18-18, but three consecutive mistakes by Altuna and a high ball by Martija decided it
The Colorados, meanwhile, gave away the opportunity to get closer to that second place that grants direct access to the semifinal group. Altuna and Martija did not sit well on the bench. The player from Amezket, somewhat uncomfortable with his left hand, missed three consecutive goals, while Martija led 21-17. Xabi Tolosa had the pleasure of finishing off the match. They are still alive.
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