ball | Manomanista: Darío overwhelms Urrutikoetxea 5-22 and challenges Altuna III

Twenty-three goals have been scored against him among the four pelotaris he has eliminated. Darío defeated Elordi 22-6 in the first of the Aspe qualifiers, tied Elezkano II 22-10 short in the next, entered the final table after beating Peio Etxeberria 22-2 and this Friday, in Labastida, has left Mikel Urrutikoetxea out of the Manomanista de Primera with an incontestable victory by 5-22. He has surpassed him in all areas, but above all in right-hand punch, legs and physical background. The loser has confessed at the conclusion of the match that he had had gastroenteritis since Wednesday.

Darío thus accesses the quarterfinal group, framed in group A. On the first day he will repeat the semifinal that both played in the 2020 edition against Jokin Altuna, defender of the txapela. They will play on Sunday 24 at Bizkaia of Bilbao. This time it will not be all or nothing, since the two will continue to compete. Now, the point is important for the future of both in the competition.

The final score does not reflect the hardness that has existed on the field, with thirteen goals of ten or more hits and a total of 246 in 45 minutes of play. There are games that have finished 22-21 with fewer balls. However, the result confirms the excellent form of the striker from Ezcaray, who has minimized the game and the intentions of the 2015 champion, who once again has an individual competition twisted.

Darío has broken the initial balance through another shot of seventeen points. He already signed another one with the same number last Sunday against Peio Etxeberria. He has gone from being one behind at 2-1 to leaving the clash seen for sentence at 2-18.

The Riojan, full of confidence with his right hand, has kept Urrutikoetxea at bay, who has barely had opportunities to connect the hook or the volley from positions close to the frontis. Quick and well-directed serves have also served Ezcaray’s to take the initiative in the rally. To all this he has added a manifest physical superiority. Although the first two goals that have exceeded ten hits have fallen in favor of the Biscayan, the next eleven have been for Darío.

The two walls and the drop have helped the winner to express his superiority in the electronic. Enormous 2-16, which has lifted from their seats the half a thousand spectators gathered at the Labastida fronton. The player from La Rioja has combined both his offensive and defensive virtues.

Aspe, a company defended by Darío, thus ensures the presence of at least four pelota players among the top eight. By contrast, Baiko loses one of his props.

In the Manomanista Promotion, Unai Alberdi has added his first point in group A of the quarterfinals group thanks to his victory against Iker Larrazabal by 9-22, which was about to be more convincing since the player from Azpeiti had fifteen so many advantage at 4-19. Alberdi II, who already gave a good image on the opening day despite losing to Zabala, was far superior. Centered, he looked for Larrazabal’s left foot, who missed nine balls and received five serve goals in a match that lasted 45 minutes and 50 seconds, during which time 172 shots were crossed at a good rate.

The second day of this group A will be completed on Monday at Astelena in Eibar with the match between Zabala and Egiguren V, Alberdi II’s next opponent.