Joseba Lezeta
San Sebastian
Thursday, October 31, 2024, 06:55
Iraitz Zubizarreta, champion of Serie B in 2023, arrives alive to the last day of the Cuatro y Medio Championship league in his debut among the greats. Now, stating that their chances of reaching the semifinals are still intact is more risky because their future in the competition does not depend only on winning, but also requires a large score… against the current champion of the distance and the Manomanista. Winning 22-7 or with a greater advantage over Jokin Altuna this Sunday afternoon at the Atano III in Donostia seems like a chimera.
Ataundarra, 25 years old, prefers to ignore the numbers for the moment and approach the game “like the previous ones in this competition”, which for the most part have gone well. It comes with victories over Larrazabal in the qualifying round, Urrutikoetxea in the round of 16 and Artola in the league. Only Jaka has beaten him so far.
Playing against the champion always presents added value. “It’s the dream match, one of the most exciting of my career, and also the most complicated,” summarizes Zubizarreta III. «If when I started in the previous one they had told me that I would be in Atano III to face Altuna, I might not even believe it. But it’s true. I face number one, the best. I am very excited. Sharing the court with Jokin is an honor.”
They are rivals for the first time. «He is the striker I need to play against. If memory serves me correctly, I have already faced everyone from my company, Baiko, and a good number of Aspe.
With Jaka already qualified for the semi-finals, eight goals are enough for Altuna III to guarantee a place. Zubizarreta III, on the other hand, needs to leave the Amezketarra player at seven or less to win the same prize. “The calculations on the score have been made, the mathematics does not lie,” says the candidate. «I have a difficult time getting into the semi-finals. But my approach is the same as last Friday in Tafalla to face Artola. I must focus on training and what is in my power. My approach will be to fight from time to time aware of the obstacles involved in facing Altuna. The objective is to fight until the end and, once that is done, we will see the result.
Zubizarreta does not give up beforehand. “There is an option to beat him,” he says hopefully. «Now, I don’t know how many games Altuna has lost within the four and a half in the last two years. Maybe none… He is demonstrating an extraordinary level both this year and in previous years. He plays well in all disciplines, but in the cage he has had eight finals. He is a great champion, the best today. “It would be a surprise to beat him.”
«A good day with the serve»
Zubizarreta analyzes what is needed to approach Altuna. «Jokin hardly has any weak points. He doesn’t have them. The serve will be important, as in all individual matches. I need a good day with the serve, an essential premise to attack with the second shot. Apart from that, whoever sets the pace will have a lot to gain. Altuna requires doing many things well for a long time. I’ll try”.
The Ataundarras pelotazals have two reasons to travel to Atano III on Sunday. «Friends have already bought tickets. In addition, Senar plays in the first game with a chance to advance to the semifinals in Serie B. I think that the people of Ataun will be encouraged to go to Donostia. The one from San Gregorio faces Bakaikoa in the first opening act. If Egiguren V beats Eskiroz tomorrow in Berriz, Senar will need to win 22-17 or with a greater advantage over Etxarri, who will need 16 points in that case.
Iraitz is the nephew of Joxe Zubizarreta, ex-Manista of Unidas
Iraitz Zubizarreta traces his paternal roots to Azkoitia, in the Martitte neighborhood. Grandson of trikitilari Tomas Zubizarreta ‘Zendoia’, his uncle Joxe played as a professional in the ranks of Empresas Unidas. He started as a defender and ended up as a forward, a position he changed to based on his skills as a server. Rafael Zubizarreta, Iraitz’s father and a regular for a time in the Interpueblos Azkoitiarra team as well as in different tournaments, also dominated the serve. He was a couple with Sudupe. Iraitz, less powerful than the pelotaris of the previous Zubizarreta generation, has inherited mastery of the serve, a fundamental luck to attempt the assault on Altuna III.
