Urrutikoetxea and Irribarria, summer couple

After a long forced hiatus, yesterday the Caixabank Masters Tournament was unveiled, which has been prepared by the Liga de Empresas de Pelota Mano (LEP.M) for the summer. She will start walking today (17.00) on the Astelena pediment of Eibar with eight combinations, many of them unpublished, that give the competition a special attraction. They will face each other over the next three months in a 14-week double-round league format, in scenarios that will be revealed as companies close the calendar. At the moment, the venues of the first two days with the leading role for Biscay pediments – Zeanuri, Bilbao and Zaldibar – are already known in the first eight festivals.

Regarding the combinations, the one that attracts the most attention will be the one composed by Urrutikoetxea and Irribarria due to the morbidity generated by the alignment of two forwards together. The one from Zaratamo returns to his natural position six months later, after he disputed the unfinished Bodyguard Couples, while the one from Arama debuts and although he has demonstrated qualities, it will be necessary to see how he performs in such a long tournament. “We are not used to playing together, so we will have to see how we understand each other on the court”, highlighted the Biscayan.

It will not be the only representative of the territory in the competition. Elezkano II and Aretxabaleta will play together and are delighted to do so. It was a surprise. The company has given me this opportunity and I plan to take advantage of it if injuries are respected. I have played against Elezkano a lot since I was young, which has allowed us to get to know each other better. We are very confident, “said the defender from Markina. The one from Zaratamo considers that the encounters he played with his partner when he was in Asegarce – currently Baiko – can serve them. “We have also trained together and I will play very well with him,” he added.

They will not have anything easy given the level of the other combinations, among which the one formed by Olaizola II and Zabaleta also stands out. The veteran of Goizueta has been paired with the defender who made the most differences until the start of the pandemic. “It takes a long time to a great level, and it will be a joy to play with him”he stressed.

The Aranguren opportunity

Others who cannot be lost sight of are Artola and Rezusta. The power that both hold can be fearsome if they manage to join forces. Altuna III will train with Imaz, a defender who has just been renewed by Baiko and who is eager to return the trust they have placed in him.

Ezkurdia will carry behind him the young Aranguren, who has also just extended his contract with the Bilbao promoter for four years. In the Couples she has already acted as a substitute on three occasions and responded fully. «I have a very nice summer ahead of me. There is a lot of level, but playing with a striker like Arbizu’s is very important Because, because of his style of play, he is one of those who helps a lot, “he said. The Navarrese wants to start playing with a teammate “who has done his job very well when he has had to replace another in the championship. He is very pelotari, and does things very well, “he said.

Jaka will return to carry a defender of guarantees like Albisu, while Bengoetxea VI will form with Martija, another life insurance with which, to anything that is competed, can be an important combination. The losses with respect to the Couples will be Laso, Mariezkurrena and Ladis Galarza. The first two are negotiating their extension of the contract with Baiko, but this circumstance had nothing to do with deciding who was going to play, according to business sources.

Avoid injury

The doubt that was floating in the air yesterday in the presentation is the state of form with which the players will face the competition. It was a mystery that even the protagonists did not know how to answer. After the panorama that was contemplated just a month ago, the return of the ball has been meteoric And while everyone has tried to stay in shape as best they can, they have noticed the return to group practice. There is some concern about how they will respond because of the short time they have had to take the pulse. Avoiding injuries and gradually going back to being before is one of the short-term goals after a three-month hiatus.