The Bankoa-EL DIARIO VASCO Tournament, the most prestigious in the amateur field, concentrates in its 29th edition to the promises of the future and, once again, the commitment to the female ball continues after the novelty of 2018. It is the best showcase to make the leap to professionalism. The talent factory continues to operate. Bankoa renews its sponsorship commitment for the tenth consecutive year.
All the participants aspire to follow the steps that other pelotaris have taken in previous editions, which today are part of the Baiko and Aspe tables. The last to join will be the ataundarra Iraitz Zubizarreta, which will jump on Saturday 26 at the Auzoeta fronton. And she will be followed in Baiko by Endika Uriondo –the Gizaburuaga defender who is also a senior finalist in 2019–, although in her case its premiere has no date. There are several that have already signed pre-contracts.
The men’s competition starts on Saturday at the Sahatsaga in Getaria and the Aritzbatalde in Zarautz will once again be the scene of the finals, announced for December 26. Irun, with its remodeled Uranzu, is the only new headquarters in 2020. Ezcaray also returns, whose premiere took place in 2003.
The sanitary protocol will be followed, the mask will be mandatory and the organizers appeal to individual responsibility
Unlike other tournaments that have had to be suspended, postponed or have been forced to reduce their format as a result of the coronavirus, the organizers of the Bankoa-DV Tournament have bet, with the push of the sponsors, to give it in full. Thus, the same number of participants from the last edition remains. There are 64 players on the starting line and the goal is to stay competitive. Hence, there has been an impact on the search for balance when setting up couples.
There are four groups of four couples in the senior and promising categories. The heats are by ladder system and the seeds will not enter the fray until the quarterfinal rounds. The first of each group will compete in the semifinals, which will take place in Tolosa and Eibar, on December 8 and 12 and the winners will face off at the big event in Zarautz. Like the professional games, the pass will be considered a foul.
In the female category, eight pelotaris will take part, divided into four groups of two each. The qualifiers are direct and the first four classified will access the semifinals, whose scenarios will be the same as the boys, like the final. They will do it with mixed ball and within four and a half. They begin on November 8 in Bergara. Those chosen are Olatz Arrizabalaga, Arrate Bergara, Leire Garai, Miriam Arrillaga, Miren Larrarte, Naroa Agirre, Olatz Ruiz de Larramendi and Amaia Aldai. Low cause Amaia Araiztegi and the new face is the zestoarrra Naroa Agirre.
Guipuzcoan majority
Gipuzkoan pelotaris are once again the majority. The figure rises to 21 -three less in relation to the last edition-, while the Navarrese representation is also numerous, with 20 manistas, one less than last year. Bizkaia contributes 11, nine La Rioja, three more, and three Araba, one more. In women, Gipuzkoa also leads with four pelotaris, for two from Bizkaia. The rest are from Araba and Navarra.
The tournament is very balanced. Of the 201 finalists9 only repeat in senior category Elola. Zubizarreta makes the leap to professionals just like Uriondo and Mariezkurrena I do not participate in this edition. On the other hand, in promises all the finalists except Erkiaga, who has dropped out, will play again in the same category, in which there are 18 newcomers, including the Lizeaga brothers, who will not be a couple. We refer to Unai Alberdi, Morgaetxebarria and De la Fuente.
The bidaniarra Elola and the Aldave from Pamplona are one of the strongest pairs in the senior category, but we must also take into account Murua-Sarasa, Expósito-Elizegi, Lerena-Gaskue, Ioritz Egiguren-Irurita.
Gipuzkoa, with 25 pelotaris, and Navarra with 21, clearly surpass Bizkaia (13), La Rioja (9) and Araba (4) in presence
The presentation, which took place yesterday at the Aritzbatalde fronton, was attended by Leire Landa, Councilor for Sports of the Zarautz City Council, by Bankoa Josu Arriola, attached to the Business Area, Susana Celayeta and Eneko Silva, territorial directors of Gipuzkoa, Iñigo Garamendi, director of the Zarautz branch, David García, responsible for External Relations and Sponsorships of DV and Gotzon Enbil, president of the Basque.
After the same semifinal crosses were raffled and chance determined that they are equal in promises and senior. The first classified of group 1 will be measured to the first of group 3. And that of 2 against 4. And in females, the first of group 1 against that of 2 and that of 3 against that of 4.
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