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San Mateo opens many fronts at the close of summer

The San Mateo pelotaris, accompanied by leaders and sponsors yesterday at the Palacio de los Deportes in Logroño. / Fernando Diaz

The festival in Logroño will have a rematch of the final of San Fermín, the main draw of the Couples, a challenge and two previous ones of the Cuatro y Medio

The San Mateo tournament has prepared an attractive menu to close the summer pelotari. It will be an end to a high-level party to celebrate the return to the -almost-normality of the ball and of the activity to the frontons, with the gradual return of the fans to the seats.

All those who come to Adarraga in Logroño from September 21 to 26, from Tuesday to Sunday, will be able to witness matches of the highest level, starting with the rematch -so called- of the final of the San Fermín del Cuatro y Medio Tournament, day that will begin at 7.15 pm. Altuna III beat Laso 22-20 on July 7 at Labrit in a memorable meeting and the Amezketarra and Navarrese will face each other again this time with the public, since the Pamplona match was played behind closed doors.

The Government of La Rioja announced yesterday new reductions in restrictions on capacity at sporting events. In indoor venues the percentage has been increased to 40%, but they have made an exception with the matea fair and 50% of the maximum capacity -1,518- of the Adarraga will be allowed. That is, 759 spectators.

The match between Jokin Altuna and Unai Laso will be the appetizer of what is to come. Wednesday September 22 will be the rest day and from Thursday, without interruptions until Sunday, twelve games will be played. The main tournament of San Mateo 2021 will have four couples in contention, two from Aspe and two from Baiko. On the part of the promoter from Eibar, the couples Ezkurdia-Rezusta and Víctor-Zabaleta will meet on Thursday 23rd for a place in the final. On the other side of the table, representing the Biscayan company, Olaizola II-Mariezkurrena II and Jaka-Albisu will compete on Friday 24 to get the same award.

Four of the eight pelotaris that are still alive in the Caixabank Masters couples championship – they play their semifinals this weekend in Viana and Hondarribia – will be in Logroño, with the option of at least one and a maximum of up to three arriving in San Mateo with the final of the Masters, which takes place on Sunday 19 in Vitoria, on the legs.

Of the eight present at the tournament, four know what it is like to triumph in the Logroño couples championship. Víctor has one triumph, two Ezkurdia and three Rezusta and Olaizola II. While Bergararra’s victories have all been recent, in 2016, 2017 and 2019, those of Goizueta’s 41-year-old pelotari have a difference in time, a sign of the high level he has had at various points in his career. Olaizola II premiered in 2002, repeated in 2012 and the track record of the last edition, in 2019, also bears his name. In addition, he accumulates a total of six finals after the three he has lost, the same as Albisu, who will seek, like Jaka, Mariezkurrena II and Zabaleta, to triumph in Logroño for the first time.

1,200 bottles of wine

Another of the great attractions of this edition of San Mateo will arrive on Saturday, September 25. In a day that will begin at 5.30 pm, the two promoters, Aspe and Baiko, will compete face to face for the astonishing prize of 1,200 bottles of wine in the Añares Challenge. Zabala will face Zubizarreta III in the Cuatro y Medio modality; Altuna III and Martija to Laso and Imaz in that of the couples; and Darío and Agirre in hand in hand. Whoever wins the most matches that day will have a drink for a long time.

San Mateo will also serve to start looking at the next great championship, the Four and a Half. Each promoter has saved a game in the Adarraga to dedicate it to the previous ones. Baiko will face Agirre and Peña on Thursday, September 23 after the first semifinal of the pairs and the winner will accompany Artola, Bengoetxea VI, Jaka, Laso and Urrutikoetxea in the championship.

Aspe will go on the 24th after the second semifinal with Irribarria-Elordi. Among the five remaining seats, Altuna III and Ezkurdia will be seeded and if we are guided by the 2020 ranking, also Elezkano and Peio Etxeberria. One more would be missing, on which a decision has not yet been made.

Tournament Couples

  • Aspe.
    Ezkurdia and Rezusta against Víctor and Zabaleta for a place in the final on 26.

  • Baiko.
    On the other side of the table, Olaizola II and Mariezkurrena II against Jaka and Albisu.

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