A conductor makes sure that all the instruments sound in unison. A captain is tasked with being the hub around her team. Itziar Arregui Mariezkurrena (Pamplona, 1991) fulfills these functions in spades, but on the basketball court. She and her teammates form a wall that will be difficult to break this season.
The Osés Ardoi Construction The course began last Saturday with a 56-64 victory against CAB Estepona. A motivating start for the Jotas Unzué players, who conquered the Pineda Pavilion. “We are very happy because we started with victory and in a field that is going to be difficult for the teams, because CAB Estepona has a good squad. We also won away from home, it’s a plus ”, explains point guard Itziar Arregui.
This meeting was the first contact with a team in the league. “In the preseason we have been winning games with solvency, but we hadn’t really faced a team in our league. This is one of the sets that are made to be on top ”.
Zizur’s team reached the break losing 40-29. CAB Estepona knew how to catch Osés. Perhaps the nerves at the start of the season did not allow Osés to have fluidity on the track. “We came out well, with energy. Then we started to miss easy baskets and we started to get into their rhythm. It was not us in defense. We were being a hole, ”he explains. The passage through the changing rooms was key for the Jotas Unzué players to take a step forward. “After the break we pressed and changed to a zone, they got stuck. We did an incredible second half. We managed to put ourselves ahead and at home with his audience ”.
Itziar Arregui scored ten points, grabbed seven rebounds and gave three assists. Her presence on the court was essential in guiding her team to the first victory in the Women’s Challenge League. Too, two new signings debuted in the starting five, Nina Rosemeyer and Ana Carlota Faussurier who got to score 17 points. “From the beginning they have connected very well with the team, they are very comfortable and with that confidence that Jotas is giving them to take balls, shots, and be present. Personally, I see them very well integrated ”, he says.
A PINEAPPLE IN THE COSTUME
Osés Construcción Ardoi can boast a good atmosphere in the dressing room. The players form a pineapple that is also reflected on the court. One of the keys is the union of the veterans with the newcomers. “We continue to have the base of the team with the same players. We are a very easy team because we are local people, we help the new ones a lot. We make pineapple very fast ”.
From last season, six players remain in the squad. They all lived the ascent phase in Madrid and the memory continues in his memory. However, they must start from scratch. “It was amazing. It was reaching the final without being favorites and making it very difficult for Baxi Ferrol. Although we cannot live on what we did last year either. You have to think about this season, “he explains.
This course, all teams debut in the Women’s Challenge League. The Osés will meet new and complicated outfits. “Last year there were teams that were below, but more or less you knew. This year, being a new league where we are all the teams that play the promotion phase, the level has risen. The first objective is to stay because it is going to be a long and complicated league, then depending on how the games go we will look towards the playoff, “he says.
A WALL ON THE TRACK
Itziar Arregui is clear about how they can harm other teams. “Our defense. This weekend we were still hesitant but we always come back. When they think they have won us, we are back and we are very aggressive, warriors. Our defense is what is going to take us on the right track ”.
On Saturday they debut in Zizur and with 100% capacity. They want to give their audience the second win of the season. “We really want to start at home because it is a plus. The public shows. I meet people on the street who want to go to games. It’s going to be a cool season and people are excited ”.
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