Ibai Pérez, winner of the Individual last year, surrounded by eight of the applicants in the presentation of the tournament held yesterday in Bizkaia. /
The one from Sestao defends the title at Bizkaia in a tournament that starts on Friday and will be played for the first time by Cambos and Maldonado
“It’s time to defend the title.” Ibai Pérez has it clear. Last year he wore his second Individual txapela and this year the goal is to revalidate it. The one from Sestao starts as one of the favorites in a tournament that starts on Friday and will end on March 19, and will be played entirely at the Bizkaia fronton. But the demand will be maximum for the Biscayan defender. “All the rivals play a lot, but I see Fusto and Gaubeka as the most complicated,” he stressed. Experience on a date of this caliber carries a lot of weight.
The competition will maintain the semi-final league that was recovered last year and grants a certain margin to those who reach it. Its third day will be divided into two festivals so that its protagonists arrive in the best possible conditions for the summit clash. Another novelty of the championship will be the presence for the first time of Cambos and Maldonado. They will open the tournament in qualifying duels against the bottom of last year’s ranking. The one from Baiona will have Del Río as his rival. The Argentine will debut against Ibarguren. Although both have already had the opportunity to play a couples tournament, they face a much more complicated modality in which they will need their best version if they want to advance to the next phase.
It maintains the semifinal league that was recovered last year and the summit clash will be on March 19
Venado Tuerto’s striker was the last to reach professionalism. He has two good arms, «but I lack adaptation and a little more physicality. I have a tough match against a puncher, “he admitted. The winner of this match will play against Gaubeka. For the ‘rooster’ Armintza it will be the 18th edition of this competition. “The goal is to win it, but the first duel is very difficult and always involves some nerves,” he said. The striker is “confident”, but does not trust the rival that may come to him. «Ibarguren almost beat me last year and against Maldonado the other day I lost in training. But the Individual is a championship that I like a lot and you have to set short-term goals, “he said.
the game point
The winner of the match between Cambos and Del Río will face Ibai Pérez. Pablo Fusto will have Urrutia as his rival. The one from Buenos Aires has already recovered from his back problems, which coincided with the week of confinement for being positive. «I have had an opponent who is going through a great moment, but who has not yet finished exploding in this modality. Last year I managed to beat him and I will try to repeat it,” he said.
For Armintza’s defender it will be a challenge. Although it has not had good results in recent years, it is a tournament “that I love”. However, it is much more complicated than couples. “Physically it is more demanding and requires other positions, but I am excited and I hope to get the point of the game,” he said. The duel between Gordon and Necol will close the rooms.
