Jokin Altuna tries to rejoin the backcourt tables yesterday at Bizkaia. /
The one from Bizkarreta will play his first final of the premier competition thanks to a nine-goal streak with which he turns the 17-13 in favor of the defender of the txapela
“The day has come.” The phrase sums up Unai Laso’s happiness for that long-sought victory against Jokin Altuna. The one from Bizkarreta made possible yesterday at Bilbao’s Bizkaia on the occasion of the Manomanista semifinal what had been denied him in three finals in this order: the Navarre Four and a Half at Labrit and the official Four and a Half and the Championship Couples, both in the Biscayan capital.
His 17-22 victory comes the day after his 25th birthday, after starring in one of those reactions to which Altuna III had become accustomed in recent times. The specialist suffered the comeback of who had suffered them in the meat of him. The tables turned, as expected sooner or later would happen given the balance in their confrontations.
17
Altuna III
22
Unai Laso
Game time:
65 minutes and 47 seconds.Balls to good:
268.Serving points:
Height III, 4. Lasso,Serve faults:
Height III, 0. Lasso,So many at stake:
Height III, 7. Lasso,So many lost:
Height III, 9. Lasso,Highlighter:
0-1, 1-1, 1-5, 8-5, 8-7, 10-7, 10-10, 15-10, 15-12, 16-12, 16-13, 17-13 y 17-22.Scores of ten or more balls:
ten (four for Altuna III and six for Laso).Exit odds:
on a par with trend by Altuna III. 80 to 100 below.Bottlers:
Gorka Altuna with her cousin Jokin and Jon Mariezkurrena with Unai Laso.Incidences:
approved scraping for entry into Bilbao’s Bizkaia. 1,200 spectators. The semifinal promised more. Premiere of a giant screen where the match could also be followed. Laso called for atxiki on a volley from Altuna at 10-9 and there was a slight scuffle.
Unai Laso seals the pass to his third consecutive final in the different modalities, the first in the main competition, the one that gives and takes away, the same in which his opponent sought to stand for the third time in a row. The applicant goes up to where an Altuna III will return more aware than anyone of what has been experienced in this edition.
He was facing a major challenge, a league and a weekly heads-up rhythm that have pushed him to the limit. He is the only one present in all the semifinals after the pandemic, seven. It’s been almost two years without a break, without a truce, showing up even in the resolution of the Baiko strike.
The amount
7
Years have passed since the last final dominated by Baiko pelotaris. They were still from Asegarce then. It was the 2015 Manomanista between Urrutikoetxea, a replacement for the injured Bengoetxea VI, and Olaizola II. If Jaka beats Ezkurdia today, there will be a plenary session.
The stress and continued efforts take their toll. “You see that everyone wants to beat you,” observes the Amezketarra. It is the champion’s bill, the one he has coped with so well. He lost the 2020 manomanista final against Jaka. He has won three since then. It is the flagship of Aspe. As Laso is now, on his own merits, Baiko’s.
After acknowledging that “Unai has been superior”, Altuna III spoke of his conclusions: “I have seen myself without rhythm, without training. I couldn’t do any rehearsal after the game against Darío. When he went for the air he didn’t take the distance. I have had that feeling even when I was ahead.
«I have given more to the ball and that is why I have won; I have had clear ideas at the end; today I have not felt cramps in the arm»
Earning a five-goal lead at 15-10, it seemed that Jokin Altuna had put a semi-final on track with many errors. And that the left foot, which possibly is still not one hundred percent, did not quite work for him. His left-handed shots of air down the left wall appeared in dribs and drabs.
Laso, with the biceps of his right arm at full capacity, in case there was any doubt, requested his second break when he was 15-10 behind and the duel began with an exchange of gifts. The champion does not arrive in time to a sottomano attempt. Badge with ball at the pleasure of the applicant. Two walls to the defending champion’s backcourt line. And above all, the right hand went out with the entire pediment at his disposal at 17-13. He weighed the error.
“We will see if I can be ready for the clash for third place; taking a break will do my head good”
It couldn’t go on like this. One of the two was going to sign a stroke, possibly decisive. It was from Lasso. Solving the rest until the last three goals, Altuna III took the initiative in the rally in a couple of demanding exchanges. He lacked finishing, as in the failed drop of 17-16. He did not recover the serve. Laso, carried on wings by an audience he has put in his pocket, found inspiration. And a triumph dreamed of, worked for, deserved.
Ezkurdia-Jaka, less charm but a lot of strength today at Astelena
The tie between Joseba Ezkurdia and Erik Jaka completes the Manomanista semifinals this afternoon at Astelena in Eibar (ETB1, 5:00 p.m.). The one from Arbizu pursues his first final of the queen competition in the attempt to round off the record and complete the triple crown after two titles of the Four and a Half and two of the Couples. The one from Lizartza aspires to play the manomanista final again two years after winning the first against an entire Altuna III. Two different forwards will try to impose their own style. Ezkurdia, favorite for the chair, has an unusual volley with which he is capable of imposing a high rhythm on the rally. He poses physical duels. Jaka volleys with both hands but in a different way. He is more of an auctioneer, point guard. He would help him improve his serve compared to the match of the week against Artola.
