The ‘cage’ resists the Biscayans

This year there are again three Biscayan representatives who will play the Four and a Half starting tomorrow. Urrutikoetxea, Elezkano II and Elordi start from the round of 16 in search of a group of quarterfinals that seems difficult to reach, given their rivals. The most explosive form of the ball puts them to the test again. Passing the round is the most immediate goal for the three of them, although on the horizon there are some semifinals to which a pelota player from the Biscayan territory has not entered for three years, while five years have passed since the Baiko striker opted for the last txapela.

The title is getting more and more expensive. The irruption of the new values ​​and the step forward of some pelotaris in the happy squares have caused the level to increase and a bad day is paid dearly. Altuna III and Ezkurdia have shared the gold medals in the last five editions.

Urrutikoetxea is the one with the most experience and gallons in this specialty among Biscayans. Far away -2015- is that title achieved against Irujo in a comeback that is still in the memory of many fans. Since then he was two years close to repeating the feat, but he resisted. Somewhat separated him from the summit clash the following year and another from getting his txapela on in 2017. Luck eluded him. Injuries also took their toll on him and prevented him from playing it for two consecutive years. Tomorrow he opens against Peña II in Zalla. He has to contain the impetus of a hungry pelotari that grows every year.

Split hairs

At that same festival, Elordi will play against Jaka, another tough nut to crack who already knows what it’s like to compete in a final. The one from Mallabia is the Biscayan who has the least pressure of the three. Last year he earned a place among the best after leaving out players of the caliber of Irribarria and Artola, and he has a new opportunity in which he wants to endorse what he achieved then. It is a distance that suits him like a glove and he already knows how those at the top spend it, but he is going to have to tread very finely and take advantage of all his potential if he wants to achieve it. Playing again in the group in his second appearance in the tournament would be a success for a striker who can embarrass any opponent if he has the day.

Elezkano II arrived at Cuatro y Medio five years after making his debut in 2012, once he became part of the Aspe squad. He has managed to qualify for the quarterfinals a couple of times, although he has never managed to get anywhere near the semi-finals. The last three seasons he also didn’t have much luck with the rivals in the first round and fell by the wayside. Today (10:00 p.m.) Artola will be measured at the Amasa-Villabona fronton. The challenge is important. If he overcomes it, he will get back into the top six, and a good championship could open the door a little more for the next tournament of the season.