Jaka and a heroic Aranguren touch the feat against Elordi and Zabaleta (21-22)

The visit to Mallabia confirms that Erik Jaka and Aitor Aranguren are not afraid of the dentist. They are bottom in the Couples Championship with a single point in the standings, but they are brave. They have touched the feat this Saturday in Mallabia against Aitor Elordi, who was playing at home, and José Javier Zabaleta. The leaders remain unbeaten by a hair’s breadth thanks to a 21-22 score with a final goal that seemed to be tossed.

Zabaleta has had to take the right for a walk to score the last two goals for the leading couple, 20-21 and 20-22. Elordi’s perennial smile since the day of the tournament presentation had disappeared from his face. There was no positive news from him since the hook of 15-18 and he had even been sold on several occasions, which Jaka and Aranguren have taken advantage of to recover from 17-20. They have lacked the last push.

The performance of Aitor Aranguren deserves a special mention, heroic from beginning to end. The improvement in his game is evident after months in difficulties and without specifying the projection indicated in 2020 when Baiko turned to him to replace Urrutikoetxea as defender of Olaizola II.

The one from Aginaga has defended an outrage. There is no bad ball for him. He has responded with air on the left wall or near the rebound with his left foot. he has reached the txoko to even counterattack. He has thrown himself to the ground and has risen at the same speed. He has even played forehand. He has exasperated the two opponents at times, among which Elordi has lacked the clairvoyance of previous days. He has started playful and has ended with water up to his neck.

Over the step to the right of Jaka with which he has hindered Zabaleta’s vision of the ball, who has irritated that action at 15-17.