Laurent Sorozabal does not like his children to face each other in games. “I don’t know who to cheer for.” He prefers that they play together or alone. Yesterday he had to experience the most uncomfortable situation for a father. Johan, accompanied by López, and Gorka, together with Laduche, measured their strength on the sixth day of the Gernika Basket Punta Winter Series. The former needed the victory to stay alive in the tournament after the previous defeat, while the latter were making their debut in a championship that is breaking attendance records with another full one.
The two puntists and their teacher traveled together from Biarritz. Laurent taught them how to play when they were little because, after finishing his career on the frontons of Mildford and Bridgeport, in Connecticut, he ended up at the local ball school on the other side of the border. Both young men grew up in a point-oriented environment and, as there were not many children in the club at the time, the eldest opted for the defense and the youngest for the happy teams to form a couple. “At first they didn’t win many games with kids of their level and that’s good because you learn that you have to work to improve,” he said.
Both Johan and Gorka did it. The striker crossed the pond to play for Dania’s fronton at the age of 17. His brother did it shortly after. After a couple of seasons, both experienced the closure of the last link in the top basket in the United States. They had the opportunity to stay in the small glass front of the Magic City Casino, “but they preferred to return.” Now they are established in the elite. Johan stood out last year. The summer helped Gorka gain a foothold after reaping his first successes. “Both are complete, but they need to improve some aspects,” his parent stressed.
Half an hour before the start of the match, they asked their children who of the two was going to be more nervous during the game and they both agreed: “Our father.” Laurent couldn’t help it. “I’m always looking at what they do right or wrong,” he admitted.
Sitting in the front row in the rebound zone, he attended an open grave duel. «On the court there are no brothers when they are rivals. It’s like that,” he said. They both know each other perfectly and tried to tickle each other whenever they had the opportunity. He is part of the sport.
final emotion
Gorka had a lot of work. She expected it. With López very serious from the beginning and dominating the situation, he needed to work hard to try to hold the first set. But those who wore yellow offered a very high level and Johan knew how to perfectly take advantage of the gaps created by his defender. «Unlike the last game, Zumaia’s game started strong and they are playing well together. “Gorka has started well but he has started to go down and he has to be careful,” he summarized at halftime of the first game when the score reflected 8-4.
The laggards had to change something but they couldn’t. The consistency of their opponents allowed them to score the first partial victory without excessive difficulties (15-8).
«Those in green have to find solutions for the second set. Move your rivals more. The striker needs to try different things because they are not going to win by rallying,” Laurent predicted. Johan and López also started with the wind in their favor and reached 10-5.
But there was still a game. Those in green sold their defeat dearly. They reacted when few thought they could. Laduche began to tinker, measured better and tempered his nerves, and generated some doubt in his rivals. Gorka continued safely behind and squeezed his right hand. His reaction increased the tension on the field and in the stands. The public enjoyed it, something that had been missing in the previous two games. The greens reached 13-14. However, Laduche’s double pass came at the worst moment and the yellows took advantage of the opportunity (15-14). Laurent calmed down. Johan had won and Gorka had performed at a good level. As always there were things to improve, but he was proud of his children.
2023-12-04 22:21:01
#pride #Laurent #Sorozabal
