The Couples is a long-distance race and as in any long-distance event there are good and bad moments. To Jaka and Iztueta … They had to suffer last week in Estella where they suffered a tough defeat against Laso and Albisu. A bad day at the office, some would say. This Monday, however, they had to enjoy themselves at the Beotibar against Artola and Imaz who were absolutely powerless to contain the red duo, a perfect sum of power, talent and success. Iztueta put his strength with balls that kept Imaz behind him and Jaka took out the square and the bevel to draw shots of all kinds that brought Artola down the street of bitterness, who in the few opportunities he had to finish the goal was not particularly lucid. With such a panorama, it is not surprising that the resounding 22-8 that allows Jaka and Iztueta to turn the page on Estella and face the complicated match they have on Sunday in Mallabia against Elordi and Zabaleta with their confidence tank refilled.
Beotibar has always been a fronton in which Jaka has felt extremely comfortable and this Monday he showed it again from the first goal. Eight shots were enough for Lizartza’s man to draw a hook and a volley that in the blink of an eye put the score at 2-0. The third goal, with an exchange of 35 shots, also fell to the red side after a shot by Imaz from the nine that went down. A bad omen for the Oiartzuarra and his teammate, although the misunderstanding between Jaka and Iztueta in the next goal meant that the blues scored their first goal.
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game time
55 minutes and 56 seconds -
Good shots
413. -
So many serve
Jacket, 1. Artola, 1. -
Serving faults
Jacket, 0. Artola, 0. -
So many at stake
Jacket, 13; Iztueta, 0. Artola, 2; Imaz, 1. -
so many lost
Jacket, 1; Iztueta, 3. Artola, 4; Imaz, 4. -
Marker
3-0, 3-1, 6-1, 6-2, 11-2, 11-3, 13-3, 13-4, 14-4, 14-6, 16-6, 16-8 y 22-8. -
Exit odds
100 to 70 in favor of Jaka and Iztueta. -
incidences
Beotibar pediment. Practically full with 965 spectators.
That mistake did not change anything because Iztueta continued to lash out at Imaz, preventing Artola from having any chance of finishing the goal. And with the required oiartzuarra, it was not surprising that Jaka had good balls to finish, which he took advantage of to add to his tally of so many facts. A beautiful two volley walls, a cut at the feet of Alegia and a hook stretched the red lead (6-1), confirming the sensations that were on the court.
Without the ability to change the script of the game, the goals continued to fall mainly on the Colorado side until they reached ten leads at 14-4 after crossing 320 balls.
Two errors by Iztueta, whom the blues blatantly sought to prevent Jaka from entering the game, meant a small respite, but it was just that, a respite (14-6). The Tolosarra defender delivered two more balls, one in the rest of a serve without apparent venom from Artola (16-8), but not even those minutes of disconnection that Iztueta had made anyone think about the possibility of his rivals opting for a comeback. Among other things because Artola was not at all good when it came to finishing the goal. He barely hurt Jaka and the times he rushed, the ball went to the countercourt like the hook that made it 17-8.
But Jaka’s hook at 18-8 was a shot almost from the four that Artola could only follow with his gaze. The one from Lizartza was comfortable on a field that is like his home and he liked it.
«Martxel makes it easy for you»
Those two goals were the beginning of the final 6-0 partial that put the end to a game without much history that served to make Jaka and Iztueta smile again. “This is very long and there are many games left, but with games like this you leave with a good taste in your mouth,” said the one from Lizartza. «We have fixed the damage from the other day. We played a very complete game, everyone in their place. “We understood each other very well,” added Jaka, who gave credit to his teammate when he was questioned about his good game. “Martxel makes things easy for you.”
Salaverri II retires to the locker room in pain with the help of Dr. Iñigo Simón after receiving a ball from Peña II on his left knee.
F. de la Hera
A shot that could have changed the outcome
Peña II and Salaverri II scored their second point after defeating Amiano and Eskiroz 22-18 in a rather poor match in which only Peña II – 10 goals – was above mediocrity. The blues began dominating (0-5), but the success of Peña II took the game to 21-18, at which point Salaverri II was hit by a ball on his left knee after approaching to drink water, which forced him to limp to the locker room, but he was able to return to play the last goal.
