What a hot flash Laso and Albisu had in an Astelena team that, unlike Christmas Day, was able to enjoy good games. The leaders won … 19-11, exhibiting that superiority that has characterized them throughout the first round, but several errors got Zabala and Martija into the fight, who came to really oppose a victory that they did not achieve because Laso, decisive as always, solved the mess they had gotten themselves into. Sixth victory in seven games and two wins ahead of their pursuers, reaching the halfway point of the Parejas league. Not bad.
The Baiko duo’s staging was impressive. Albisu kept Martija glued to the rebound and Laso scored with his first four shots. Zabala stopped the bleeding with a good hook and began to come into play more, setting a pace that his rivals had a hard time following. A beautiful drop after a goal started with a spectacular serve led to the first of the two ties of the match (5-5). What’s more, they even went ahead 6-7. It was the only time.
-
Playing time:
70 minutes and 2 seconds. -
Shots:
517. -
Serving points:
Laso, 1. Wide, 1. -
Serving faults:
Laso, 1. Wide, 0. -
So many at stake:
Laso, 14; Albisu, 2. Zabala, 6; Martija, 1. -
So many lost:
Laso, 4; Albisu, 6. Zabala, 2; Martija, 3. -
Marker:
4-0, 4-1, 5-1, 5-5, 6-5, 6-7, 14-7, 14-8, 16-8, 16-10, 16-11, 19-11, 19-17, 21-17, 21-19, 22-19. -
Momios:
100 to 70 in favor of Laso and Albisu. -
Incidents:
Astelena pediment. Full house with 1,100 spectators and a great atmosphere. In the draw for the serve, the plate thrown by the judge remained standing and had to be thrown again.
An 8-0 run returned dominance to Laso and Albisu whose sense of superiority was evident. With Martija condemned to play further behind the seven and Zabala barely able to enter the game, the goals fell without the Aspe couple being able to remedy it (14-7). A fault on Laso’s serve cut short the set and put the game in a give and take until that 19-11, moment in which Albisu made several gifts that, together with the success of Zabala – beautiful two walls at 19-17 -, gave life to the game. A hook from Laso and an error from Zabala were a lifeline for Baiko’s team (21-17), but two more errors from Albisu ignited Astelena until, again, Laso executed a hook that Zabala returned with difficulty, leaving a free ball for the man from Bizkarreta to send a shot back, against the wall, which Martija could no longer return to the relief of the leaders.
Murua and Gabirondo recover to 13-6 before Amiano and Eskiroz (22-21)
Murua and Gabirondo lost 13-6 to Amiano and Eskiroz. With the irundarra in tune and the Makirriain solid, the victory seemed in their hand, but Amiano began to fail more than necessary – he ended up with 9 made and 11 lost – Murua began to command and the difference was drastically shortened (16-19). A 5-0 run put them on the verge of victory, but a drop shot from Murua and a goal from Amiano made everything turn out to be one card.
