One hour and forty minutes of play, more than a thousand shots and, in the end, a hit by the defender from the five that goes to the txapa … and Unai Amiano-Eskiroz’s 22-21 defeat against Salaberria-Gaskue at the Uranzu fronton, which recorded a great entrance and a better atmosphere, with two games full of emotion until ending 22-21.
It was a pivotal match, in which a victory would have sent the local couple to the top of the table and in which the narrow defeat has left them with no options to be third or fourth, the best steps to face the play-off.
Now, Amiano-Eskiroz are fifth, tied with two other couples. One of the three pairs will be eliminated and the other two will play a eliminatory match between themselves. The winner will face the loser of the match between third and fourth, which gives access to the semifinals.
Irundarra and Eskiroz have two days left to confirm their presence in the play-off
After the initial 2-0, the locals went up to 2-9 but Salaberria-Gaskue, who arrived with one more victory, came back at 13-11 and no one had more than two goals to lead, with ties in cards 13, 14, 17, 19, 20 and 21. 19-20 was the last time in which the local couple was ahead on the scoreboard.
Unai Amiano, who scored seven goals and lost five, acknowledges his “sorrow. We didn’t play a bad game but we lacked a little luck” and he noted that “we gave two or three txapas and such a close game is decided in details.” Furthermore, it is not the first time they have lost by the minimum. “We have already lost three games 22-21”, all three in the last six games.
The Sales person is aware of what it means for the classification, from the possibility of being well positioned to the reality of having to continue fighting. «It is a step back. The previous week in Hendaye we had broken a bad streak and we really wanted to win in Irun, but it couldn’t be. “You want to dominate and win the game, but the opponents also play.”
In any case, he assures that “we are going to continue fighting until the end. “We are going to do everything in our power and try to win the last two games to finish as high as possible.”
All that is the sour part, but there has also been some satisfaction after the Uranzu festival. «Playing at home is a joy. “It was the third time and I went very comfortably and felt very supported by the public.” In that sense «I am very happy, because I think that Irun needed a pelota player or for pelota to be lived as it is being lived now, in a more passionate way. That is a satisfaction and also how people are behaving with me.
Amorebieta and Nájera
After having played three games in a row at home or nearby (Hendaia, Oiartzun and Irun), they will have to finish the league in two of the farthest frontons.
This Friday in Amorebieta they will face Rekalde-Bikuña, last in the standings with one win and eleven losses and whom they defeated 22-16 in the first round, and on February 13 they will travel to Nájera to play against Murua-Gabirondo, second, who won the first match 22-21.
