The semifinal showdowns of the Masters CaixaBank pelota tournament arrive at the Navarra Arena this Friday, setting up a high-stakes battle where the formidable partnership of Martxel Iztueta and Jon Mariezkurrena looms large over the competition.
Navarra Arena Semifinals Set the Stage
Friday’s card at the Navarra Arena features two distinct semifinal pairings following a material selection session held at the venue. The second semifinal features Joseba Ezkurdia and Julen Albisu squaring off against Aitor Zabala and Martxel Iztueta.
The favorites enter the weekend with considerable momentum, following dominant victories during the group stage. Iztueta and Mariezkurrena arrive with strong credentials built over months of high-level competition across various Basque Country tournaments. Iztueta’s summer CV includes titles in San Fermín, Donostia Hiria, Aste Nagusia, and Bermeo, cementing his status as one of the tour’s most reliable backcourt players. Meanwhile, Mariezkurrena comes straight off a victory at San Mateo in Logroño.
«The summer is being very nice to me, although we accumulate tiredness,» Iztueta acknowledged regarding his heavy workload. Mariezkurrena echoed that sentiment of good form: «The txapela in Logroño has given me confidence, I feel very well.»
Seeking Revenge After Lopsided Group Stage Losses
Both challenger pairs face uphill battles based on previous encounters in the tournament’s round-robin phase. Albisu and Ezkurdia carry the memory of a difficult 22-9 defeat against Zabala and Iztueta on July 25 in Ermua. Reflecting on that lopsided loss, Albisu admitted that opponents simply played at an extraordinary level.
«They passed over us,» Albisu recalled of the Ermua fixture. «We didn’t have our day and they played a monstrosity. Let’s hope that at least this match is more disputed, that we start well from the beginning and see if we can give them war.»
Zabala praised his partner’s recent performances, emphasizing Iztueta’s influence on the court. «Martxel is being a decisive factor in this championship because he is playing at an incredible level,» Zabala said. «We will try to take advantage of his characteristics because in addition this fronton suits him very well.»
Artola and Rezusta face a similarly daunting task against Elordi and Mariezkurrena, having suffered a 22-10 defeat on September 11 at the Jostaldi fronton in Hondarribia. Rezusta noted the importance of establishing an early foothold to disrupt their rivals’ rhythm.
«Hopefully this match will be different,» Rezusta stated. «There will be many points in which they will dominate us, but that day it was almost all of them. We have to take advantage of our moments, make them uncomfortable, make a good start of the match because the other day they caught us difference quickly and were more comfortable than us.»
Material Controversy and Ball Selection Debate
Preparation at the Navarra Arena included the traditional material selection process, which brought minor friction over the state of the balls chosen for the matches. Ezkurdia and Albisu voiced clear dissatisfaction with the contents of the basket provided for their fixture.
«We wanted balls with a spark, that would run down and, removing one, the rest seemed quite bland to us,» Albisu said. Ezkurdia supported his partner’s assessment, noting they expected livelier equipment for the semifinal stage.
Zabala offered a counter-perspective on how the balls reacted during the selection trials, suggesting that external perception of speed can differ from the feel on the hand. Meanwhile, the pairings of Artola-Rezusta and Elordi-Mariezkurrena concluded their material checks with greater satisfaction regarding their selections.
With the equipment locked in and training sessions concluded, the four pairs turn their full focus to Friday’s matches at the Navarra Arena, where spots in the Masters CaixaBank final are on the line.
Worth a look
