Ezkurdia and Peio Etxeberria Open Group A Play in Amorebieta
The Cuatro y Medio quarterfinals launch tonight in Amorebieta with a Group A clash between Jokin Ezkurdia and defending champion Peio Etxeberria, diariovasco.com reported. The opening match starts tonight at 21:00 with live coverage on ETB1, setting the stage for the tournament’s group phase after an octavos de final largely played out without major surprises.
How the Quarterfield Field Took Shape
The path to the quarterfinals saw predictable results across most bracket matches, punctuated by Darío’s withdrawal due to injury. Unai Laso defeated Xabier Jaka 22–10, Iker Larrazabal fell just short against Jokin Elordi in a 22–20 thriller, and Jon Ander Peña dismantled Unai Artola 22–4. Meanwhile, Murua stepped in as a replacement for the injured Darío and overcame Senar 22–10 to claim his spot in the next phase.
Group B Emerges as the Tough Bracket
While Group A features reigning champion Etxeberria and veteran campaigner Ezkurdia, observers have labeled Group B as the tournament’s “group of death.” That bracket brings together current standouts Altuna III and Laso, alongside last year’s finalist Zabala and Peña II. Altuna III carries four career Cuatro y Medio titles into the group phase despite a demanding summer, while reaching the final in seven consecutive editions from 2016 through 2023. Peña II also already knows what it is like to defeat Laso and Zabala inside the cage, and came within a single point of doing the same against the wizard of Amezketa in the 2024 Navarre Cuatro and Medio final by a 22–21 scoreline.
Defending Champion Begins Campaign Against a Familiar Foe
Peio Etxeberria enters tonight’s fixture as the top seed and defending champion, having missed the official tournament presentation due to the birth of his second child, Abel. The Zenotz pelotari faces Ezkurdia, whom he defeated during last year’s quarterfinals. He did so in the third matchday of the quarterfinal group phase, although when they faced each other in Villaba, the Arbizu native was already qualified after picking up his first two points, whereas Etxeberria needed a victory at all costs to reach the semifinals. Ezkurdia, 35, brings three championship titles to the court, having swept all three of his prior finals appearances against Altuna III between 2018 and 2022.
Race for Semifinal Berths in Group A and B
The Group A schedule continues tomorrow in Azpeitia, where Elordi meets Murua. In Group B, Laso squares off against Peña II tomorrow, while Altuna III takes on Zabala on Sunday. With the round-robin liguilla underway, all eight contenders face a demanding race to secure the two semifinal berths in each respective group.
