Egiguren and Apeztegia Advance in Bankoa ABANCA-DV Quarterfinals

Iker Egiguren delivered a commanding performance on home soil to headline the second day of the Torneo Bankoa ABANCA-DV quarterfinals, while the pairing of Perurena and Ibarzabal produced the day’s primary upset.

The matches, held as part of the ongoing Basque pelota tournament, saw favorites advance in the senior and women’s categories, though the Promesas bracket proved unpredictable.

In the senior category, Iker Egiguren and Unax Apeztegia secured their place in the next round by defeating Ibarra and Goikoetxea. The match, as reported by El Diario Vasco, showcased Egiguren’s tactical control from the opening serve.

Playing in his home town of Azpeitia, the striker established an immediate 9-0 lead, eventually extending his advantage to 15-1. While Goikoetxea’s defensive efforts helped the opposing side narrow the gap to 20-11 and later 21-16, Egiguren ultimately closed the contest with a precise volley to the txoko.

The Promesas category delivered the round’s most unexpected result, as Perurena and Ibarzabal overcame Landa and Artetxe in a physically demanding contest. The match required five separate breaks due to the intense pace, with the outcome ultimately decided by the unforced errors of the favorites.

Landa and Artetxe struggled with consistency, losing 14 balls throughout the match. Conversely, Perurena proved instrumental, anchoring the defense and contributing seven points to the total score.

Laia Salsamendi confirmed her status as a tournament favorite in the women’s four-and-a-half category, defeating Madalen Etxegarai 22-11. The match remained balanced through the first half, with both players favoring short-court tactics.

Salsamendi, who utilized her right hand to secure three points early on, eventually broke the deadlock with a 9-0 run. Despite a brief resurgence from Etxegarai that brought the score to 13-11, Salsamendi regained control to seal the victory with four additional points from the serve.

The Torneo Bankoa ABANCA-DV moves to its third round of quarterfinals this coming Friday at 19:00 local time in Villabona. The quarterfinal stage is scheduled to conclude on Saturday, November 28, in Huércanos.