Iñaki Artola has won 22-13 to Unai Laso in the semi-final of the Manomanist Championship, and Alegi's pelotari will play the grand final for the second consecutive year. Artola has given a huge start to the match, putting 16-2 ahead; and although Laso has approached 17-10, he has held the victory firmly.
Ander Murua and X will play the final of the Manomanist Series B. In the first semi-final, Murua was imposed 12-22 on Alberdi II, while in the second, Amiano had to play hard to beat Rekalde 22-17.
The tournament will be held in eight villages in La Rioja from 16 May to 4 July.
In the opinion of the Alavés pelotari, the Riojano is a favorite to wear the txapela, but Dario points out that this will have to be demonstrated on the court. Whoever wins will play the Manomanist final for the first time.
The two pelotaris have been satisfied with the material found. The Navarro striker has had two weeks to prepare for Saturday's crash, the Guipuzcoan only five days, but he will arrive very motivated after the match he played on Sunday.
Iñaki Artola has won the final ticket for the semi-finals of the Manomanista after winning 22-16 to Javi Zabala. After 12 years, Alegia lived on Sunday a day he will always remember as he lives.
The quarter-finals of the Manomanista have had a spectacular ending: Iñaki Artola has fought until the last moment to defeat Zabala (22-16). The Riojano needed 17 to qualify for the semi-finals, but has stayed at 16, while Artola has won the last semi-final ticket.
In the Labrit match, Iker Larrazabal has won the semi-final pass after beating Jon Ander Peña 18-22, a result that will allow Larrazabal to be in semi-finals, while Peña has been left out of the competition with no options to qualify.
In group A, Zabaleta-Erasun, Aldai-Bergara, Arrizabalaga-Bertiz and Ruiz de Infante-Zabala; and in group B, Etxegarai-Gaminde, Salsamendi-Mendizabal, Sagardui-Arrillaga and Ibarrola-Capella will play the final on July 11 at the Labrit.
On the same date as the San Sebastian ball festival, a football match is scheduled in Anoeta, and the decision has been made to avoid possible problems at the entrance.
Amezketarra says they must play the Manomanist Championship on more "neutral" frontons. After reaching the semi-finals in the last six years, champion Jokin Altuna will not be on the verge of the final this year.
Jokin Altuna and Erik Jaka have faced each other on the fronton of Legazpi. Although there was nothing at stake in the classification, they have both offered a tight and contested match, but in the end Altuna has shown superiority and won (22-16).
On Sunday afternoon, after the match against Jaka in Legazpi and after being eliminated from the Manomanist Championship, Jokin Altuna has declared that he sees Unai Laso as this year's champion.
Joseba Ezkurdia has given a good show at the Urbelaitz fronton in Legazpi, together with Arkaitz Gabirondo, in the match he has played against Jon Ander Peña and Ander Imaz. Arbizu's pelotari has taken the ball that has fallen on him with his right back, and then has given a perfect finish.
Unai Laso won a major victory on Saturday at the Atano III fronton in San Sebastián, defeating Dario Gómez (14-22), which allowed him to qualify for the semi-finals, leaving Jokin Altuna out of the competition, while Dario, in addition to qualifying for the semi-finals, remained first in the group.
Julen Eguiguren had enough to score 16 to be in the Series B Manomanist semifinal, but Unai Alberdi gave him no choice, beat him 10-22, so he qualified for the semifinal.
Alize Sagardui and Enara Gaminde, champions of the Couples Championship, are the favorites for this Sunday's match. Goizuetarra and quartet have won all the matches of the competition, including the semi-final, which can be followed live this Sunday from 12:00 on ETB1 and EITBKirolak.eus.
When the last day stops, Javi Zabala takes first place, but the group's four pelotaris, Zabala, Iker Larrazabal, Iñaki Artola and Jon Ander Peña, have options to qualify for the semi-finals.
In the match played at the Deportivo de Bilbao, Javier Zabala has had to work hard to beat Iker Larrazabal (22-17), a victory that has allowed the Riojano to become the leader of Group B of the Manomanista semifinals with two victories.
On the last day, therefore, Zabala will face Artola, while Larrazabal will measure Peña II.
Although Iñaki Artola has been in trouble, he has gone back to the game and defeated Jon Ander Peña on the second day of the Manomanist quarter-finals (22-19), a victory that allows Artola to play the last day against Zabala, while Peña has a hard time moving forward.
