Imanol Lopez, the best defense of the last quarter century, will retire in his hometown
He will retire in Zumaia on April 6 and if he wins the semi-final a week later, San Telmo Day. In the Zumaia Master Series, Lopez will be accompanied by the best striker of the moment: Aritz Erkiaga.
Presentation of the Zumaia Master Series. Image: EITB
Imanol Lopez is leaving. The best weasel of the last quarter century will retire at the Master Series in Zumaia. He is leaving, the great pelotari who has marked an unforgettable stage in the tip basket with his compatriot Goikoetxea.
He will play his last championship at 42 years old and end his glorious professional career in his hometown of Zumaia. He debuted in Gernika in 2003 on San Fermín Day and retired in Zumaia on April 6, and if he wins the semifinal a week later, San Telmo Day.
Six times Champion of Couples (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 twice - World Ball Conference and International Federation - and 2022), two more Individual Caps (2017 and 2019), a Eusko Label Winter Series (2023) and dozens and dozens of other important caps (titles of Dania and Miami, Citrus of Orlando, Mexican Championships and Basque Country, Gold Xisteras of Biarritz, International of San Juan de Luz, etc.).
He retires and also wears the Gold Belt of the Jai Alai League champion, with whom he won the season's highest trophy at the Karmelo Balda in San Sebastian.
Frida, from the Winter Series to Zumaia.
In the Zumaia Master Series, Lopez will be accompanied by the best striker of the moment: Aritz Erkiaga, an ispaster who has shared a court with him for years. However, there will also be two other zumaiarras on the court, in the qualifying test of the Jai Alai League: Unai Uranga and Frida Watkins, who has just won the Euskotren Winter Series championship on Monday.
In the women's season, Zumaia's is the fourth qualifying test for the Jai Alai League and the ninth for men.
Male Master Series: Erkiaga-Lopez, Johan-Ibarluzea, Urreisti-Uranga, Olharan-Lekerika.
Women's Master's Series: Elaia-Frida, Ihart-Maialen, Sorozabal-Eneritz, Helena-Oaia.
- Monday 30 March : Ihart-Maialen vs Sorozabal-Eneritz and Urreisti-Uranga vs Olharan-Lekerika
- April 6, Monday: Elaia-Frida vs Helena-Oaia and Ekiaga-Lopez vs Johan-Ibarluzea
- April 13, San Telmo Day: finals, broadcast on EITB
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Ezusteko finala: Urreisti eta Laduche, Banakako txapelaren bila
Eñaut Urreistik eta Ludovic Laduchek larunbatean, maiatzaren 2an, jokatuko dute Banakako Txapelketako finala Berriatuan, Aritz Erkiaga txapelduna eta Johan Sorozabal faboritoa hurrenez hurren kanporatu ondoren.
Bixente-Atain and Erkiaga-Gorka, and Pape-Lizardi and Laugie-Mercadie, to the final of the All Star of San Juan de Luz
In the quinielas on Tuesday, they were the best couple, so they got the tickets for the finals, which will be played next Tuesday, the 28th.
Erkiaga has had a hard time getting through the Individual Championship
Aritz Erkiaga defeated Julen Basterra "Txanika" in the Grand Individual Basket Championship at Mendibarrena in Berriatua. Despite being intense and tough in the game, he won in three games (6-12, 12-6 and 5-3). On the other hand, Johan beat Libois in two games by 12-8 and 12-10.
A group of mariachis, Imanol Lopez, said in his farewell, "I'm still king."
On the fronton Aitzuri, in Zumaia, where Imanol Lopez has left the professional tip basket, the main protagonist of the day has received a gift: a group of mariachis have dedicated the song "El rey" to him, and he has also sung it in its entirety.
Imanol Lopez, excited, in his farewell: "Let the wave of this beautiful sport continue, for it is worth it."
Zumaia's Zaguero has thanked "everyone, with all their heart, for this moment, especially my family." "Playing this sport for so many years is a pride for me," he added in his farewell speech.
Imanol Lopez: "I'm so happy, I've enjoyed it so much, I'm so happy."
Imanol Lopez has said goodbye to the professional ball at the 2026 Zumaia Jai Alai Master Series, at the Aitzuri fronton, at the festivities of his village, and has also managed to put on one last txapela, since, together with Aritz Erkiaga, his rivals Jean Olharan and Unai Lekerika, he has won.
Imanol Lopez, accompanied by Erkiaga, champion in his farewell
Erkiaga and Lopez have won the final in two games (15-12 and 15-10) for Olharan and Lekerika in the last match of the great Zumaiarra zaguero. In the women's final, Elaia and Frida have won in three games (15-9, 11-15 and 5-2).