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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