Euskaraz irakurri: Etxeberria eta Zabaleta Binakako Txapeldun, epikoa irabazita final (20-22)

Peio Etxeberria and José Javier Zabaleta are the champions of the 2024 Couples Championship after beating Jokin Altuna and Julen Martija in the grand final by 20-22.

It was an epic final, very tough and disputed, in which the four pelotaris They have played to the limit of their strength. The second best couple in the previous league (Etxeberria and Zabaleta, with 9 wins in 14 games) and the third (Altuna and Martija, with 8 wins in 14 games) have been facing each other. The blues have appeared in the final with a full victory (three out of three) in the semifinal group and their rivals, with one less victory, with the spectacular performance of Altuna in the last game of that group.

Thus things, the final prediction was very open.

Etxeberria and Zabaleta have taken control of the game in the first goals. With the 0-3 initial, and with Zenotz’s forward dominating up front, the blues have made it clear that victory was going to be very expensive at the Navarra Arena.

Zabaleta has been very confident at the back at all times and Peio has moved without complexes through the front teams. He 3-5 has been a clear reflection of what the final was going to be: a bit long, very hard and fought almost to the point of exhaustion. Jokin Altuna finished it off with a great shot.

A faithful reflection of the fight that has been seen on the Navarra Arena field has been the six tied that have occurred on the scoreboard since the 5-5. It was from the last hug on the scoreboard (14-14) that the final began to change.

He duel at the back between Zabaleta and Martija has been decisive. Peio did not enter the shot as much up front and Altuna has not had the punch he always has. Etxarren’s defender has been immense, reaching all the balls and collecting everything that Peio did not dare to finish. This, together with some unforced errors by the red couple, has been reflected in a partial 0-7 that has placed the blues 14-21 above. The final seemed doomed. But Etxeberria and Zabaleta have had to suffer a lot to get the hang of it.

Reaction of the Colorados

Drawing on honor, pride and desire, Altuna and Martija, Couples champions in 2020 and 2022, have been adding goals and cutting the advantage of their rivals until approach 20 to 21. However, there was no occasion for a comeback. 20-22, fifth txapela for Zabaleta, the five won with different couples, and first professional txapela for Peio Etxeberria in a final that has delighted the almost 3,000 fans that have met at the Navarra Arena.

The final, both:

0-1, 0-2, 0-31-3, 2-3, 2-4, 2-53-5, 4-5, 5-5, 6-5, 7-57-6, 7-7, 7-8, 8-88-9, 9-9, 9-10, 9-11, 9-129-13, 10-13, 11-13, 12-13, 13-13, 14-13, 14-14, 14-15, 14-16, 14-17, 14-18, 14-19, 14-20, 14-2115-21, 16-21, 17-21, 18-21, 19-21, 20-21, 20-22.

Source: Eitb

Kingston

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