Miribilla attended a ball monument. A match of the greats in these times in which the frontons continue to be populated with wise men already advanced in years, mixed with legends who lend their doctrine in the different radio broadcasts, but the departure times of the pelotaris have arrived from the dark changing rooms with light cannons, modern music at full blast and a giant screen announcing the match at the top of the left wall of the field. 2,668 viewers enjoyed it. A most refreshing NBA show in this era in which everything is changing and you can even see the Spanish soccer team ‘streaming’. Of course, there are no longer as many songs dedicated to the protagonists as in the Irujo-Aimar or banners. But the essence, the game, lasts and more if it is cultivated by two stars of the modern era, an Ezkurdia that scares just by taking a look at it and an Altura that is a piece of artist. The Navarrese he took the fifth txapela of his career, the third in the Cuatro y Medio. All in a short time, since 2018. He equals Titín, who is something like ‘God’ on the ball. Maiz and Jokin himself are on that rung, one away from being left behind only Retegui, Aimar and Irujo, the three greatest in history. He has another two from Couples and he only has the Manomanista left to close the circle of the Grand Slam. A Cyclops of 1.93 and more than 90 kilos locked in the ‘cage’, the modality in which everything goes to one hundred per hour… much merit.
The Bizkaia de Miribilla fronton stood up with a tie at 21, the tenth of the match, between two colossi. A very hard pulse, which demanded a mental and physical bar only available to the chosen ones. A memorable final with a lot of effort, in which the two pelotaris ended up exhausted. Dizzying match, with great intensity and championship defenses. Altuna had it in his hand, but in one of the few failures of the afternoon, with everything in his favor, he dropped a free ball and put the win for the colorado on a platter. A drama for him with everything he did, but it is that Ezkurdia has taken his measure, it is his ‘black beast’, he has taken three finals from him, previously in 2018 and 2019. He is the lord of the finals. Altuna managed to take the txapela of 2020 and 2021, also before that of 2017, but he has not been able to chain the third because he collided with the same stone as always.
The game was very tight (395, 75 minutes and 29 seconds of intense fray), with hardly any errors (only 7 and 2 serves) or those attacks so typical of distance; everything projected by two phenomena like Ezkurdia and Altuna came out accurately. Every minimal oversight was punished and each pelotari looked for wide-open shots as soon as he could, full of different effects that were almost impossible to return to the front. There were only two moments of confusion, one lap after both accidentally got hooked when they tried to win the center of the field with 1-0. And a ‘pass’ from Ezkurdia that brought the tie at 16. The two started very involved and did not leave the appointment at any time. Ezkurdia was in charge, who attacked more and better and made Jokin run, to wear him down, he enjoyed a lot: 6-3. On 11-10 he protested because they gave him a double pot and he maintained that it was not. Very fair. He was the government in the stretch that went from 2-3 to 13-14. The only notable run was signed by the Navarrese, from 2-3 to 6-3. The Gipuzkoan, all class, did more damage with his left.
From the middle of the crossing, the forces evened out even more. To add, you had to adjust a lot to the width or in the txoko. They were asking for breaks because they couldn’t with their soul. Ezkurdia had a good run with the serve, but Altuna had not said the last word about him. They continued with a fight full of brilliant balls. With a tie at 20, Ezkurdia hit it with all the strength in the world and pushed it against the wall, far from the reach of the blue. But in the next goal he hit the txapa with a good cut left wide. The ‘Wizard of Amezketa’ seemed defeated, he took the ball off of him and, despite everything, after the mandatory break, he had the final kick, a familiar scenario for him, and two chances to put an end to the disturbing 21-21. His rival moved him, but he held on, leaving him a ball in midfield in which the Gipuzkoan chose to play it. He didn’t put his hand in for the drop and went to the ‘gossipy’.
Development of the score after a first serve by Ezkurdia (colorado): 2-0, 2-3, 6-3, 6-6, 9-6, 9-8, 10-8, 10-9, 11-9, 11 -11, 13-11, 13-15, 16-15, 16-19, 19-19, 19-20, 21-20, 21-21 and 22-21. A total of 2,668 spectators in a Bizkaia Fronton with capacity for 3,000 seats. Joseba puts the finishing touch to a perfect year: in May he fell in the final of the Manomanista, but a summer came together to frame.