One from Logroño, the other from Ezcaray. Both proudly from Rioja. Javier Zabala is already in the Manomanista semi-finals in his first participation and Darío Gómez can do the same this Sunday at the Astelena in Eibar (5:00 p.m., ETB1). La Rioja smiles … seeing two pelotaris from the region enjoy themselves among the best today while la pelota also celebrates having both of them in the fight for the txapelas. It’s good for everyone.
Not just any Riojan speaks. Augusto Ibañez ‘Titín III’ enjoys the good time of the two Aspe pelotaris. «I am following it with great enthusiasm and desire, they both deserve to be where they are. La Rioja pelota smiles because it has been a long time since we saw two pelotaris with a chance of reaching a Manomanista final. I hope they establish themselves among the best,” wishes the man from Tricio. On the pediments you can see flags with four horizontal stripes of red, green, white and yellow. «It is an incentive for any region to have pelotaris at this level, for us it is a pride that Darío and Zabala come from a region as small as ours. We are not like Euskadi and Navarra. “They are both young and well prepared.”
“It has been a long time since we have seen two Riojans with a chance of reaching the final, I hope they establish themselves among the best”
Darío must overcome Altuna III if he wants to repeat the semifinals that helped him be seeded. Titín III looks back to remember times gone by. “I remember that Santi won a Second Division final and then eliminated Beloki in the First Division Manomanista.” The Huércanos defender reached the semifinal in 1997. Arretxe beat Elkoro in that final, leaving Santi on the verge of the big event. “Muntión was also a good manomanista, and then Berna played some years or so, but in general he would say that there have not been any pelotaris as complete as Darío and Zabala are now,” he adds. The defender from Villamediana de Iregua performed at a very good level for a couple of years, partnering with Titín III in an edition of Couples, but it did not last long. The quarry is essential for Riojan kids to continue having dreams.
«There is movement in the ball schools, but less than before. We are going through a slightly lower time because football takes it and destroys everything. But it is essential that there are references so that children continue to come out,” wishes the former Tricio player.
Bad travel companions
Titín III regrets the rivals that Darío and Zabala have in the upcoming matches. «Bad travel companion Altuna III. He started the championship poorly, but in the second game he was great and you can never rule him out. Head-to-head is made for him, although in all three modalities he plays perfectly because he is a great champion. The runners will sing in favor of the Amezketarra on Sunday in Eibar, although Titín III understands that the pelaire can make things difficult for him. «Dario has to be regular in the game, try to toughen it up. If he plays like he does against Zabaleta he may have options. If he focuses on him and not on Altuna, he can give him war.
“Darío has to be regular against Altuna III, if he focuses on him and doesn’t think much more surely he can give a lot of fight”
From Guatemala to Guatepeor with Zabala’s opponent next week at Labrit. «It has been nice to see Javi all these months. He had a mistake against Artola, but for him in his first participation it is already an important achievement. He now he is centered ». The forward from Tricio is amazed by his impressive physical and technical qualities to play one-on-one. He has had another bug like Laso, who has also recovered very well from the injury. La Rioja pelota is celebrating with the good moment of Darío and Zabala, who dream of meeting in the final in Bilbao.
Tricio calls for more festivals to keep the flame alive
El Manomanista has passed by La Rioja when the queen competition had two festivals in Ezcaray and another in Adarraga de Logroño, all three with very good entries. In fact, Darío took third place ahead of his neighbors. “I would ask that more festivals be held in La Rioja because it is a very baseball region and to keep that flame alive it is important that you don’t always have to take the car to watch games,” Titín III slips. «I usually watch a lot of baseball on television, I still have the itch because ours are also in the fight. But I hope there are more festivals.
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