===========================
JAI ALAI LEAGUE (EREMAN!) WOMEN'S WINTER LEAGUE 2024 INTRODUCTION
JAI ALAI LEAGUE (EREMAN!) WOMEN'S WINTER SERIES 2024 (DURANGO)
===============================================
The 2024 Jai Alai League (Ereman!) and EUSKOTREN ("a public company of the Basque Government are the promoters of the Women's Winter Series Tournament (February, 26, March 4, and March 11, to be played at recently renovated and remodeled Ezkurdi Fronton (EITB), Durango (Wikipedia), with 4 pairs. It is a Master Tournament, consisting of 2 Semi-finals and a Final. All three matches will be streamed on demand by EITB. In addition, there will be a Men's Masters singles Tournament featuring Aritz Erkiaga, Unai Lekerikabeaskoa, Ludovic Laduche, and Johan Sorozabal (top finishers in the FINAL FOUR tournament, which was held last October between the top finishers in the 2023 Summer Partidos). Complete details of matchups and dates, along with other relevant information is available via Jai Alai News Facebook (Basque, with links to 19 photos). Note that a Facebook membership is not required. Simply click on the circled X and you will be linked.
An English Google translate of the Facebook article is available below.
EITB and the Jai Alai League are promoting this competition heavily in order to shine a spotlight on the growth of the Women's game in the Basque country. The Women's game is growing by leaps and bounds, with the players improving exponentially. The fact that EITB is televising all of the matches on a slight delay, in the same time slot as was used for the recently completed Jai Alai Winter Series, speaks volumes about the importance of promoting the Women's game. And the secondary Men's tournament won't be too bad either.
The blog will cover this Tournament as it did the JAWS, with No Spoiler and Spoiler sections separated by a ===== barrier.
GOOGLE ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
EUSKOTREN WOMEN WINTER SERIES
DURANGO WILL TAKE GERNIKA'S WITNESS!
Take it!
From Monday, the best female cesta Punta players will compete in Ezkurdi, in the Euskotren Winter Series tournament.
Lizardi's injury has opened the door for young Elaia Gogenola and she is the main novelty.
Last year's champions Erika and Arai will not repeat as a couple.
In the men's individual competition Erkiaga, Johan, Laduche and Lekerika will compete.
ETB 1 will offer all the matches: February 26 and March 4 and 11.
The women's cesta punta has its main date in Ezkurdi of Durango from this Monday. After last year's success, the Women Winter Series tournament has its second edition, this time also under the auspices of EUSKOTREN, the public company of the Basque Government. It has been working for women's sports in the South Basque Country for several years and now it has taken another step, jumping to the top of the basket.
The stage, of course, will be the historic Ezkurdi stadium. It's only been a year since it was repaired and inaugurated and Durango is once again among the most important squares of Cesta Punta, with the Women Winter Series, the Individual Series or the Final Four of the Jai Alai League, that was played by the top scoring players in the 2023 Summer League.
Lizardi's injury and the novelty of Gogenola
In terms of the sports approach, there is a significant change in this year's edition. Eneritz Lizardi from Mutriko, who is a reference in women's cesta punta, will not participate. The defender from Gipuzkoa has a fracture in the right knee cruciate ligament.
She will undergo surgery on March 14 and according to the forecasts she will be out of the courts for half a year. This unfortunate news has opened a door for a new player. Elaia Gogenola (Born, 2007) strong and courageous striker.
Women's cesta punta is still a growing sport and Eraman has chosen five forwards and three defenders to organize a high level tournament.
It is therefore mandatory for a striker to play in the back court. This has happened many times in the ball world and in the cesta point and it also shows the ability of a ball player to adapt. That being the case, Ihart Arakistain from Sopela will play as a defender. If Arakistein performs well, it will open up opportunities for her to play as a striker or a defender in the future. Her partner will be Elaia Gogenola, new this year. Both are members of the Berriatu club and know each other well.
Champions will not repeat as a pair
Erika Mugartegi and Arai Lejardi from Marina (?) are last year's champions, but this year they will not repeat as a couple. Mugartegi will play with Maialen Aldazabal from New York and Lejardi with Helena Barrenetxea from Durango. Lejardi is at the top of the ball: she is the current champion of the Winter Series and Buruz Buru and the point guard that all opponents want to beat.
The other couple that will participate in the tournament is made up of Maite Ortiz de Mendibil from Gasteiz and Frida Watkins from Zumaia.
Individual Series
Four players will take part in the men's head-to-head in Erama! In the Individual Series organized by the company: the main favorite Aritz Erkiaga, Johan Sorozabal, Ludovic Laduch and Unai Lekerika.
February 26
19:00 SEMI-FINALS
HELENA-ARAI vs MAITE-FRIDA (WS)
Johan vs Laduche (Single Series)
March 4
19:00 SEMI-FINALS
ERIKA-MAIALEN vs ELAIA-IHART (WS)
Erkiaga vs Lekerika (Individual Series)
FINALS on March 11
All matches can be seen on ETB 1, on Mondays from 22:15.
Vouchers and tickets
Tournament tickets and vouchers are available at www.eramanjaialai.com .
Reviving the cesta-punta in Durango
A year after the inauguration of Ezkurdi, the zesta punta has been revived in Durango. With the formation of the new club, they already have 44 players, but in all there are 64 players who are training with the Ezkurdin basket. First, there was a lack of young players and now, there is a lack of free hours on the court in Durango.
Aritz Erkiaga, the player of ERAMAN!, is the instructor of the club. He is the main point of reference for the cesta school in Durango. Aritz's bold and spectacular play is, to one degree or another, what all fans want to see.
Players
HELENA BARRENETXEA (Durango, 2007)
ARAI LEJARDI (Markina-Xemein, 2007)
MAITE ORTIZ DE MENDIBIL (Gasteiz, 2005)
FRIDA WATKINS (Zumaia, 2008)
ERIKA MUGARTEGI (Markina-Xemein, 2008)
MAIALEN ALDAZABAL (2006)
ELAIA GOGENOLA (2007)
IHART ARAKISTAIN (Sopela, 2006)
===========================
JAI ALAI LEAGUE (EREMAN!) WOMEN'S WINTER LEAGUE 2024 INTRODUCTION
JAI ALAI LEAGUE (EREMAN!) WOMEN'S WINTER SERIES 2024 (DURANGO)
===============================================
