Soraluce BKE will be the first team to debut. Tomorrow, at 4:00 PM, they will play at Labegaraieta against Egia. Onnera Group Aloña Mendi and Arrasate Eskubaloia, on the other hand, will have their first match on Sunday. The team from Oñati will play in Ordizia, and the team from Arrasate will host Urnieta at Iturripen. A total of twelve teams will compete in this division.
Soraluce BKE has played two preseason matches: they won the first against Urola and lost the one played in the Josetxo Muniategi memorial tournament against Aloña Mendi. Coach Joseba Elortza explained that they would have liked to start the league "with more games," but the schedule did not allow it. "We had moments in those two matches," he stated. The team's objective is, like last year, to finish the league in the top six and play in the play-offs. Elortza believes they have "players who can perform well" and that they will be "a competitive team every week," adding that they will try to take "a step forward" in defense.
Aloña Mendi, celebrating its 50th anniversary, will begin the season after playing two friendlies: as mentioned, against Soraluce BKE and another against the team Beti Onak. According to coach Xabier Guridi, the preseason has gone "very well." Maintaining the main structure of the team, the goal is to "repeat last year's performance": "We made it to the playoffs, and we'll see if we can repeat that this year." Guridi expects a balanced league, and considers "playing well defensively" important for "starting the league strongly".
The preparation for the members of Arrasate Eskubaloia has been different, with some spending a weekend in Segovia playing matches. Last weekend, as usual, they played the Pitxi tournament, easily defeating the Gure Auzune team. Coach Ane Herrero says the preparation has gone "without incident and well." They have incorporated some youth players into the senior dynamic, which she believes will strengthen the team. Herrero emphasized that the team has "hunger" to compete, and highlighted the importance of this attitude becoming the team's identity, so it is reflected in the results.
Regarding the women's teams, Ulma Aloña Mendi will start the league in the Basque League on the second weekend of October, playing away against Elgoibar. Mondragon Lingua Bergara, which has returned to the Territorial First Division, will begin its season next week, hosting Tolosa.
