The backcourt player Gorka Mugartegi 'Atain' took charge this Sunday in the opening match of the Markina-Xemein Grand Slam, a qualifying event for the Jai Alai League. After overcoming initial difficulties, he led his team to victory, despite the dominance shown by the pair Xabier Barandika and Ion Ibarluzea in the first set.
The match was divided into two distinct halves. In the first part, the opponents were superior, but in the second, with Atain holding the game together, they managed to turn the score around and achieve victory. In the first set, Barandika scored six points with hardly any errors, hitting 53 balls compared to his opponent's 34. This statistic highlights Atain's impact, as he managed to equalize the match despite enduring the initial onslaught.
By the end of the match, the number of balls exchanged reached 365, and the score became more balanced: 93 for Erkiaga and 94 for Atain. The entry of Aritz Erkiaga completely changed the game. The second game went from 2-6 and 5-12, finishing 8-15, an uncomfortable scoreline for Barandika-Ibarluzea.
In the tie-breaker, the player from Ispaster and the one from Markina finished 1-5. Aritz closed the match with two two-wall points.
