This coming Friday, the 2009 World's Doubles Championship, the years' maximun jai-alai competition, will begin in Markina.. It looks good. I just took a look at the format and I find it interesting. Let`s review the teams:
Goikoetxea-Alberdi III (Master Jai)
Olha-Irastorza (Master Jai)
Baronio-Enbil (Master Jai)
Lander-Alliez (Master Jai)
Egiguren-Felix (Mixed)
Foronda-Lopez (Jai Alive)
Alberdi II-Arriaga (Mixed)
Garcia-Hernandez (Jai Alive)
They will be playing in five different courts: Gernika, Berriatua, Hondarribia, Durango and Markina. Semifinals will take place in Durango and the final in Markina. Five different forums and all of them have nothing in common. It is like playing golf in five different courses. This is a real challenge for the players.
The Basque Public Television (ETB) cameras will cover four days, and that is good news.
Goikoetxea won`t be playing with Enbil (that is good news, as well); Alberdi III will be the Boss' bodyguard. It was about time we saw Goiko dancing with one of the "ugliest". A super star like Goiko has to demonstrate that he is able to win the Championship with the weakest player on the roster, the way Bolibar used to do it.
The same applies to Lopez. Foronda is his front-courter, the weakest on the list as well. Shotgun Lopez is having problems with his shoulder, but if he is in good shape, they are one of my choices.
One team that I really like is the one formed by Alberdi III and Arriaga, they won the World crown in Biarritz, 2001. Together they form a solid couple. The fac that they have to play in different courts helps them. They are what we call very pelotaris, guys that get adjusted to the court, people that know how to play the opposite team, what kind of ball to choose in every moment. Together they are winners.
Anyways, even though I see three teams above the rest: Goiko-Alberdi III, Foronda-Lopez and Alberdi III-Arriaga, the rest also looks good. If anybody dares to consult among aficionados, they would get numerous different picks. A priori is the best thing we can expect from a Championship
I dont know about you, but the whole idea of playing the tournament on 5 different courts completely ruins the deal. I understand that if you are a "great" player, you can adjust and adapt to every court because I have seen it first hand. But I look at the list and not every player on that tournament roster is "great". And also given that I have seen thoughout my career great players that excel in one arena but completely lose it in another. But hey, I guess everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I would like know what you think about that socio. By the way, I really enjoy your blog, Eskerrik Asko
ReplyDeleteAlberto Echaburu;