«When Baiko wins a txapela, things will change». Aimar Olaizola, Baiko's sports manager, made this statement as soon as he arrived at his new position three months ago. Since then they have been very close to achieving it in the Pairs, and they have two representatives in the semifinals of the Manomanista. Laso and Jaka are their trump cards this weekend to sneak into the pinnacle clash of the biggest tournament. Five years have passed since the Bilbao promoter did not have a couple of candidates at this level of the competition. Urrutikoetxea and Bengoetxea VI were the last. On that occasion they faced each other, and the Navarrese played and unexpectedly won the final at the Bizkaia fronton against Irribarria. It is the last title they have in their windows.

Since then, Aspe's harvest amounts to fourteen wounds between the three modalities. His hegemony has been overwhelming. Baiko has had several options to achieve heads-up, but they have stayed in the attempt. Olaizola II fell to Altuna III in 2018 in what was the last final of his career in singles tournaments. A year later, the striker from Zaratamo was two goals away from achieving it against the one from Arama. And last season, Artola's untimely injury to his right dorsal deprived him of playing in the final.

This time they have the last two strikers who have emerged strongly on the ball. Jaka did it when he was in Aspe. But the need to balance the cadres led him to change companies. It was last year when Lizartza made the leap. By then he had already won the Manomanista and disputed the final of the Cuatro y Medio, and it was presumed that he was a candidate for everything. However, the Gipuzkoan had no luck. A pericarditis the day of his debut with the Bilbao operator made him stay unemployed for several months and it has cost him to find the regularity and confidence necessary to get back on top. He has done it now.

Laso's irruption was very aggressive, like his game. The Navarrese exploded after his return to professionalism in the middle of last season and is still on the wave. He's earned his stripes in a short time, and best of all, he still has the run to look up. Both are Baiko's hope to break the rival hegemony.

The one from Bizkarreta-Gerendiain will face the champion Altuna III tomorrow (5:15 p.m.) in Bizkaia. The one from Lizartza will play on Sunday at Astelena in Eibar against Ezkurdia. The winners will play the summit clash on the 29th on the field of the Navarra Arena multipurpose space. Those who lose will fight for third place at the Aitzuri fronton in Zumaia seven days earlier.