In pictures: Iñaki Artola and Iker Larrazabal select balls for the Manomanista semi-final at the Ogueta stadium in Gasteiz.

Iker Larrazabal (Amurrio, Araba, 2002) has just arrived home. He and Iñaki Artola have chosen the pelotas for Sunday's semi-final this morning, at the Ogeta fronton. "I liked them, both mine and his", he explained. In fact, he wants to do what Ogeta did 65 years ago: play in the final. No other Álava player has played in the final since then. "They've told me that many times in recent days. Let's see if I can break this long streak". This is you…

Iñaki Artola and Iker Larrazabal select balls for the Manomanista semi-final at the Ogueta stadium in Gasteiz.

The pilota has composed a beautiful collection of twelve verses about winning and losing. He was inspired by a round table discussion he held for Larrun magazine in 2024, where he discussed the subject with Jokin Altuna. The collection of verses can be heard set to music on the Bertso Ikasgela website: "If we want to grow in any field, that's the challenge: learn from both," is the final line from the pilota, who is preparing for the semi-final.