Venezuela took 3rd place in a tight battle against Australia Wednesday July 28 during the World Pilota Council tournament at the Boise fronton. Earlier in the evening, NABO 2 from Bakersfield defeated NABO 1 from Boise for 5th place.
The final score in the Venezuela-Australia contest was 30-20. The game was played before a full house at the historic fronton on the Basque Block during the huge Jaialdi 2010 international festival. Venezuela was represented by Aenhoa Bacaicoa and Estibaletz Barreda, whose powerful plays were too much for Brooke Davies and Patrea Bojack of Australia.
In the first game, NABO 2 of Bakersfield beat NABO 1 of Boise 30 to 20 in a rematch of their hard-fought struggle the day before. The Boise women began to stage a comeback late in the match to narrow the gap but fell short in the end. Teresa Iparraguirre and Michelle Saldubehere-Friebel played for Bakersfield, and Boise was represented by Esther Ciganda and Anne-Marie Mansisidor.
The finals are scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday July 30 and will feature an unbeaten Euskadi squad from the Basque Country against FEVA Argentina.
Beginning Thursday evening, NABO will begin its annual tournament with men’s and women’s pelota action at the newly refurbished fronton. Make sure to follow Euskal Kazeta for all the pelota action.
