The remarkable performance of Spanish international goalkeeper Roberto Rodríguez powered TM Benidorm to a narrow victory over Bidasoa Irún, securing the first league points in a dramatic clash that was decided in the final minutes of the game.
Fernando Latorre’s squad maintained control from the opening whistle, consistently dictating tempo and pushing the pace. Benidorm built a lead early on, and despite occasional replies from the Basque side, the visitors found themselves chasing the scoreboard as Rodríguez anchored the defense and finished the match with twelve crucial saves that steadied the home team when it mattered most.
Even though pre-season results had brought a few doubts and setbacks, Benidorm opened the contest with a 4-0 surge, forcing Basque coach Jacobo Cuétara to call a timeout in a bid to disrupt the momentum and recalibrate his defense. The early pressure set the tone for a game that would oscillate but ultimately favor the hosts for long stretches.
It took Bidasoa more than six minutes to pierce Rodríguez’s wall, and when they finally did, it sparked a counter from Benidorm’s attack. Latorre was quick to respond, and his timing of the timeouts kept the team on course, with the score standing at 6-4 as the first stoppage approached. The strategic pause allowed Benidorm to regain composure and reorganize under pressure.
Parker, along with Rubén Dos Santos, the Portuguese defender, steered Benidorm through a stretch of effective shooting, contributing five goals that helped the side widen the gap before the locker room break. The team looked sharp in transition, finding rhythm and exploiting every opening while maintaining a disciplined defense that reduced the likelihood of counterattacks.
After the pause, Benidorm managed to extend the cushion, but Bidasoa regrouped and tightened their defense. With the visitors’ stops becoming more frequent and errors creeping into Benidorm’s play, the Basque team began to claw their way back into the game by exploiting miscommunications and capitalizing on fast breaks that cut into the lead as the minutes slipped away.
As the clock moved past the halfway mark, the Palau d’Esports L’Illa audience watched anxiously as Bidasoa’s most dangerous offensive weapons heated up. The rhythm of the match shifted, and Benidorm faced renewed pressure as the Basque side closed the gap to within two goals, prompting a sense of urgency in the home camp.
Latorre attempted to steady the ship by rotating his lineup and adjusting defensive schemes, but Benidorm’s occasional missteps allowed Bidasoa to close the gap. With four minutes remaining, the scoreboard read 22-22, and a sense of tension filled the arena as both teams sensed the night could tilt at any moment.
Two minutes into the final period, the score briefly reached 23-23 as Benidorm found a second wind and relied on its goalkeeper to make a critical difference. Rodríguez produced a sequence of saves that preserved the narrow lead, while his teammates capitalized on the other end to edge ahead and secure the season’s first points for the home side.
DATA SHEET
26 – Benidorm (16+10): Rodríguez; Sotic (1), Lignieres (2), Grau, Ramiro Martínez (5), Parker (4) and Iván Rodríguez (3) -starting from seven- Barceló (1), Barnatonis, Vainstein (3), Rubén Dos Santos (5, 3p), Nikcevic (2, 1p), and Solic.
23 – Bidasoa Irún (11+12): Skrzyniarz; Cavero (3p), Zabala (1), Salinas (1), Tesoriere (1), Da Silva and Víctor Rodríguez – starting seven- Ugarte (1), Tao (1), Aguinagalde (1), Harbaqui (ps), Mitic (3), Azkue (5), Gorka Nieto (2), Dariel García (2) and Asier Nieto (2).
Score every five minutes: 4-0, 5-3, 6-4, 8-5, 13-9, 16-11 –at halftime – 17-12, 20-15, 21-17, 22-20, 22-21 and 26-23.
Referees: Oyarzun Aylagas and Zaragueta Ruiz (Navarro School). Salinas (2) for Bidasoa Irún and Barceló, Solic for Víctor Rodríguez and Mitic, and Benidorm are excluded.
Events: The match marked the opening day of the Asobal League, played before approximately five hundred spectators at Palau d’Esports L’Illa in Benidorm.
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