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Basques traveled to San Francisco from all over the Bay Area, as well as other Basque communities in Nevada and Idaho, to enjoy a night of good food, friendship and elite pilota on June 2^nd.  The event, sponsored by the Basque Cultural Center, Aspe Pelota, with the collaboration of the Kern Country Basque Club, brought four top pilotaris from the Basque Country to play exhibition games in both Bakersfield and San Francisco.  

San Francisco, CA.   Basques from all over the western states gathered at San Francisco’s Basque Cultural Center on June 2^nd to enjoy a night of good friends, good food and even better pilota.  In collaboration with the Kern County Basque Club, the Cultural Center and Aspe Pelota, four elite players came to the United States to play exhibition games in both Bakersfield and San Francisco.  Players included Abel Barriola, and Aitor Mendizabal III (blue) against Aitor Irusta and Aritz Lasa (red).

The evening began with cocktails and a light dinner at the Cultural Center.  Nearly 100 guests enjoyed the meal, but were later joined by several other pilota fans for the game.  The event began with local Bertsolari, Johnny Curutchet, welcoming everyone with some heartfelt verses.  After the introductions took place, a really tight handball match pursued.  The result was Irusta-Lasa winning 25-24.

Four elite pilota players in San Francisco: Abel Barriola, and Aitor Mendizabal III (blue) against Aitor Irusta and Aritz Lasa (red) - Video Jean Paul Barthe

For many attending, that was just the beginning of the weekend’s festivities, with the San Francisco Basque Club picnic taking place the next day in Petaluma.  The pilotaris also attended that event, giving fans more opportunities to visit with them, get photos and autographs in some cases.  To enjoy photos from the Basque Club picnic, visit them on Facebook.