Ander Murua, the Arrasate-born pelotari who made his professional debut barely a year ago, has turned 2026 into the season that redefined his career — capped by an unprecedented four-year contract extension with Aspe and a semifinal berth in the Cuatro y Medio Serie B that leaves him one win from a first individual final, Diario Vasco reported.

The year began on New Year’s Day at the Astelena frontón in Eibar, where Murua and Gabirondo closed the first half of the Parejas championship with a 22-21 comeback win over Amiano and Eskiroz after trailing 13-6. The victory moved the pair into the upper reaches of the standings, and they finished the round-robin phase in second place, earning a direct spot in the semifinals. There they beat Peña II and Salaverri II to reach the final in Bergara — the first final of both players’ careers — and won their first txapela, or championship title.

“Who would have told us that at the start of the championship,” Murua said. “For us, just being here was already a prize, and win or lose it was already a great championship for us.”

The title run came with a physical cost. Barely a month earlier, Murua had to be carried off the court on his teammates’ shoulders after a match against Zubizarreta III and Aranguren because of severe cramps in his legs.

The Manomanista Final at the Labrit

The Parejas title gave Murua the confidence to enter the Manomanista championship directly in the quarterfinal round-robin — a step up from the previous year, when he had been eliminated at the first hurdle. He beat Senar 22-9, lost to Amiano 22-17, then beat Zubizarreta III 22-16 to reach the semifinals, where he defeated Alberdi II 22-12. In the final at Pamplona’s Labrit frontón, Amiano got his revenge, winning 22-7.

Murua pointed to the previous summer as the turning point. “I think the turning point was the previous summer, when I had to play a lot of matches,” he said. “I’ve gained confidence in myself and in my game.”

Summer Titles and the Aspe Extension

With that momentum, Murua reached the final of La Blanca alongside Eskuza, losing 22-12 to Amiano and Landa. He then avenged that defeat at the end of August, winning the Aste Nagusia de Bilbao championship with Aldabe by beating Amiano and Morgaetxeberria 22-9.

Five days later came the bigger news: Aspe renewed his contract with an unprecedented four-year extension. “I’m grateful to the company for the trust it has shown me, and now it’s up to me to prove it on the court,” Murua said. “You don’t often see contracts this long, but it was one of my goals, and now I have to deliver the level.”

Aspe placed him in the Cuatro y Medio Serie B because competition at the front of the Eibar-based promotion is fierce. “There’s a very high level at Aspe,” Murua acknowledged. “There are six frontcourt players who are top-tier, and making a place for yourself there is very difficult.”

Cuatro y Medio Serie B: One Step from the Final

An injury to Darío opened the door. Aspe chose Murua as his replacement, and in the round of 16 in Lekunberri he beat Senar 22-10 to reach the quarterfinal round-robin. There he beat Elordi 22-19 against the odds, lost to Peio Etxeberria 22-13, and then produced the surprise of the round by beating Ezkurdia 22-20.

On Sunday, against Zabala at the Ogueta frontón, Murua is one win from the final. “All of this is new to me, and I’m taking it as a prize, but also with that touch of pressure that I’m one step from that final,” he said. “I can’t relax, and I’ll draw my conclusions when the championship ends. I want to give everything and get to 22.”

From a professional debut at Uarkape just over a year ago to a four-year deal with Aspe and two team titles, Murua’s 2026 has already delivered what he toasted for on New Year’s Eve — and the Cuatro y Medio Serie B semifinal against Zabala at the Ogueta is next on the calendar.