Binakako Txapelketako/Campionato Parejas, the premier doubles competition of the 2016-2017 Mano season, began December 2, 2016. 8 teams compete for the title. The first (league) phase is a double round robin (14 matches). The top 4 finishers will then face off in a single round robin (3 matches). The two winners will play in a final on April 9, 2017.
Asegarce Competition Page
Asegarce League phase table
ASPE League phase table
Wikipedia Competition Page (Castilian)
Full ongoing league phase table (with total points and differential):
Source for all match articles, unless otherwise specifically stated, is 21iguales.com 21iguales.com will also keep an ongoing phase table at its main Parejas site and with every match article.
Match linescores will be provided from match articles when available. Full match linescores can be found at 21iguales.com Twitter feed. Track back to the date and match and follow from beginning to end. The feed is also available at the Main site of 21iguales.com while the matches are in progress.
Source for all highlights and full match videos, unless otherwise specifically stated, is EITB.
Week 1; Week 2;
Week 3:
December 13, 2016
A. Ederrena, Urretxu (1)(2)(3): Elezkano II-Zabaleta defeated Artola-Albisu 22-11.
Match article with video of Artola's injury (EITB via Asegarce)
Article about Artola's injury and Victor substituting (Deia)
At 9-11, Artola crashed into the left wall, dislocating his shoulder. The match was cancelled at that point and E-Z were awarded a 22-11 win. Artola is expected to be out for 6 to 8 weeks. He will be replaced by Victor. E-Z 1-2 A-A 2-1
December 16, 2016
B. Zubikoa, Onati (1)(2): Irribaria-Rezusta defeated Mendizabal III (substituting for Altuna III)-Tolosa (substituting for Barriola) 22-17
Match article, statistics, linescore (Deia):
Talent is the most important variable, according to the match article. And so it was on a day that neither Irribarria nor Rezusta were at their best, they were still able to defeat M-T and become the only undefeated team in the competition. I-R established a 7-2 lead but couldn't hold it. They moved ahead again from 10-10 to take control. But they wobbled at 21-14 before they finally finished things. An odd and interesting aside. Neither of the back court men scored a single point. I-R 3-0 A-B 1-2.
Match highlights
Full match video (Fronton.tv) Scroll to "Onati-Zubikoa" 16/12/2016.
December 17, 2016
C. Labrit, Iruna (Pamplona) (1)(2): Ezkurdia-Merino II defeated Bengoetxea VI-Larunbe 22-18
Match article, statistics, linescore (Deia)
9 Larunbe errors were the difference in a highly competitive match that was decided when E-M broke the last of 6 ties by scoring the last 4 points of the match. A 7-0 run by B-L (3-10--10-10) made an exciting match out of what looked to be a rout. E-M 1-2 B-L 1-2.
Match highlights
Full match video (match begins at 56 minutes on the recording)
December 18, 2016
D. Bizkaia, Bilbo (Bilbao) (1)(2): Urrutikoetxea-Imaz defeated Oliazola II-Untoria 22-18
Match article, statistics and linescore
What a difference a change in partners made. U-Berioz, who floundered out of the gate in this competition (0-2), became a completely different team when Imaz replaced Berioz. In the longest and most exciting match of the week, they handed O-U their first defeat. It wasn't easy, as the 1 hour and 20 minute, 773 balls in play struggle clearly indicate. It didn't look that way early, as O-U built a 6-0, 12-2, and 15-9 lead. At that point U-I went on a 8-0 run. O-U then tied the score before U-I finished the match with a 5-1 run. Imaz was spotlighted for steady, excellent play in the back court that allowed Urrutikoetxea to flourish. 11 O-U errors did not help their cause. U-I 1-2 O-U 2-1
Match highlights
Full match video: (match begins at 1 hour, 11 minutes, 48 seconds on the video)
