The 12th Torneo Individual de Remonte de Navidad, sponsored by Fundacion Remonte Euskal Jai Berri was played at Olatz Txipia (Olaz) (1)(2) and Labrit (Iruna (Pamplona)) (1)(2) December 26 and 30, 2016.
Source for all articles; Euskal Jai Berri
December 30, 2016
Final:
Labrit, Iruna (Pamplona): Urriza defeated Uterga 30-22
Match preview
Match article
Match linescore (winner always listed 1st). Source: Navarra TV
1-0; 1-1; 2-1; 2-2; 2-3; 3-3; 4-3; 5-3; 5-4; 6-4; 7-4; 8-4; 8-5; 8-6; 8-7; 8-8; 9-8; 10-8; 11-8; 12-8; 12-9; 13-9; 14-9; 15-9; 15-10; 16-10; 16-11; 17-11; 17-12; 17-13; 17-14; 17-15; 17-16; 17-17; 18-17; 19-17; 20-17; 21-17; 22-17; 23-17; 24-17; 25-17; 27-18; 28-18; 28-19; 28-20; 29-20; 29-21; 29-22; 30-22
Urriza led virtually from start to finish, and won this final going away. Every time Uterga challenged--2-3 (the only time he led), 8-8, and 17-17 after a 6-0 run, Urriza answered with major runs (6-1, 7-1, 11-1). I was able to watch a Narvarra TV feed of the match and Urriza showed how devastating he can be in the short court format. He controlled the tempo and when he was able to set up in front he launched his typical rockets, either pinning Uterga against the left wall, passing him there, or forcing him into difficult rebotes. The victory evened the score over the last two years in this tournament after Uterga won last year's final 30-15.
Match article for 2015 final, played at Labrit, January 18, 2016
December 26, 2016:
Semi-finals
Match article for both matches
Olatz Txipia (Olaz)
1. Urriza defeated Ion 30-21
Selected linescore (winner always listed 1st)
2-8; 3-10; 18-18; 30-21
15-8 and 12-3 runs by Urriza at the end of the match more than neutralized Ion's fast start.
2. Uterga defeated Etxeberria IV 30-20
Selected linescore (winner always listed 1st)
17-17; 20-18; 30-20
This was a very even match until Etxeberria IV suffered an ankle injury during the 20-18 point. Though he continued, he was limited by the injury and Uterga dominated the rest of the match.
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In 2016 Uterga and Urriza faced each other in 7 Euskal Jai Berri tournament matches. Uterga won 4, Urriza 3.
Uterga won 3 of the 5 championship finals they played.
Jan. 19, 2016--Navidad--Uterga 30, Urriza 15
Apr. 22, 2016--Casco Viejo--Uterga-Barrentxea IV 35, Urriza-Etxeberria III 32
Final point of the match (32 balls in play--the longest point I have seen in a Remonte match)
May 29, 2016--San Isidro--Urriza-Ion 35, Uterga-Etxeberria III 33
Jun. 11, 2016--Gipuzkoa Kopa--Uterga-Aizpuru III 35-Urriza-Zaldua 25
Full match video (match begins at 1 hour, 6 minutes, 30 seconds on the video) (EITB)
Dec. 30, 2016--Navidad--Urriza 30, Uterga 22
