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; Week 4; Week 5; Week 6; Week 7
Week 8
January 18, 2017
A. Mungia (1) (2): Jaka (substituting for Elezkano II)-Zabaleta defeated Altuna III-Barriola 22-5.
Match article with statistics and linescore (Deia)
This match was the surprise of the tournament so far. A-B had been unbeaten in the 4 matches they had played together. Jaka was playing his second match as a substitute for the injured Elezkano II.
In his first match Jaka was +5 -8 (21iguales.com) or +6 -8 (EITB). In this match, according to the match article, he was +15 -1. The highlights show 6 of his winners, including 4 devastating cross-court kill shots. With Jaka leading the way, J-A used 12-0 and 7-0 runs to destroy A-B. Unfortunately, there was no full match video. E-Z 4-4- +34 (+1) A-B 4-4- -26 (-1)
Match highlights
January 20, 2017
B. Kurtzea, Galdakoa (Galdakano) (1) (2): Victor (substituting for Artola)-Albisu defeated Bengoetxea VI-Larunbe 22-10
Match article with statistics and linescore
V-A broke a 3 match losing streak and won for the first time since they defeated the same opponents in Round 4. A 13-3 run at the end of the match turned a close contest into a rout. Victor had his best match since his team's last win. Depending on whether your scoring is generous (+12 -4, including 6 service aces to Larunbe's +1 -8--21iguales.com) or more severe (+7 -4, including 1 service ace to Larunbe's +0 -12--EITB), one of the story lines of this match is that Victor had a very good match, while Larunbe had a long day at the office. A-A 4-4- -10 (+1) B-L 3-5- -15 (-1)
Match highlights
Full match video (match begins at 1 hour, 10 minutes, 4 seconds on the video) (EITB) (Basque)
Full match video (fronton.tv) (Castilian). Scroll to "Galdakao--20/01/2017.
January 21, 2017
C. Labrit, Iruna (Pamplona) (1) (2): Irribarria-Rezusta defeated Olaizola II-Untoria 22-19
Match article with statistics and linescore (Deia)
An 8 point run that turned a 10-14 deficit into an 18-14 lead was the key to I-R's victory of O-U. I-R thus swept their 2 matches with O-U, improved their record to 7-1, and pretty much guaranteed their advance to the semi-finals of this tournament. Olaizola II began the match brilliantly, but then I-R's tactics of keeping the pelota away from Olaizola II became evident. And it slowly wore down the valiant efforts of Untoria to return the deep bombs launched by both Irribarria and Rezusta. But especially Irribarria. Where he gets the power is anyone's guess, but it is amazing to watch. The left hand like a steam shovel, the pelota launched high on the front wall, on its journey through the Basque Country, the hapless defender having to return it from the 9 or 10 line, or even with his back against the back wall. The punishment took its toll, and led to 9 Untoria errors, which were decisive.
The balls in play of O-U tell a story (132-177--source EITB). I can't begin to imagine what Untoria's hands felt like after being put through such a meat grinder. An interesting note: O-U's botillero (coach, mentor) was the legendary Ruben Beloki. I-R 7-1- +44 (+1) O-U 3-5 -16 (-3)
Match highlights
Final 2 points (21iguales.com Youtube) (begins at 0:43 on the video if your device does not parse the segment).
Match highlights (21iguales.com Youtube) (7selected points)
Full match video (match begins at 53:45 on the video).
January 22, 2017
D. Madelensoro, Oiartzun (1)(2)(3): Urrutikoetxea-Imaz defeated Ezkurdia-Merino II 22-20
Match article with statistics and linescore (Deia)
Dead and buried at 6-15, with a partner who had a poor day, Urrutikoetxea had E-M just where he wanted them. Facing gigantic deficits and turning then into victories is his calling card. Where Urrutikoetxea is concerned, the astounding is ho-hum. He has done this so many times before. Three examples--his legendary victory over Mtz de Irujo in the 2015 Campionato del 4 1/2 final after being down 10-20, and victories over Ezkurdia in the 2016 Buruz Buruko Txapleketa (11-17), and the 2016 San Fermin Tournament final (5-15, 9-18)--can be seen here. In a doubles match the task is more difficult. Here, at 6-15, U-I scored the next 12 points to take the initiative. To their credit E-M, down 21-18, fought back to 21-20 before U-I finally won. It was a long battle (over an hour and 20 minutes and 683 balls in play). At the end, U-I found themselves at 3-5 for the tournament, only one game out of a battle for a place in the quarter-finals. It is a much better position than they were in just 2 weeks ago. U-I 3-5- -19 (+2) E-M 4-4- +8 (-1)
Match highlights
There was no match video as of the time of posting. If one becomes available, I will link to it.
