FFPB final summary, with links to match articles (Pilota Ttiki) for all matches and photos for the 2 finals.
* not listed on the Esku Pilota player pages at this time.
The A group consisted of Antton Amulet, Philippe Bielle, Bixintxo Bilbao, Pascal de Ezcurra, Baptiste Ducassou, Peio Guichandut, Ximun Lambert, Peio Larralde, Matheiu Ospital, and Agusti Waltary. The seeds, from low to high were: Amulet and Ospital (1/8), Bilbao and Waltary (Quarter-finals), and Larralde and Ducassou ("Liguilla").
The B group consisted of Gregory Aguirre, Jean-Philippe Benesse, Mickael Darmendrail, Vincent Elgart, Julien Etchegaray, Alexis Inchauspe, Laurent Lambert, Cedric Lucu, Alain Migueltorena, Antton Monce, Mattin Olcomendy*, and Mickael Palomes. The seeds, from low to high were: Darmendrail and L. Lambert (1/8), Palomes and Inchauspe (Quarter-finals), and Elgart and Monce ("Liguilla"). Note: Benesse was added to the Esku Pilota player pages sometime in January 2017.
The "Liguilla" phase was a round robin among the top 4 finishers (two who won their way in and two who were seeded in) which determined the finalists.
Article describing the competition (Esku Pilota)
December 23 2016-January 2, 2017; January 6, 2017; January 9, 2017; January 14, 2017; January 16, 2017 ; January 20, 2017 ; January 21, 2017 ; January 23, 2017
Liguilla Semi-final Round 1-January 29-30, 2017
Liguilla Semi-final Round 2--February 3-6, 2017
Liguilla Semi-final Round 3--February 11-12, 2017
Finals:
February 19, 2017
Groupe A:
Trinquet Moderne, Bayonne (Baiona) (1)(2)
Ducassou defeated Ospital 40-27
Pre-match predictions from various experts (Pilota Ttiki)
Pre-match interviews with both players (Pilota Ttiki)
Match article (Pilota Ttiki)
Match article with audio interviews with both players (Esku Pilota)
Match photos (FFPB)
Selected linescore (winner always listed 1st) (Source: both match articles)
1-0; 3-3; 6-6; 11-6; 25-13; 25-17; 30-20; 30-25; 40-27
Ducassou was the better player on this day and won the A groupe CDF fairly easily. Runs of 5-0 and 14-7 put him in control at mid-match. After a 5-0 run by Ospital got him to within 5 points, Ducassou closed the match with a 10-2 run. Ducassou has played each of the last 3 finals. This was his 2nd win.
February 20, 2017
Groupe B:
Le Garat, Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (Donibane Garazi) (1)(2)
Etchegaray defeated Elgart 40-21
Preview article (Pilota Ttiki)
Match article (Pilota Ttiki)
Match article with an audio interview with Julien Etchagaray (Esku Pilota)
Match statistics (spreadsheet format, Esku Pilota)
Match photos (FFPB)
Selected linescore (winners always listed 1st) (Source: Esku Pilota match article and match statistics spreadsheet)
2-2; 3-3; 7-3; 10-4; 15-5; 20-10, 26-14; 30-16; 31-19; 39-21; 40-21
Etchegaray easily won this rematch against Elgart, (who won the first Liguilla match 40-26) to claim the championship. After early equalities Etchegaray took the lead and continually lengthened it through the 6th decade. He finished with a flourish, a 9-2 run that almost doubled his opponent's total. Elgart was bothered by a bruised hand, but that should take nothing away from a dominating performance by Etchegarary.
For cumulative records of Main Nue elite professionals see the "Cumulative records of EP players" on the recurring results page on the right side of the blog.
