Multiple Modalities: 2016: 12 memorable matches

Before the memory of 2016 fades, I thought it might be fun to link to some of the best matches of the year. I will stay within the constraints of five modalities, because they are the ones that had the best full match videos available. In some cases,these were simply great matches. In others they will show you great stars in the twilight of their careers. Let's not forget them any time soon. For those of you who are new to these great sports, this is as good an introduction as any.

Jai Alai/Cesta Punta

Singles

A. Jai Alai World Tour CTO Individual MPB championship 

Final,  September 17, 2016: Bizkaia, Bilbo (Bilbao) (1) (2) Goikoetxea defeated Olharan 2-0 (12-5, 12-11)

The best player of his generation defeats the (possibly) best player of the next generation. Jai Alai on the short court.

Full match video (match begins at 32 minutes, 51 seconds on the video). (Source: EITB)

Related blog post

Doubles

B. Internationaux Cesta PuntaTournament SLAM Competition

Final, August 25, 2016: Saint-Jean-de-Luz (Donibane Lohizune) (1) (2) Beaskoetxea-Irastorza defeated Olharan-Lekerika 2-1 (15-7, 12-15, 5-3)

Another generational battle won by the old guys.

Highlights

Full match video (Canal + French)

or

Full match video (EITB (Canal+ feed--Basque)

Related blog post

Quiniella

C. Dania Beach (1) (2) June 25, 2016, Game 2: Won by Erik-Urbieta

One of the better quiniella games you'll ever see.

Full game video

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Main Nue

Singles

July 31, 2016

A. Masters de Bayonne, "Lever de rideau" (curtain raiser). Preliminary match before the final.

Trinquet Moderne (1) (2) Migueltorena (red) defeated Darmendrail (blue) 40-39

Great matches don't always have to involve great players. These two young players played the best singles match of the year.

Final Point (Source: Esku Pilota Youtube site)

Full Match Video (Source: Esku Pilota Youtube site).

Related blog post

Doubles

B. Esku Pilota Lagunak (Friends) end of year celebration

December 3, 2016: Trinquet Haitz Pean, d'Anglet (1)(2)(3) Larralde-Bilbao defeated Waltary-Ducassou 40-39

Esku Pilota elite pros ranked #1,2,4, and 8 save the best for last.

Final point (Esku Pilota Youtube)

Full match video (Esku Pilota Youtube)

Related blog post

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Mano

Singles 4 1/2

A. Lau eta erdiko Txapelketa 2016/Campeonato del 4 1/2 de 1a categoría 2016 LEP. M competition.

Final, November 26, 2016: Ogueta Fronton, Vitoria-Gasteiz (1) (2). Bengoetxea VI defeated Altuna III 22-21

Match video highlights (EITB)

Video of final point of match (EITB)

Video highlights, various points (21iguales.com Youtube)

Full match video (EITB) (Basque)

or

Fronton.tv (Castilian) (scroll to Bengoetxea VI v Altuna III: Ogueta de Vitoria-Gasteiz - 27/11/2016)

Related blog post

Doubles

Final, Bizkaia, Bilbo (Bilbao) (1) (2) Olaizola II-Urrutikoetxea defeated Mtz. de Irujo-Rezusta 16-10

This was possibly, very sadly, the great Mtz. de Irujo's final match. The injury that ended this match was followed by the diagnosis of a heart ailment that has possibly ended his career.

Full match video (EITB) (Basque) Match begins at 1:13:48 on the video.

or

Full match video (Fronton.tv) (Castilian) (scroll to Olaizola II-Urrutikoetxea Mtz. de Irujo-Rezusta: Bilbao - 09/04/2016). It is presently linked from P. 6 at the bottom of the page.

Related blog post

Singles

C. Campionato Manonista 1a (Buruz Buruko Txapelketa)

Final, May 29, 2016Bizkaia, Bilbo (Bilbao) (1) (2) Irribarria defeated Urrutikoetxea 22-13

Crucial 3rd Point of the Match

Final 2 Points of the Match

Full Match Video (EITB) (Basque)

or

Full match video (Fronton.tv (Castilian) (Scroll to Urrutikoetxea vs Irribarria: Bilbao - 29/05/2016). It is presently linked from P. 4 at the bottom of the page.

Related blog post

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Pala

Singles

A. Binaka Tournament

Final, February 20, 2016: Bizkaia, Bilbo (Bilbao) (1) (2) Fusto defeated Gaubeka 3-0 (10-6, 10-5, 10-8).

Fusto, the greatest player of his generation, at his best.

Full match video (EITB)

Doubles

B. World Doubles Tournament

Final, April 16, 2016: Mungia (1) (2) Fusto-Brefel defeated Gaubeka-Imanol 3-2 (10-8, 8-10, 10-6, 7-10, 10-7).

A classic traditional long court big bat (pala larga) match, played at the Cathedral of Pala.

Full match video (EITB)

Related blog post

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Remonte 

Singles

A. VI Individual Oriamendi Tournament

Final, January 9, 2016: Galaretta,Hernani (1) (2) Uterga defeated Urriza 30-27

A great final between two of the best players of this generation.

Full match video

Related blog post (Scroll to the Remonte section "concept of Botillero")

Doubles

B. January 9, 2016: Galaretta, Hernani (1) (2) Ezkurra-Agirrezabala defeated Etxeberria IV-Ion 40-36

Just another match in the bi-weekly 4 match sessions at Galaretta. It features Ezkurra, one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. Still playing in his early 40s. Watch and enjoy the master.

Full match video (match begins at 1:20:10 on the video). Same video as above. It was the ho-hum match after the championship final.

Jai Alai/Cesta Punta: Miami Jai Alai Fall 2016 final season standings.

Miami Jai Alai (1) (2) completed its Fall 2016 season on December 31. Statistical data for the completed season is available in the statistical report of December 31, 2016 (see page 2).  Note that the changing of seasons at Miami Jai Alai is somewhat arbitrary. Competition is continuous throughout the year, but seasons are divided between Fall (July 1-December 31) and Spring (January 1-June 30). The reset on the statistics sometimes doesn't show up on the exact opening date of the new season, but for my purposes the end of the season statistics are taken from data published on the last day of the season. This can cause confusion as to weekly leading winners data, as Miami's week runs from Wednesday through Monday, meaning that weekly winners can overlap seasons. Again, many thanks to Tiger's Jai Alai Heaven and especially Tiger for helping me find my way through the thickets of American quinella Jai Alai statistics.

Entries, results, game pages, statistics

Aritz Erkiaga won the Fall season triple crown:  most wins all games (214), championship singles (25), and championship doubles (20). He played 723 games. Eric Irastorza was second in wins (161).  Irastorza won the 2016 Spring season triple crown. His numbers were 205, 16, and 32 in 810 games played. Aritz also led the Fall season in team wins-all games with 19. Irastorza finished 1st-4th in team wins all games last season with 17, 16, 15, and 14 (with 4 different partners).

Aritz' winning percentage was .296. Irastorza came in 2nd with .256. They were the only players on the roster over .200. Irastorza had the highest winning percentage in the Spring 2016 season with .253. Aritz also led the "in the money" (1st, 2nd, or 3rd place finishes)  percentage with .595. Irastorza was 2nd with .577. The only other player with an over .500 ITM was Cisneros at .510. Irastorza won the ITM% last season with .564. Jon played the most games with 919. Garro was 2nd with 875.

Leading weekly winners (July 11-December 26): (Source: Tiger's Chalk Talk discussion board release of weekly statistics)

Aritz 10; Irastorza 6; Cisneros 5; Bereikua 3; Jabi 2; Arietio 1; Benat 1;  Ladutxe 1; Tico 1. Note: in the event of a tie for weekly leading winner honors, all were listed for the purpose of this compilation.

Most wins in a full week: 16 by Aritz. Least to lead a full week: 8 by Aritz and Jabi.

For full weekly coverage of Miami Jai Alai see the Miami Jai Alai weekly leaders page on the right side of the blog.

MY ARTICLE: Miami Fall 2016 final standings: Wins and Wins by Playing Position.