Mano--Binakako Txapelketako/Campionato Parejas--Week 6

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

January 5, 2017

Brief video recap of the week

At the end of the 6th round, 5 teams are tied for 2nd place with 3 wins and 3 losses. The tie breaker is point differential, which is listed in every linked table. 

A. Beotibar, Tolosa (1)(2): Irribaria-Rezusta defeated Victor (substituting for Artola)-Albisu 22-13.

Match article with statistics and linescore

The first half of the match was equal, with each team taking and then losing substantial leads. I-R owned the second half 11-2. Irribaria outscored the other three players combined.  I-R 6-0 (+6) A-A 3-3 (-2)

Match highlights

Match highlights (22iguales.com Youtube) 11 selected points.

January 6, 2017

B. Astelena, Eibar (1)(2): Elezkano II-Zabaleta  defeated Urrutikoetxea-Imaz  22-16.

Match article with statistics and linescore

The lead changed hands 4 times in this match. The last 2 (7-11--12-11 and 12-13--18-13) were decisive. Urrutikoetxea did all the scoring (+10, but also 5 errors) for his team. Imaz' score was +0 -0 E-Z 3-3 (+1) U-I 1-5(-3)

In a late news update, Danel Elezkano will be replaced by Erik Jaka for E-Z's round 7 match v Ezkurdia-Merino II. Elezkano has an ankle ligament injury.  He twisted the ankle late in this match, but returned to finish it after treatment. At this time Elizkano's return date is unknown.

Elizkano injury article (Diario Vasco)

Match highlights

Full Match video (Fronton.tv) Scroll to "Eibar-Astelena - 06/01/2017". Elezkano's injury occurs in the 21-16 point. Point begins at 1:01:31. Injury occurs at 1:01:58. Point ends at 1:02:02 on the video.

January 7, 2017

C. Labrit, Iruna (Pamplona) (1) (2): Altuna III-Barriola defeated Bengoetxea VI-Larunbe 22-12.

Match article with statistics and linescore

For the second week in a row, A-B came back from a big deficit to win. This time, B-L got off to a quick 8-2 lead.Then A-B struck back with a 14-0 run that sealed the outcome. Altuna III again had a big match, scoring around 70% of his team's points. A-B have won each of the three matches they have played together. They have lost the three where one or both of them did not play.  A-B 3-3 (+2) B-L 2-4 (-1).

Match highlights

Full match video (match begins at 1:05:34 on the video).

January 8, 2017 

D. Politiportivo La Juventud, Soria (1)(2): Ezkurdia-Merino II defeated Victor (substituting for Olaizola II)-Untoria 22-12

Match article with statistics and linescore

Explanation of Olaizola II's absence (Diario Vasco)

Olaizola II missed this match due to illness. He was replaced by Victor, playing his second match (both as a substitute) in 4 days. E-M broke open the match with a 6-0 run in the second half. E-M 3-3 (+1) O-U 3-3 (-1)

Match highlights

Full match video  (match begins at 1:07:47 on the video).

Remonte--VII Master Individual Oriamendi Tournament--the match after

Whenever EITB broadcasts an important Remonte match from Galarreta, Hernani (1)(2), it is the "Star Match," the 2nd of a four match session. These sessions are played on Thursdays and Saturdays. After the important Star Match, EITB televises the 3rd match, which is usually a match involving better and more experienced players. I watch these matches because I don't often get to see the players in them. Also, it is fascinating to watch the body language of the "grind" that is the essence of the Oriamendi2010 schedule. The body language of these matches reminds me somewhat of the body language seen during the grind of an American Quiniela Jai Alai season at Miami or Dania Beach, Florida. Oriamendi2010 players grind out game after game, with partner after partner, week in and week out throughout the year. When a non-championship Remonte match ends at Galarreta, the contestants simply take off their helmets and cestas and walk off the floor. Fans have almost always seen the incredible things that you will see in a Remonte match. The idea of using something that looks like a Jai Alai basket as a racquet to hit the ball rather than catch and throw it seems impossible. Yet these players do this with grace, athleticism, and style. Remonte is not as fast as Jai Alai (but then, neither is any other ball sport in the world), but it is fast enough. To be able to hit the ball at all is amazing. To be able to hit it with a cesta on your right hand while plastered against the left wall, or to be able to execute standing or falling rebotes (rebounds off the back wall), as is done in Jai Alai on a regular basis, seems impossible with the Remonte implement. Watch and you'll see.

The match I watched (which is covered at the above Star Match link), was between Etxeberria IV-Etxeberria III and Segurola-Ion. Three of them are "A" group players. Segurola is a "B" group player who often plays in matches with A players. What I saw was one of the most amazing performances I have seen in the short time I've been following the sport. Etxeberria IV is a player I have seen little of and read even less about. But he put on an incredible performance to lead his team to victory. His partner had a pretty good game as well. Together, they played an almost perfect match.

Etxeberria IV-Etxeberria III defeated Segurola-Ion 40-26

Full match video (EITB) (match begins at 1 hour, 13 minutes on the video)

MY ARTICLE: Enhanced linescore E IV-EIII v S-I