Pre-Tournament qualifying round--February 17-18 ; Jornada 1: February 24, 2017 ; Jornada 2: March 3, 2017 (J2 links to full match video of both matches); Jornada 3 and 4 ; Jornada 5: March 17, 2017 ; Jornada 6: March 24, 2017; Final and 3rd Place Match: April 1, 2017 (Final and 3rd place links to full match videos of both matchs).
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Mundial Parejas, the premier long court Pala Tournament, began February 17-18, 2017. The tournament, sponsored by Munduko Pilota Batzarra (World Pilota Council) is set up in a unique way. In each round the partnerships change. It features 8 InnPala professionals, 4 front court (delanteros) and 4 back (zagueros). The tournament will be played as a double round robin, with each player pairing with 3 others in each round, for a total of 6 matches. At the end of the competition the top two delanteros pair up with the top two zagueros and play in a final. There is also a 3rd place match. The scoring for the tournament is based completely on joko (set) scores: 3-0=100pts, 3-1=80pts, 3-2=60pts, 2-3=40pts, 1-3=20pts, 0-3=0pts. The scoring system emphasizes the importance of every joko, no matter what the situation of any match.
All matches will be played at Mungia, (1)(2) the "Cathedral" of long court Pala (Pala Larga (1)(2)).
Complete tournament information (.pdf format, 11p), including match schedule and partnerships, rules of the tournament, and a listing of past winners going back to 2007. (Source: Munduko Pilota Batzarra).
Player information (Source: Munduko Pilota Batzarra). Note: the "dossier" link on this page connects to the above tournament information pamphlet.
InnPala Tournament page
Preview article: (mundodeportivo.com)
Preview article: (Deia)
2016 Final full match video: Fusto-Brefel defeated Gaubeka-Imanol 3-2 (10-8, 8-10, 10-6, 7-10, 10-7) (EITB). For those who are unfamiliar with the traditional long court game, this is a great example of it. For those who know and love the form, it is, quite simply, a superb match.
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February 17-18, 2017
Pre-Tournament qualifying round
February 17:
1. Landeta-Gordon defeated Zubiri-Ibargarai 3-0 (10-9, 10-7, 10-8) (30-24). (Source: InnPala Twitter feed and Dairio Vasco Cartelera, February 18, 2017).
An independent match preceded this match. These players are already qualified for the tournament.
Fusto-Ibai Perez defeated Necol-Imanol 3-2 (7-10, 10-5, 10-1, 6-10, 10-6 (43-32). (Source: Dairio Vasco Cartelera, February 18, 2017).
February 18, 2017
2. Landeta-Ibargarai defeated Zubiri-Gordon 3-1 (7-10, 10-9, 10-6, 10-9) (37-34). Source: Dairio Vasco Cartelera, February 19, 2017).
Final table, Qualifying Round
Key: Player; Match record; joko record; tournament points (these points do not carry over into the tournament).
Delanteros:
Landeta 2-0 (W 3-0=100pts., W 3-1=80pts.). 180pts.
Zubiri 0-2 (L 0-3=0pts., L 1-3=20pts). 20 pts.
Zagueros:
Gordon 1-1 (W 3-0=100pts., L 1-3=20pts.) 120pts.
Ibargarai 1-1 (L 0-3=0pts., W 3-1=80pts.) 80pts.
Landeta and Gordon qualify for the tournament. Zubiri and Ibargarai are eliminated but will be available to substitute in case of illness or injury.
L and G put tremendous pressure on Z and I by sweeping the Friday night match. Z and I were forced to sweep their match in order to have a chance to make the tournament. The qualifiers were in doubt until the last point of the 2nd joko Saturday night. Ibargarai was eliminated after the 1st joko, Zubiri after the 2nd. With nothing left to play for, the two Saturday pairs still completed a closely fought match.
A player to watch, perhaps, in the tournament is Ander Landeta. His play has consistently improved since the beginning of the 2016-17 season. He began with a 5 match losing streak in La Liga. Since then, he has won 5 and lost 2. During the 5 match losing streak his joko record was 4-15. Since then his joko record is 19-11. In jokos decided by 3 points or less in the qualifying round of this tournament, he was 5-1. The format of this tournament is very difficult, as there is no continuity (and comfort level) between partners. Landeta, so far, has adapted well to the format. It will be interesting to see if he continues to improve.
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Table of wins and losses for the 2016-2017 season.
Key: Player; Position (d=delantero (front court), z=zaguero (back court)); match wins-losses; joko (set) wins-losses; winning-losing streak; championships won. Matches that are single partidos will be noted. Table will be according to match winning percentage. 1st tie breaker will be number of wins. 2nd tie breaker will be joko win-loss differential. We begin the season with La Liga Kutxabank, starting October 29, 2016.
February 18, 2017
Championships: L=La Liga; MI-Mundial Individual
Gaubeka(d)......7-4.....25-21...-2*....1(L)
Fusto(d)............7-6.....26-26..+2
Zubiri(d)...........8-8.....31-29...-3*
Landeta(d).......5-7.....23-26...+2
Necol(d)...........6-9.....29-34...-2
Ibai-Perez(z).....11-3...37-21..+5*....2(L, MI)
Ibargari(z)..........8-8....32-31...+1
Brefel(z).............5-5....20-19...-1
Gordon(z)...........6-8....25-30....-1
Imanol(z)............3-8...17-28.....-2*
Includes Feb. 17, 2017 independent match: Fusto-Ibai Perez defeated Necol-Imanol 3-2 (7-10, 10-5, 10-1, 6-10, 10-6) at Mungia.
Includes Dec. 30, 2016 independent match: Landeta-Imanol defeated Zuberi--Ibai-Perez 3-1 (10-8, 7-10, 10-9, 10-7) at Bizkaia.
*Does not include the result of Nov.25, 2016 independent match Gaubeka--Ibai-Perez v Zubiri-Imanol. The result is unknown at this time. I will add it when I find it.
Includes Nov. 19, 2016 independent match: Zuberi-Ibargari defeated Necol-Gordon 3-0 (10-8, 10-3, 10-9) at Bizkaia.
For cumulative accounting of this player table see the InnPala Player win-loss table under the Pala page on the right side of the blog
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Pre-Tournament qualifying round--February 17-18 ; Jornada 1: February 24, 2017 ; Jornada 2: March 3, 2017 (J2 links to full match video of both matches); Jornada 3 and 4 ; Jornada 5: March 17, 2017 ; Jornada 6: March 24, 2017; Final and 3rd Place Match: April 1, 2017 (Final and 3rd place links to full match videos of both matchs).
