Jai Alai/Cesta Punta--Aritz Erkiaga's Marvelous Month at Miami

Eric Irastorza, the great back court player who recently left Miami Jai Alai, probably said it as well as anyone (and he would know as well as anyone) when he said, in an interview with Jai Alai Facebook

El sistema de quinielas es muy particular. Necesitas muchísima concentración porque no puedes fallar, y siempre debes estar listo. Eso se aprende con los año. Como la técnica. Jugando todos los días, mejoras mucho, y agarras confianza en tu juego.

Loosely (Google English) translated:

The system of quinielas is very particular. You need a lot of concentration because you can not fail, and you should always be ready. That is learned through the years. Like the technique. Playing every day, you improve a lot, and you gain confidence in your game.

For the last month, Aritz Erkiaga has had a lot of concentration, has always been ready, and has hardly ever failed. He had a month for the ages from February 8, 2017 to March 8, 2017. For the four weeks ending February 13, 20, 27, and March 6, he led the roster each week, with 11, 15, 15, and 15 victories. He was also "in the money" (1st, 2nd, or 3rd place finishes) 22, 22, 19, and 25 times. 56 victories and 88 ITMs. He played 133 games, making his winning percentage .421 and his ITM percentage .662. Those numbers over that period of time are staggering. Miami Jai Alai keeps only season long (a 6 month season) statistics, but if you look at the statistics through March 6 (see P. 2). you will see what winning and ITM percentages look like in the long run. Aritz (#36) is having a pretty good season as well.

He also had some pretty impressive streaks during the month.

Between February 8 and March 8 he won at least 1 game in 24 consecutive performances (each 12 game session is called a performance).

Between February 17 and March 8 he won more than 1 game in 16 consecutive performances.

Between March 4 and March 8 he was in the money in 18 consecutive games.

It is well known, but bears repeating. Quiniela Jai Alai as it is played at Miami and Dania Beach Florida is a brutal grind. At Miami, the sport is played 6 days a week. Aritz is in the "A" group of players and his usual workload is 5 games a day; 4 doubles matches, each with (almost always) a different partner, and 1 singles match. With injuries and other substitutions, it is not uncommon to play 7 or even 8 games. The nature of this Jai Alai is such that if you lose concentration or make a mistake, you lose the point and have to go to the bench and wait through 7 points before you get to play again. In other words, you lose control of the game. There is no time to get into any sort of rhythm. This magnitude of success for this length of time is extraordinary.

I put together a week by week accounting of the player with the most wins for the week, game by game, as a tribute to that player. Below you will find each of Aritz' weeks.

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Key: Date (all games are matinees) G=Game No., P=Post No., F=Finish No. (X=Out of the Money), (Partner-Partner number of wins) All games are 7pt doubles matches except G1,G5,G9,G12, which are 7pt. singles, and G4,G8,G10 which are 9pt doubles *=substitute.

For the week ending February 13

Partner key (7): A=Aizpitarte, C=Cisneros, Ga=Garro, Gu=Guisasola, L=Ladutxe; Si=Sierra II; Sp=Spinner

2/8--G2P4F1(Ga-2); G3P3F1(L-8); G4P8F2; G5P8FX; G6P8F1(Sp-3); G10P8F2; G11P4FX
2/9--G2P4FX; G3P8F2; G4P1F2; G5P3FX; G6P6F1(Sp-3);
2/10--G2P7FX; G3P6F1(Si-4); G4P3F3; G5P7FX; G6P7F3; G11*P2F2
2/11--G2P6FX; G3P1F1(L-8); G4P3F1(A-11); G5P3FX; G6P5F2
2/12--G2P3F1(Gu-1); G3P6F1(C-5); G4P1F2; G5P4F3; G6P3FX; G10P2FX; G11P6F1(L-8)
2/13--G7P6FX; G8P5FX; G10P4F1(L-8); G11P4F2; G12P4FX

February 20

Partner key (9):  Ald=Aldazabal, Ale=Alejandro, Ca=Carlos, Ch=Chauderon, Ci=Cisneros, G=Guisasola, L=Ladutxe, M=Manuel, S=Spinner

2/15--G7P5F1(G-3); G8P3F3; G10P4F1(L-8); G11P1FX; G12P5F1
2/16--G6P6FX; G7P5FX; G8P5F3; G10P1F2; G11P8F1(G-3); G12P8F2
2/17--G2P6F3; G3P2FX; G4P4F2; G7P8F1(Ci-8); G8P2F1(Ch-1); G10P1F1(Ale-3); G11P7F1(Ald-6); G12P8FX
2/18--G7P5FX; G8P4F1(Ca-4); G10P6FX; G11P5F1(S-3); G12P4FX
2/19--G6*P8F1(M-5); G7P8FX; G8P7FX; G10P8F1(Ald-6); G11P7FX; G12P7FX
2/20--G2P7FX; G3P3F1(L-8); G4P7F1(G-3); G5P5F1; G6P5F2; G10P1FX; G11P3FX

February 27

 Partner key (8): Ai=Aizpitarte, Ar= Arriza, Ch=Chauderon, Ci=Cisneros, G=Garro,  M=Manuel, Si=Sierra II, Sp=Spinner.

2/22--G2P4FX; G3P5FX; G4P4FX; G5P4F1; G6P3F1(M-5)
2/23--G2P2F1(Ci-8); G3P3F1(Ch-1); G4P7FX; G5P5F1; G6P3F1(Ar-4)
2/24--G2P7FX; G3P6FX; G4P7F1(Sp-4); G5P3FX; G6P6F1(Ai-5)
2/25--G2P5F1(Ci-8); G3P5F2; G4P6FX; G5P4FX; G6P1F1(Sp-4)
2/26--G2P5F1(Ci-8); G3P5F1(Ar-4); G4P3F3; G5P8F1; G6P1FX; G10P5FX; G11P6FX
2/27--G7P4F3; G8P8F1(Si-5); G10P2F1(G-1); G11P8FX; G12P1F2

March 6

Partner key (7): A=Arriza, Ca=Carlos, Ch=Chauderon, Ci=Cisneros, G=Guisasola,  L-Ladutxe, S=Spinner,

3/1--G4*P6FX; G6*P8F1(L-7); G7P1F3; G8P3F1(S-5); G10P6FX; G11P7F1(G=5); G12P5F2
3/2--G7P3F2; G8P8F2; G10P8F1(G-5); G11P1F1(Ch-3); G12P6FX
3-3--Did Not Play
3/4--G7P7FX; G8P3F2; G10P4F1(S-5); G11P3F3; G12P2F1
3/5--G2P1F1(Ca-4); G3P8F1(A-5); G7P5F1(Ci-6); G8P5F1(Ch-3); G10P4F2; G11P5F1(G-5); G12P2F1
3/6--G2P1F1(Ca-4); G3P5F3; G4P8F3; G5P3F1; G6P5F2

For more information on Miami weekly leaders, see the Miami weekly leaders recurring page on the right side of the blog.

Jai Alai/Cesta Punta--Jai Alai News Facebook Interview with Eric Irastorza and Fronton Mexico Preview Article

As the opening of the remodeled Fronton Mexico season approaches later today, Jai Alai News Facebook page has released a long interview with Eric Irastorza (castilian), who will be on the roster for a short period of time. In the interview, he discusses his long career at Miami Jai Alai, the psychology of the quiniela game, the evolution and importance of "image" for the sportsman, his business interests, and the importance of the Fronton Mexico project, among other things.

Jai Alai News Facebook page has also released a preview article on the upcoming season which includes the full names and home cities of roster.

Multiple Modalities--Amateur Action Ramps Up With a Large Dose of Match Video

Last week was a busy week on the amateur scene in both the South and North Basque Country. The South Featured three women's tournament finals, two sponsored by EEPF  and one international mano tournament. In the North there were FFPB Championat de France National tourmament finals in two modalities. What made all this even more interesting was the wide availability of match video, greatly increasing the audience for these competitions. From the commercial quality of EITB to talented videographers like Olivier Simon to Facebook and/or Youtube films by relatives of players (Theo Pucheux) or players themselves (Timothe Sender), more and more amateur action is becoming available live, on demand, or both. Access to amateur matches that was unheard of 5 years ago is becoming commonplace.
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South Basque

1. Women's Mano:

Emakume Master Cup First Division and Elite Finals

March 5, 2017

Amorebieta IV, Amorbieto-Etxano/Zornotza (1)(2)

A. First Divsion Final:

Martinez-Bergara (blue) defeated Aramendi (substituting for Zulaika)-Bilbao (red) 22-18

B. Elite Final:

Arrizabalaga-Etxaniz (red) defeated Mendizabal-Arozena (blue) 22-14

Full Match video for both matches (EITB) via Emakume Master Cup Facebook page.

Full match video (EITB): First Division (0:00-46 minutes, 24 seconds on the video), Elite Final (58:44 to end of video)

These matches were the climax of a two month international tournament sponsored by Laboral Kutxa.

Promotional video:

Competition Context and other information about EMC

Competition preview article: (Deia)

Finals preview article (Deia)

Match article (mundodeportivo.com):

2. Women's Paleta Goma

March 3, 2017

Mallabia (1)(2)

Full match video for both matches (EITB) (Abierto Feminino: 0:00-57:21, CEEH: 57:37 to end of video)

A. Abierto Feminino de Paleta Goma Level 1 Final:

Eraiztegi-Senperena (blue) defeated San Sebastian-Erasun (red) 25-23

EEPF competition context

B. Campeonato Elite de Euskal Herria Final

Martin-Etxaniz (red) defeated Arrizabalaga-Mendizabal (blue) 25-14

EEPF competition context:

Match article for both matches

Photo Gallery for both matches (11 photos) :

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North Basque:

1.  Joko Garbi Note: for more information about Joko Garbi, including especially its role as an ancestor sport for Jai Alai/Cesta Punta see the article at bidasoa.com.

FFPB Championnat de France Joko Garbi National A and B Finals

March 4, 2017

Orthez (1)(2)

National A:

Hardoytarrak (Anglet) Sistague-Carricaburu (red) defeated U.S. Saint-Palais Amikuze (Saint Palais) Franchisteguy-Irigoin (blue) 40-37

Competition Context

Match article with photos (FFPB)

Two full match videos, one extensive highlight video. Note: if you watch this directly via Pelotelive.free.fr, be sure to "desactiver" PFF's auto refresh function (used for live scoring) or the video will stop. There are also links at PFF to the original sources of the videos.

National B:

Aviron Bayonnai 3 (Bayonne) Betbedder-Godrie (blue) defeated Kamboarrak (Cambo les Bains) X. Saint Esteben-F. Saint Esteben 40-22.

Competition context

Match article and photos (FFPB)

Two full match videos, one extensive highlight video.Note: if you watch this directly via Pelotelive.free.fr, be sure to "desactiver" PFF's auto refresh function (used for live scoring) or the video will stop. There are also links at PFF to the original sources of the videos.

2. Paleta Gomme Creuse

March 5, 2017

Mont (1)(2)

National A Final:

Pelote Lasseuboise (Lasseube) K. Pucheux (red) defeated C.A. Beglais (Begles) Sender (blue) 2-0 (15-9, 15-5).

Match article and photos (FPPB)

Two Full match videos .Note: if you watch this directly via Pelotelive.free.fr, be sure to "desactiver" PFF's auto refresh function (used for live scoring) or the video will stop. There are also links at PFF to the original sources of the videos.

For other match videos in other FFPB 2017 Championnat de France competitions see the FFPB CDF 2016-2017 National A and B match videos page on the right side of the blog.