The competition begins with a round robin League in both groups. The fifth place finishers in each group are eliminated. Then the 1st place finisher in Group B plays against the 4th place finisher in Group A. The winner plays in the Group A Semi-finals as the #4 team. The loser plays in the Group B Semi-finals as the #2 team. This is a twist that makes the competition very interesting. A Group B team has a chance to be promoted within the space of one competition. The semi-finals will be #1-#4 and #2-#3 in each group. The winners meet in Finals on April 28 (Group A) and May 5 (Group B).
Player profiles at Esku Pilota
Player profiles at Pilota Ttiki
Group A:
Augusti Waltary-Peio Guichandut (defending Champions)
Peio Larralde-Bixintxo Bilbao
Mathieu Ospital-Baptiste Ducassou (runner up and Champion respectively of recently concluded FFPB Main Nue Individuel Competition)
Julien Etchegaray-Ximun Lambert
Antton Monce-Thierry Harismendy
Group B:
Phillipe Bielle-Bixentxe Cubiat
Alexis Inchauspe (winner of Group B Main Nue Individuel)-Antton Amulet
Laurent Lambert (runner up of Group B Main Nue Individuel)-Cedric Lucu
Vincent Elgart-Mickael Palomes
Mattin-Olcomendy-Ion Iturbe
Note: Elgart and Iturbe were Group A players in the Individuel competition. Harismendy and Amulet did not play in the Individuel competition. Pascal de Ezcurra, Gregory Aguirre, and Mikael Darmendrail (all Group B Indviduel) are not playing in this championship.
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Previous Championships:
2018:
Group A:
Waltary-Guichandut 40 Larralde-Iturbe 36
Full match video (Audiense Audiovisuel via FFPB)
Match article (FFPB)
"Dossier" (FFPB--.pdf format, 9p., which contains all competition match scores).
Pilota Ttiki also covered the entire competition, with match articles and condensed match videos Their coverage begins March 19. At the bottom of the article click on "precedent" and page through articles about the competition, using the "dossier" as your guide to dates of matches. When there are match videos, Pilota Ttiki links to them from the bottom of the match articles. They are also available at Pilota Ttiki Youtube (CTRL-F Championnat elite pro par equipes 2018).
Group B:
Bielle-Palomes 40 Elgart-Cubiat 22
Full match video (condensed) (Pilota Ttiki)
Match article (Pilota Ttiki)
2017:
Group A: Larralde-Bilbao 40 Waltary-Guichandut 38
Full match video (Audiense Audiovisuel via FFPB)
Match article (FFPB)
"Dossier" (FFPB--.pdf format, 12p. ,which contains all competition match scores)
Full competition context, with final linescore graph and linescore (pelotelive.free.fr)
Group B: Inchauspe-Amulet 40 L. Lambert-Palomes 29
Competition context (pelotelive.free.fr) (no match video available)
Match article (Pilota Ttiki)
2016:
Group A: Waltary-Bilbao 40 Bielle-Ducassou 23
Full match video (Audiense Indivduel)
Match article (FFPB)
Competition context (pelotelive.free.fr)
Annotated linescore: (pelotelive.free.fr)
Group B: Inchauspe-Amulet 40 L. Lambert-de Ezcurra 23
Full match video (Esku Pilota)
Match article (FFPB)
Competition context: (pelotelive.free.fr)
2015:
Group A: Larralde-Bilbao 40 Etcheverry-Ducassou 10
Full match video (Bixintxo Bilbao Youtube)
Match article (FFPB)
Competition Context (pelotelive.free.fr)
Group B: Inchauspe-Saldubehere 40 Elgart-Bonetbelche 37 (no match video)
Match article (FFPB)
Competition context (pelotelive.free.fr)
2014: Larrechea-Harismendy 40 Sorhuet-Ducassou (substituting for T. Etxeto) 19 (no match video)
Match article (FFPB)
Dossier--results of all matches (FFPB)
2013: Waltary-Harismendy 40 Larrechea-X. Lambert 25 (no match video)
Match article (FFPB)
Dossier--results of all matches (FFPB)
2012: Ibarola-Harismendy 40 Bielle-Ocafrain 37 (no match video) Source: FFPB 2013 Assemblee Generale Ordinaire Exercice 2012 (P. 9)
2011: Waltary-Lambert 40 Ibarola-Jeannots 21 (no match video) Source: FFPB 2012 Assemblee Generale Ordinaire Exercice 2011 (P. 9)
2010: Ibarola-Ocafrain 40 Waltary-Etxeto 39 (no match video) Match article (Naiz--Basque)
2009: Ibarola-Ocafrain 40 Sorhuet-Etxeto 34 (no match video) Match article (Naiz--Basque)
2008: Ibarola-Ocafrain 40 Sorhuet-Ezkurra 32 (no match video) Match article (Naiz--Basque)
2007: Waltary-Etxeto 40 Sorhuet-Ocafrain 19 (no match video) Match article (Naiz--Basque). Agusti Waltary becomes the first non-native Basque to win this competition.
Since 2007: (avant-front; arriere-back)
Waltary (av) has played in 7 Finals and has won 5.
Ibarola (av) played in 5 finals and won 4 (3 consecutive wins from 2008-2010). Ocafrain (ar) played in 5 Finals and won 3.
Sorhuet (av) played in 4 Finals without a win.
Harismendy (ar) won 3 consecutive Finals (2012-2014).
Larralde (av) has played in 3 Finals and won 2.
Etxeto (ar) played in 3 Finals and won 1.
Ducassou (ar) has played in 3 Finals without a win.
Bilbao (ar) has won 2 Finals.
Larrechea (av) played in 2 Finals and won 1.
Guichandut (ar) has played in 2 Finals and won 1
Bielle (av) has played in 2 Finals without a win.
Iturbe (av), Etcheverry (av), and Jeannots (ar) have all played in 1 Final without a win.
Iturbe (av), Etcheverry (av), and Jeannots (ar) have all played in 1 Final without a win.
Qualification Round: Week 1; Week 2; Week 3; Week 4; Week 5 and Barrage: April 13, 2019: Group B #1 v Group A #4
Semi-Finals
Finals: Group A; Group B
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Competition preview article (Pilota Ttiki)
Qualification Round 1
March 11, 2019
Group A
Waltary-Guichandut (0-1 -2) 38 (Pilota Ttiki Youtube condensed full match video)
Info Garazi Youtube most but not all points. Camera moves a bit. Good views of players' body language.
Linescore (winners always listed first)
0-3; 1-3; 1-6; 5-6; 5-13; 6-13; 6-16; 7-16; 7-17; 9-17; 9-18; 11-18; 11-19; 12-19; 12-20; 13-20; 13-22; 17-22; 17-23; 22-23; 22-24; 24-24; 24-27; 25-27; 25-29; 29-29; 29-34; 37-34; 37-38; 40-38
Balls in play (by my count): 739
Number of balls in play: Number of points:
1-9: 46
10-19: 25
20-29; 3
30-39; 2
40+: 2 Longest point: 1-3--1-4: 46 balls in play
This was a magnificent match, played before a large crowd as part of a Garat au Lundi "double header." It was a match that, while not technically perfect (31 errors out of 78 points), was breathtaking. With all the mistakes, it seemed everyone was a bit "rusty," but there was also plenty of sparkling play. As the linescore shows, O-D were Sisyphusian in their efforts to catch defending champions W-G, who pretty much owned most of the match, building leads of as many as 10 points. O-D equalized at 24 but then fell behind again by 5 at 29-34. At this point they found the energy for an 8-0 run (which included a magnificent Ducassou shot into the back dugout on the 21 ball 35-34--36-34 point). But then W-G came back to take a 37-38 lead. The final lead change of the match (all three match lead changes came in the last 10 points) came about as a result of brilliant Xares (balls hit into the side dugout meshwork on the fly) direct point winners by Ospital and then Ducassou (after he had supplied the penultimate point with a direct point into the back dugout).
Ducassou was particularly impressive. On Waltary's serve, he set up in the middle on the fault line the entire match, while Ospital set up on the left, much deeper. This is opposite to how teams usually set up to receive a serve, but it seemed a strategy that kept Ospital from being exposed to the 39 year old Waltary's laser like low serves. The strategy seemed to work as Ducassou, for the most part, handled those serves (Waltary had 8 service aces, not a huge amount by his standards) while Ospital held his own with the long serves and had the speed and quickness to get to the front after returning them. The other thing about Ducassou is that he, much like Endika Urrutia in Remonte (video--back court, blue) and Imanol Lopez in Cesta Punta (video--back court, red), plays the back court with a front court mentality. He is always looking to score, from close or far away. In this match my favorite Ducassou moments were:
1) the amazing three wall shot he executed from near the back of the court on the left side (13-22--14-22, 18:22-18:51 on the video)
2) a two wall winner from the 6th dugout post on the left side (25-29--26-29 at the end of a 44 ball point, second longest of the match--30:00-30:10 on the video)
3. The last two points of the match, brilliant direct points (38:50-40:18 on the video).
A great player makes great plays. Ducassou makes impossible ones look routine.
Group B
L. Lambert-Lucu (0-1 -1) 39 (Pilota Ttiki Youtube condensed full match video)
Linescore (winners always listed first)
0-3; 3-3; 5-3; 5-4; 6-4; 6-6; 7-6; 7-7; 10-7; 10-12; 13-12; 13-15; 15-15; 15-19; 16-19; 16-22; 18-22; 18-23; 19-23; 19-26; 24-26; 24-32; 26-32; 26-33; 27-33; 27-37; 29-37; 29-38; 36-38; 36-39; 40-39
Scoring (Henry Ocafrain, Goizeko-Izarra)
Note: direct points are balls that end the point at the point the pelota impacts the side dugout meshwork or goes into the back dugout. Other shots that do not automatically end the point (bevel shots, xilo shots) are not counted as direct points (by me :) ). Xareat is a direct point on the fly, Pumpa Xare is a direct point on the bounce. This is for the side dugout. I do not know if it is the same for balls going into the back dugout, which is not protected by meshwork.
Bielle +12 (including 4 service aces and 1 direct point [xareat]) -3
Cubiat +11 including 6 direct points [5 xareat, 1 pumpa xare] -9
L.Lambert +16 (including 4 service aces and 2 direct points [2 xareat]) -10
Lucu +11 (including 4 direct points (2 xareat, 2 pumpa xare] -7
Note: direct points are balls that end the point at the point the pelota impacts the side dugout meshwork or goes into the back dugout. Other shots that do not automatically end the point (bevel shots, xilo shots) are not counted as direct points (by me :) ). Xareat is a direct point on the fly, Pumpa Xare is a direct point on the bounce. This is for the side dugout. I do not know if it is the same for balls going into the back dugout, which is not protected by meshwork.
Bielle +12 (including 4 service aces and 1 direct point [xareat]) -3
Cubiat +11 including 6 direct points [5 xareat, 1 pumpa xare] -9
L.Lambert +16 (including 4 service aces and 2 direct points [2 xareat]) -10
Lucu +11 (including 4 direct points (2 xareat, 2 pumpa xare] -7
Balls in play (by my count): 957
Number of balls in play: Number of points
1-9: 46
10-19: 14
20-29: 10
30-39: 6
40+ 3: Longest point of the match 24-26--24-27: 44 balls in play
Match article for both matches (Pilota Ttiki)
This match opened the proceedings at Le Garat. The court seemed a little slick as players slid around quite a bit but it didn't really hinder the match. And what a struggle it was. The 7th decade consumed 196 balls in play, almost 20 per point, and had consecutive points over 40 balls in play, followed by points of 31 and 23 bip. The match had 5 lead changes, including the last point of the match, and the linescore is exhausting to read :). This match belonged to L-L. Everyone in the trinquet knew it. Everyone except B-C. After an 18 ball point won by L-L to make the score 36-39, the next three points consumed 68 balls in play. A single mistake would have cost B-C the victory. But there were none. Finally, Bielle served the ace that won the match.
All in all a fantastic day at Le Garat. Any Monday at Le Garat is a great day. This was one of the greatest. The pelota hit the wall 1,696 times. 77 out of a possible 79 points were scored. Magnifique! Oh, Magnifique!
March 10, 2019
Group A
Inchauspe (substituting for Etchegaray)-X. Lambert 24 (Pilota Ttiki Youtube condensed full match video)
Selected linescore: (winners always listed first) (Source: Pilota Ttiki and FFPB match articles)
7-7; 12-12; 12-14 14-14; 18-14; 28-15; 40-24
Julien Etchegaray missed the first qualification match due to influenza and was replaced by Alexis Inchauspe, who is playing in the B tournament and won the CdF Individuel Group B championship a short time ago. He and Ximun Lambert kept the match close for during its first half, but a 10-1 run gave the winners an advantage that they held for the rest of the match. Pilota Ttiki called these the two weakest teams in Group A, which made this match crucial because the fifth place qualification round team is eliminated. Monce and Harismendy played very well. Harismendy is coming back to the professional ranks after a couple of years out of them. He is a solid defender and will help any team he is on (as he showed in winning his first three 50 point Lundi matches at Le Garat). It is difficult to assess the Lambert team because they haven't played together yet. We should find out more about both these teams as their next assignments are Larralde-Bilbao and Ospital-Ducassou respectively.
Group B
Elgart-Palomes 40 Olcomendy-Iturbe 32 (Pilota Ttiki Youtube condensed full match video)
Selected linescore: (winners always listed first) (Source: Pilota Ttiki and FFPB match articles)
11-0; 20-14; 23-18; 31-24- 34-32; 40-32
This was a match that started as a blowout, EP opening with an 11-0 run. But O-I fought hard to get back into the match, outscoring their opponents 34-21 to trail by only two. But as happens in this pattern of matches, they "ran out of gas" as E-P scored the last 6 points of the match.
Both these matches were played at Trinquet Moderne in Biona (Bayonne), the most modern trinquet in the North Basque. Attendance was sparce and there wasn't much atmosphere, as opposed to the other two matches (see above).
Match article for both matches (Pilota Ttiki)
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Table as of March 11, 2019
Group A:
Monce-Harrismendy (1-0 +16)
Ospital-Ducassou (1-0 +2)
Larralde-Bilbao (0-0 0)
Waltary-Guichandut (0-1 -2)
Etchegaray-X. Lambert (0-1 -16)
Group B:
Elgart-Palomes (1-0 +8)
Bielle-Cubiat (1-0 +1)
Inchauspe-Amulet (0-0 0)
L. Lambert-Lucu (0-1 -1)
Olcomendy-Iturbe (0-1 -8)
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UPCOMING:
MARCH 16, 2019
ARCANGUES
GROUP A:
LARRALDE-BILBAO (0-0 0) v MONCE-HARISMENDY (1-0+16)
GROUP B:
INCHAUSPE-AMULET (0-0 0) v OLCOMENDY-ITURBE (0-1 -8)
MARCH 17, 2019
SOURAIDE
GROUP A:
OSPITAL-DUCASSOU (1-0 +2) v ETCHEGARAY-X. LAMBERT (0-1 -16)
GROUP B:
L. LAMBERT-LUCU (0-1 -1) v
ELGART-PALOMAS (1-0 +8)
