All matches will be played at Mungia, (1)(2) the "Cathedral" of long court Pala (Pala Larga (1)(2)).
Complete tournament information (.pdf format, 12p), including match schedule and partnerships, rules of the tournament, and a listing of past winners going back to 2007. (Source: Munduko Pilota Batzarra).
The players:
Delanteros (Front): Pablo Fusto; Ibon Garate; Esteban Gaubeka; Dan Necol
Zagueros (Back): Iker Gordon; Xabier Ibargarai; Ibai Perez; Inaki Urrutia
Note: Garate won a 2 match play-in v Ander Landeta for the 4th front court position.
InnPala Player pages
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Previous Tournament Winners (since 2007)
2007: Urkia-Imanol 45 Gaubeka-Velilla 33 Match article (Naiz)
2008: Fusto-Larrinaga 45 Ziskar II-Galan 35 Match article (Naiz)
2009: Gaubeka-Beldarrain 45 Urkia-Lujan 33 Match article (Naiz)
2010: Ziskar II-Imanol 40 Fusto-Ayerbe 24 Match article (EITB)
2011: No Competition
2012: Gaubeka-Ayerbe 3 Altadill-Lujan 1 (12-8, 6-12, 12-11, 12-8) (42-39)
Match article (InnPala)
2013: Fusto-Larrinaga 3 Gaubeka-Ayerbe 0 (10-8, 10-7, 10-6) Match article (Diario Vasco) Complete Results (InnPala)
2014: Zubiri-Imanol 3 Fusto-Urkijo 2 (3-10, 6-10, 10-6, 10-8, 10-7) (39-41) Match article (Munduko Pilota Batzarra) video of final point (EITB) Complete Results (InnPala)
2015: Fusto-Ibargarai 3 Gaubeka-Ibai Perez 1 (10-8, 10-9, 2-10, 10-8) (32-35) Match article (Munduko Pilota Batzarra)
2016: Fusto-Brefel 3 Gaubeka-Imanol 2 (10-8, 8-10, 10-6, 7-10, 10-7) (45-41) Match article (Deia) BLOG POST (scroll to Pala) (unfortunately, EITB has removed the full match video)
2017: Fusto-Ibai Perez 3 Gaubeka-Imanol 2 (4-10, 9-10, 10-8, 10-8, 10-8) (43-44) BLOG POSTS THAT COVER ENTIRE TOURNAMENT; Munduko Pilota Batzarra Tournament coverage; video of final point and closing ceremony (EITB); (unfortunately, EITB has removed the full match video).
2018: Fusto-Ibargarai 3 Landeta-Gordon 1 (10-9, 9-10, 10-5, 10-8) Munduko Pilota Batzarra Tournament coverage; Full match video (EITB)
Since 2007 in Finals
Fusto (d front) 6-2 (4 in a row from 2015-2018, and 5 of the last 6)
Gaubeka (d front) 2-5
Imanol (z back) 3-2
Ayerbe (z back) 1-2
Larrinaga (z back) 2-0
Ibargarai (z back) 2-0
Urkia (d front) 1-1
Ziskar II (d front) 1-1
Ibai Perez (z back) 1-1
Lujan (z back) 0-2
Belderain (d front) 1-0
Zubiri (d front) 1-0
Brefel (z back) 1-0
Velilla (z back) 0-1
Galan (z back) 0-1
Urkijo (z back) 0-1
Altadill (d front) 0-1
Landeta (d front) 0-1
Gordon (z back) 0-1
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Pre-Tournament qualifying round--February 22-23 and Jornada (Day) 1, March 1, 2019 ; Jornada 2, March 8 ; Jornada 3, March 15 ; Jornada 4, March 22 ; Jornada 5, March 29; Jornada 6, April 5
Final and 3rd Place Match: April 13
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Tournament preview article (Deia). Also has a feature on Ibon Garate.
Preview article (El Correo)
March 8, 2019
Jornada (Day) 2
Fusto(d) (1-1, 5-5, 100)-Urrutia (z)(2-0, 6-4, 120) 3
Garate(d) (1-1, 5-5, 100)-Ibargarai(z) (0-2, 4-6, 80) 2
(10-5, 9-10, 10-8, 4-10, 10-6) (43-39) (Innpala Twitter)
Gaubeka(d) (1-1, 5-4, 120)-Ibai Perez(z) (2-0, 6-3, 140) 3
Necol(d) (1-1, 4-5, 80)-Gordon (0-2, 3-6, 60) 1
(9-10, 10-5, 10-5, 10-3) (39-23) (Innpala Twitter)
Match articles for both matches, with 8 photos (InnPala Fronton Facebook)
InnPala Clasificacion (Microsoft Excel format) basic joko table
Mundo Batzarra Puntuaciones (.pdf format, 1p). Includes match records, joko records points for and against.
We don't have very much information about these matches, as there are no videos or newspaper match articles that I could find. We do know that the first match was a hard fought 75 minute match. It was the third consecutive match to go 5 jokos, but this time the final joko wasn't won by the minimum. In fact there were no joko lead changes, F-U always being 1 joko ahead. What is impressive is how they responded after losing the most one sided joko of the match. Once again, Urrutia was on the winning side, his 4th consecutive win in this competition, including the two play-in matches he won. He is 12-5 in jokos in those matches. More importantly, this win kept him in touch with Ibai Perez, who, after playing ordinary Pala in the play-ins (1-6 joko record), has begun the competition 6-3. Next week he will pair with Fusto against Gaubeka-Urrutia in what shapes up to be a battle for top of the table for all four palistas. Whoever wins will move toward the Final. And an emphatic win will put whoever achieves it firmly in the drivers seat.
The 2nd match was the first to go less than the maximum number of jokos. After a very competitive 10-9 win, G-I outscored N-G 30-13. Necol summed the loss up very succinctly on his Facebook page. Translated loosely by Google: "We made too many mistakes to disturb Ibai and Esteban." He also mentioned that the one joko N-G won was important. The short comment provides an insight into the mind of the professional athlete. In any sport, the professional must have a very short memory. That was yesterday. All that now counts is the next match. Also, a quality professional will always find something to be positive about. While it may not seem like much to be positive about, that one Joko that Necol spoke of IS important. In certain scenarios, it could be the difference between a chance for a championship and a third place match. Every joko counts. Every point counts. Play until the match is over and see what happens.
In a competition this close, the two joko loss might indeed be fatal for Necol and Gordon. But it is still early days at Mungia. While one match next week will be for the top of the table, the other (Necol-Ibargarai v Garate-Gordon) will be a battle for survival for the back court men. Necol also needs a win, although his position is not as precarious as that of Ibargarai and Gordon. Of course, an emphatic win would be just the tonic for each team. A big win for Garate would put him in an excellent position (as well as helping Gordon immensely). All these permutations, which change every week, are one of the factors that make this competition so fascinating to watch. It must also be fascinating to play, having to adjust to a new partner every week and having to worry about an always changing competition context. Of course the players don't have time to be cerebral about it. For them the formula is easy. Win or go home.
In a competition this close, the two joko loss might indeed be fatal for Necol and Gordon. But it is still early days at Mungia. While one match next week will be for the top of the table, the other (Necol-Ibargarai v Garate-Gordon) will be a battle for survival for the back court men. Necol also needs a win, although his position is not as precarious as that of Ibargarai and Gordon. Of course, an emphatic win would be just the tonic for each team. A big win for Garate would put him in an excellent position (as well as helping Gordon immensely). All these permutations, which change every week, are one of the factors that make this competition so fascinating to watch. It must also be fascinating to play, having to adjust to a new partner every week and having to worry about an always changing competition context. Of course the players don't have time to be cerebral about it. For them the formula is easy. Win or go home.
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Table:
Player-(match wins-losses: joko w-l, points)
Delantero (front)
Gaubeka (1-1; 5-4; 120)
Fusto (1-1; 5-5; 100)
Garate (1-1; 5-5; 100)
Necol (1-1; 4-5; 80)
Zaguero (back)
Ibai Perez (2-0; 6-3; 140)
Urrutia (2-0; 6-4; 120)
Ibargarai (0-2; 4-6; 80)
Gordon (0-2; 3-6; 60)
Cumulative Table
Player-(match wins-losses: joko w-l, points)
Delantero (front)
Gaubeka(1-1; (2-3,3-1); 120)
Fusto (1-1; (2-3,3-2); 100)
Garate (1-1; (3-2,2-3); 100)
Necol (1-1; (3-2,1-3); 80)
Zaguero (back)
Ibai Perez (2-0; (3-2,3-1);140)
Urrutia (2-0; (3-2,3-2);120)
Ibargarai (0-2; (2-3,2-3);80)
Gordon (0-2; (2-3,1-3);60)
SCHEDULE FOR THE 6 WEEK ROUND ROBIN LEAGUE PHASE
March 1, 2019:
Gaubeka-Gordon v Garate-Urrutia
Fusto-Ibargarai v Necol-Ibai Perez
March 8:
Garate-Ibargarai v Fusto Urrutia
Gaubeka-Ibai Perez v Necol-Gordon
March 15:
Necol-Ibargarai v Garate-Gordon
Gaubeka-Urrutia v Fusto-Ibai Perez
March 22:
Garate-Gordon v Gaubeka-Urrutia
Fusto-Ibai Perez v Necol-Ibargari
March 29:
Garate-Urrutia v Fusto-Ibargarai
Gaubeka-Gordon v Necol-Ibai Perez
April 5:
Garate-Ibargarai v Necol-Gordon
Gaubeka-Ibai Perez v Fusto-Urrutia
League pairs that will not play together:
Fusto-Gordon
Garate-Ibai Perez
Gaubeka-Ibargarai
Necol-Urrutia
April 13: Final
#1 delantero (front)-#1 zaguero (back) v #2 (d)-#2 (z)
Source: Munduko Pilota Batzarra "dossier"
For an up to date accounting of the win-loss records of the InnPala players, and a cumulative accounting of their rankings, see the "InnPala Players win-loss records and independent matches" Page on the right side of the blog.
For an up to date accounting of the win-loss records of the InnPala players, and a cumulative accounting of their rankings, see the "InnPala Players win-loss records and independent matches" Page on the right side of the blog.
