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 (if the A team is demoted). 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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NOTE: RECORD OF PREVIOUS CHAMPIONSHIPS (2007-2018) IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST.
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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)
Semi-Finals
April 20, 2019
Both Mathieu Ospital and Bixintxo Bilbao returned from injury. Both their teams won, and advanced to the Group A Final.
Group A
Larralde-Bilbao (#1, 4-0 +78) 40 Monce-Harismendy (#4, 2-3, -23) 24 (Pilota Ttiki Youtube condensed full match video)
Source: Esku Pilota Resultats
Selected linescore (FFPB) (winners always listed first)
3-3; 5-5; 13-7; 14-14; 15-15; 16-16; 36-20; 40-24
Partial scoring: Larralde 9 service aces, Monce 7
L-B had little problem with M-H, using a 20-4 run in the second half of the match to move on to the finals.
Larralde-Bilbao advance to Final v Ospital-Ducassou
Group B
Inchauspe-Amulet (#1, 3-2, +6) 40 Olcomendy-Iturbe #4, 2-2 -14) 36 (Pilota Ttiki Youtube condensed full match video
Source: Esku Pilota Resultats
Selected linescore (FFPB) (winners always listed first)
2-2; 9-2; 16-8; 24-10; 32-18; 34-33; 40-36
Partial scoring: Inchauspe 8 service aces, Olcomendy 10
Time of the match: 1 hour 40 minutes
With the score 32-18 I-A, this was looking like anything but a competitive match. But then O-I put on a tremendous 15-2 run to get to within 1. Alas, they ran out of steam and fell in the end, but not before one of the best rallies in a long time.
Inchauspe-Amulet advance to Final v Bielle-Cubiat
April 19, 2019
Group A
Waltary-Guichandut (#3 2-2 +42) 35 (Pilota Ttiki Youtube condensed full match video)
Selected linescore (winners always listed first)
1-1; 2-2; 3-3; 6-3; 11-5; 12-10; 19-10; 21-18; 33-20; 37-34; 40-35
Partial scoring:
Waltary 8 service aces, Ospital 7
Time of the match: 1 hour 26 minutes
The defending champions bowed out, but not without a struggle, fighting back from 6, 9 , and 13 point deficits as the match progressed, showing remarkable fighting ability, but never got "over the hump,"as O-D scored 3 of the last 4 points to finish what must have been an extremely frustrating match for W-G. The match article praised Guichandut's "extraordinary defense."
Ospital-Ducassou advance to the Final
Group B
Elgart-Palomes (#3 2-2 +14) 21 (Pilota Ttiki Youtube condensed full match video)
Selected linescore (FFPB) (winners always listed first)
7-0; 13-12; 28-12; 40-21
Partial scoring:
Bielle 12 service aces, Elgart 5
Time of the match: 1 hour
A 15 point run by B-C at mid-match took all of the drama out of this match. The match article discussed how important Cubiat's contribution was. Bielle's 12 service aces were the most of any front court player this weekend.
Bielle-Cubiat advance to the Final
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Qualification Final Table: April 8, 2019
Group A:
Larralde-Bilbao (4-0 +78)
Ospital-Ducassou (3-1 -3)
Waltary-Guichandut (2-2 +42)
Monce-Harrismendy (2-3 -23)
Etchegaray-X. Lambert (0-4 -78)*
Larralde-Bilbao and Ospital-Ducassou advance to the Semi-finals. Monce-Harismendy finish 4th and must face Group B first 1st place Inchauspe-Amulet in a "barrage" match. The winner goes into the A tournament as 4th seed. The loser goes into the B Tournament as 2nd seed.
Group B:
Inchauspe-Amulet (3-2 +6)
Bielle-Cubiat (3-1 +11)
Elgart-Palomes (2-2 +14)
Olcomendy-Iturbe (2-2 -14)
L. Lambert-Lucu (0-4 -33)*
*eliminated
The 4 Semi-finalists have been determined. Inchauspe-Amulet win the right to face Monce-Harismendy in a "barrage" match to determines who plays in which semi-final league.
Available cumulative scoring. Partial data is available for service aces. Service aces for Olcomendy and Inchauspe are provided for both A and B as they were substitutes in the A group. Source is FFPB match articles.
Through matches of April 20, 2019.
DNP: Did Not Play
NA: Not Available
Group A:
Waltary: 8; 9; 5; 15; 8 = 37 (avg. 9)
Larralde: 10; 2; 6; 6; 9= 24 (avg. 6.6)
Ospital: 8; 4; DNP; DNP; 7= 12 (avg. 6.3)
Monce: NA; 2; 7; 0; 7; 7= 23 (avg. 4.6)
Etcheverry (sub for Ospital): 4
Etchegaray: DNP; 2; 1; 3= 6 (avg. 2)
Olcomendy (sub for Ospital): 3
Inchauspe: (sub for Etchegaray) NA
Group B:
Inchauspe: 8; 10; 9; 12; 6; 8= 45 (avg. 9)
Bielle: NA; 9; 7; 6; 12= 34 (avg. 8.5)
Olcomendy: 5; 6; 9; 4; 10= 24 (avg. 6.8)
Elgart: 12; 9; 3; 2; 5= 31 (avg. 6.2)
L. Lambert: 4; 1; 6; 8= 15 (avg. 4.75)
UPCOMING:
FINALS
APRIL 28, 2019
GROUP A: BAYONNE
LARRALDE-BILBAO (#1, 5-0, +83) v
OSPITAL-DUCASSOU (#2, 4-1, +2)
THESE TWO TEAMS HAVE YET TO PLAY IN THE TOURNAMENT (DUCASSOU PLAYED WITH A SUBSTITUTE IN THEIR SCHEDULED LEAGUE MATCH)
MAY 5, 2019
GROUP B: SOURAIDE
INCHAUSPE-AMULET (#1, 4-2, +10) v
BIELLE-CUBIAT (#2, 4-1, +30)
MARCH 30, 2019
I-A 40 B-C 33 (BLOG POST LINKED TO MATCH ARTICLE--4TH MATCH LISTED)
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)
2013: Waltary-Harismendy 40 Larrechea-X. Lambert 25 (no match video)
Match article (FFPB)
2012: Ibarola-Harismendy 40 Bielle-Ocafrain 37 (no match video) Source: FFPB 2013 Assemblee Generale Ordinaire Exercice 2012 (P. 9)
2011: Waltary-X. Lambert 40 Ibarola-Jeannots 21 (no match video) Source: FFPB 2012 Assemblee Generale Ordinaire Exercice 2011 (P. 9) Match article (Naiz--Basque--note: Naiz has score 40-20.
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.
Ibarola (av) played in 5 finals and won 4 (3 consecutive wins from 2008-2010). Ocafrain (ar) played in 5 Finals and won 3.
Iturbe (av), Etcheverry (av), and Jeannots (ar) have all played in 1 Final without a win
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.
X. Lambert (ar) has played in 2 Finals and won 1.
X. Lambert (ar) has 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
