Pala/Pala Larga/Pala Corta--2 Recent Independent Matches--Iparralde v Hegoalde

Two non-InPala independent matches which featured an Iparralde (North Basque) v Hegoalde (South Basque) rivalry (although one of the participants in both matches, Pablo Fusto, is an Argentinian who plays virtually all of his Pala in Hegoalde) were played recently. Last year, in the FIPV (Federacion International de Pelota Vasa) World Championships, the Pala Corta final (FIPV via Toute de la Pelota Basque Youtube) was won by Iparralde (Dan Necol-Sylvain Brefel) against Hegoalde's Esteban Gaubeka-Emiliano Skufca). Hegoalde was looking to "even the score" and even "take the lead" in these matches, but it was not to be, as Necol-Brefel put up a wall to stop them. Not even a single joko (set) could breach that wall.

May 10, 2019. 

Champions du Monde Challenge--Pala Corta v Pala Larga)

Plaza Berri, Biarritz (1) (2)

Necol-Brefel (PC) 2 Fusto-Ibargarai (PL) 0

(15-10, 15-8) (30-18)

(France 3 Aquitaine TV Facebook full match video)

Promotion Poster (Innpala Twitter)

Player information and differences between the implements (Dan Necol Twitter)

The elegant, "retro" Plaza Berri hosted this special match between the 2018 Pala Corta World Champions (see match linked in the introduction) and 2018 Pala Larga World Champions (Mundo Parejas--Mungia (1) (2).

(Full match video--EITB). This match was interesting for two reasons: 

1. The Iparralde-Hegoalde subtext.

2. The implements. The difference between Pala Corta and Pala Larga is in the implements and pelota. The Pala Corta bat weighs between 780-800 grams (27.5-28.2 ounces). The Pala Larga bat weighs between 920-940 grams (32.4-33.2 ounces). The extra weight in the Pala Larga bat can be seen in its slightly thicker hitting surface. The lengths of the two bats are about the same, around 46 centimeters (18 inches). The Larga ball weighs 10 grams more: 100 to 90 grams (3.5-3.2 ounces). The circumference of the pelota is about the same (around 3.5 inches). Pala Corta is played on a short (30 or 36 meter--98'5" or 118 feet) court in both Iparralde and Hegoalde. Pala Larga is played on 36 and 54 (177'2") courts exclusively by professionals in Hegoalde (Mundo Parejas is a the last of the long court tournaments). 

Given this data, and the fact that most Pala Larga is played on short courts, the court was no stranger to either of these teams. Which pelota was used (or if they were rotated) is unknown. With either of the bats, the pelotas are consistently struck with a "launch velocity" (term taken from a new American baseball "metric") of 90-95 mph (150 kph) by players carrying the bats, and hitting on the run off the front or back foot, as well as from a set position as a baseball, cricket, or pessipallo player would. Except these palistas hit the ball with one hand, and are ambidextrous. Think about that the next time you watch your favorite baseball, cricket, or pessipallo player bat. Pala is not as fast as Remonte or Cesta Punta/Jai Alai, to my knowledge, but it is much more difficult to control shots, since the the hitting area is very narrow. 

As for the match, the Pala Corta champions won, again in 2 jokos (the standard length of a Pala Corta match). Interestingly, Pala Larga is always played to 3 jokos with, obviously, no tie breaker. This may have had more of an effect on F-I than any pelota or implement difference. The maximum PC match of this duration is 72 or 67 points depending on whether the tie breaker is to 10 or 5. The maximum PL match duration is 95 points. The shortness of the PC game might have inhibited F-Ib, just as it might have inhibited F-Im in the match above. Of course the PC players might have something to say about that, particularly when they rejoin their colleagues on the PL circuit. :) And, in the end, in the last 8 months, geographically speaking, the tally is now Iparralde 3 and Hegoalde 0 (7 jokos to 2). For Hegoalde, there is always next year. 

April 27, 2019

Portet-sur-Garonne (1) (2)

Pala Corta Pro Tour Final

Necol-Brefel 2 Fusto-Imanol 0 (Pascal Bru Youtube)

(15-8; 15-12) (30-20)

Promotion Poster (Stade Toulousian Pelota Twitter)

Pala Corta Pro Tour Competition Context (Pala Corta Pro Tour Facebook Events)

The third edition of the Pala Corta Pro Tour included 6 present or recently--within the last three years--retired InnPala pros: Dan Necol, Sylvain Brefel (retired), Pablo Hernan "Fusto", Xabier Ibargai, Erik Zubiri (retired), and Imanol Ibanez (retired), along with 6 promising amateurs. The players were organized in two Groups, and each played a "League" round robin: 2 sets to 10 with a tie breaker to 5. The 3rd place match and Final played 2 sets to 15 points with a tie breaker to 5. I have found no information about the results of the round robins or third place match. The final was won comfortably by N-B, although the second joko (set) was more competitive than the first, in which N-B opened the joko with the first 6 points and cruised from there. There was a bit of controversy with the 13-12--14-12 point of the 2nd joko and the decision went the way of N-B. On the day, 8 matches were played in 6 hours on the short court, all for an admission price of 5 euros. (5.60 US dollars). 

2018 Pala Corta Pro Tour Final and selected preliminary matches

*=amateur

April 15, 2018

Necol-Brefel 2 Zubiri-Brian*-Ibargari 1 (Ligue Occitaine de Pelota Basque via Toute sur la Pelote Basque Youtube extended highlights)
(12-15, 15-6, 10-6) (37-27)

Note: Erik Zubiri was had to retire after being hit in the face with a pelota hit by his team mate Xabier Ibargarai (3-5--19:50 on the video) in the second joko. He was replaced by Simon Brian.

Other matches: Highlights (Toute sur la Pelote Basque Youtube)

Brian*-Figeac* 2 Fusto-Firpo* 1 (Toute sur la Pelote Basque highlights)
(10-7, 6-10, 5-3) (21-19) 

Necol-Brefel 2 Dordenne*-Hourmat* 0 (Toute sur la Pelote Basque highlights)
(10-7, 10-1) (20-8) 15:50

Zubiri-Ibargarai 2- Brian*-Figeac* 0 (Toute sur la Pelote Basque highlights)

(10-2, 10-9) (20-11) 

Zubiri-Ibargarai 2 Fusto-Firpo* 0 (Toute sur la Pelote Basque highlights)
(10-7; 10-8) (20-15)