This was a long court (54 meters) Summer Tournament with matches played to 40 points, rather than in jokos (sets). As such it ran counter to most InnPala competitions, which are played on short courts (36-38 meters). And it hearkened back to the days of traditional Pala, when the modality was regularly played on long courts and matches were single partidos to 45 and then 40 points (35 for singles). Since 2011 or 2012 the joko (set) system has been in place. After a short transition period when best of 5 jokos were played to 12 points, the form settled on the 10 point jokos we have today. It is very unfortunate that we have little more than scores for these matches. Below is presented what information I have found. If I find more, I will add it.
The Pala Larga Tournament was accompanied by an amateur Pala Corta (slightly lighter and thinner bat) Tournament featuring a couple of well known names, recently retired from InnPala (see below).
The story of this tournament, even if only told in scores, is the resurgence of Pablo Hernan "Fusto". After 5 consecutive straight set wins in Lima Peru at the Pan American Games (Paleta Cuero), he has won 2 Pala Larga Tournaments in the last 2 weeks, Asta Nagusia Bilbao (winning 6 jokos and losing 1) and this one. In his last 17 jokos in PC and PL, he has a record of 16-1. In this tournament he and Ibargarai outscored their opponents 80-64. This was Ibargarai's 4th tournament or competition championship in 2019, most of any InnPala professional. Ibai Perez has 3.
Also to be noted, amateur Benat Ibarguren played in his 3rd consecutive competition. He will appear in his 4th in the September 7, 2019 Final of the Sopela Tournament. The semi-finals of that tournament were played in June, with Ibarguren substituting for the injured Ander Landeta. Landeta is still out recovering from wrist surgery.
August 31
FINAL
Fusto-Ibargarai 40 Gaubeka-Urrutia 32
Source: Diario Vasco Cartelera
The InnPala brief story noted that Urrutia had a difficult day at the office, with many service faults, perhaps not too surprising since this is only the 2nd competition played on a long court this year.
August 30
2nd Semi-final
Fusto-Ibargarai 40 Necol-Gordon 32
Source: Diario Vasco Cartelera
August 29
1st Semi-final
Gaubeka-Urrutia 40 Ibarguren*-Ibai Perez 31
Source: Diario Vasco Cartelera
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Pala Corta Tournament
August 31
FINAL
(Sylvain) Brefel-Labiano 40 Baeza-Echavarren 32
Diario Vasco Cartelera
August 30
2nd Semi-final
(Sylvain) Brefel -Labiano 40 Hourcourigarai-Quntana 16
Source: Diario Vasco Cartelera
August 29
1st Semi-Final
Baeza-Echavarren 40 Madariaga-Imanol (Ibanez) 14
Source: Diario Vasco Cartelera
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InnPala Player Records from January 1-August 31, 2019
Key: Player; Position (d=delantero (front court), z=zaguero (back court)); match wins-losses; joko (set) wins-losses; winning-losing streak; championships won. Matches that are single partidos will be noted. Table will be according to match winning percentage. 1st tie breaker will be number of wins. 2nd tie breaker will be joko win-loss differential. 3rd tie breaker is joko winning percentage
Championships: L=La Liga; MI=Mundo Individuel; MP=Mundo Parejas; Biz Op=Bizkaia Open; S=San Fermin (see Pala section); D=Donostio #Kiro Txartela; AN=Asta Nagusia Bilbao; P=Plentzia (August 29-31) (Note: these matches were single partidos to 40 points. No change was made to joko records.)
Necol(d)......21-10.68-49...-4.....2(L)(S)(a)(b)
Fusto(d)......15-11.47-43...+4.....2(AN)(P)(a)(c)
Gaubeka(d)....10-12.44-38...-1.....1(MP)
Gaubeka(d)....10-12.44-38...-1.....1(MP)
Garate(d)......7-16.33-53...-1(b)(c)
Landeta(d).....1-7..9-22....-6
Brefel(z)......3-1..11-6....+1(a)*
Ibargarai(z)..18-9..59-44...+3.....4(MI)(Biz Op)(S)(P)
Ibai-Perez(z).18-10.58-47...-1(a)..3(MP)(D)(AN)(c)
Urrutia(z)....12-16.49-53...-1.....1(L)(c)
Ibai-Perez(z).18-10.58-47...-1(a)..3(MP)(D)(AN)(c)
Urrutia(z)....12-16.49-53...-1.....1(L)(c)
Gordon(z)......6-18.33-55...-2(b)
* Retired from InnPala February 15, 2019
a=February 15, 2019: Sylvain Brefel's farwell match
b=May 31, 2019: A friendly that was set up on short notice when Fusto had to pull out of his Bizkaia Open Jornada 6 match due to back discomfort. Necol-Arroita* 3 Garate-Gordon 0
a=February 15, 2019: Sylvain Brefel's farwell match
b=May 31, 2019: A friendly that was set up on short notice when Fusto had to pull out of his Bizkaia Open Jornada 6 match due to back discomfort. Necol-Arroita* 3 Garate-Gordon 0
(10-6, 10-8, 10-6) (30-20)
c=June 21, 2019. A 45 point single partido match: Fusto-Ibai Perez 45 Garate-Urrutia 27
