Main Nue--Tournoi de Saint Palais (September 27, 29, 2019)

Tournoi de Saint Palais, Trinquet Saint Jayme (1) (2) (September 27, 29) (Esku Pilota Pro Tour Tournament)

Esku Pilota Roster

Previous Tournaments:

2018 Final: Monce-Ducassou 2 Etchegaray-Bilbao 0 (15-11, 15-12) (30-23) 

(Source: Esku Pilota Resultats)

2017: Bielle-Ducassou 40 Ospital-Amulet 26

Match article: Pilota Ttiki

2019

This was a 4 team knockout tournament.

September 29

FINAL

Ospital-Amulet 40 Monce-Ducassou 36 (Pilota Ttiki Youtube condensed full match video)

Selected linescore (winners always listed 1st)

0-7; 9-9; 16-16; 20-20; 31-31; 35-33; 38-36 40-36

In a titanic struggle that lasted over 1 hour and 50 minutes, O-A got up off the floor after an opening 7-0 salvo to equalize at 9. From there the match was closely contested all the way to the finish, with the winners finally establishing and defending a small lead in the last decade. For Amulet, whose home trinquet this match was played on, it was "moving" (Google translate). This was Ospital's 3rd consecutive championship, following Garindein and Mendionde. It was also his 6th consecutive win over all. The streak began on September 13. For O-A, who battled through over 3 1/2 hours of Main Nue (M-D dispatched their Semi-final opponents in about 45 minutes on Friday) within a 48 hour period, it was an exhausting but victorious effort during which they had to deal with the most lethal server in the modality (Waltary) and the best player on the Esku Pilota roster (Ducassou).

Match article (includes video of the final points) (Esku Pilota)

Match article (Pilota Ttiki)

September 27

Semi-finals

Monce-Ducassou 40

Inchauspe-Bilbao 14 (Pilota Ttiki Youtube condensed full match video)

Time of the match: about 45 minutes.

Ospital-Amulet 40

Waltary-Guichandut 37 (Pilota Ttiki Youtube condensed full match video)

30-35--40-37 (Pilota Ttiki Youtube)

Selected linescore (winners always listed 1st)

30-35; 36-36; 40-37

Match article for both matches (Esku Pilota)

Match article for both matches (Pilota Ttiki)

In the first Semi-final, I-B were "disunited" (Google translate), according to Ducassou. M-D took advantage of the disarray and lack of communication to build a substantial lead and then "blew the game open" with a 12-0 run late.

In the 2nd Semi-final a 10-2 run in the final decade turned the tide for O-A.