This is a current awareness blog that links to the latest sources of information on Basque Pelota matches and Tournaments. It covers all of both North and South Basque modalities: Pro and amateur. It links to match stories, statistics and video highlights and/or full match videos. NEW!!! JAI ALAI LEAGUE (EREMAN!) SEASON INTRO AND JAI ALAI WOMEN'S WINTER TOUR 2024 (2/22/24)!!!

Monday, December 30, 2019

Jai Alai/Cesta Punta--Jai Alai World Tour, Banakako Txapelketa (Singles Championship)--COMPLETE RECAP OF THE JAWT SEASON, WITH FINAL PLAYER TABLE


Below you will find a known injury record, complete records for the Hossegor Masters Final, complete records for the Zumaia Masters, two independent matches, Ciudad San Sebastian and Gernika Open Urriko,  and the Singles Tournament that completed the 2019 the season--in reverse chronological order.

Below that are links to blog posts of all of the other JAWT Masters and Grand Slam Tournaments. Included are scores, selected statistics when available, match articles, analysis and full match videos. JAWT posts contain links to 23 full match videos.

Below that is a final player win-loss table for the entire season.

Below that are two links, one to all Iparralde Summer partido Tournaments (Gant d'Or, St. Jean de Luz and two independent tournaments, and one to all Fronton Mexico Tournaments. They link to the same kinds of  things that this post does.  They also link, in total, to 82 full match videos.

Feedback and/or corrections happily accepted.

INJURY REPORT:

September 20, 2019

Eric Irastorza: Irastorza, who has been out of action with a leg injury since mid-July, was unable to play in the Zumaia Master Semi-final on September 20. He was also unable to  play in the Ciudad San Sebastian match on October 26.

August 4, 2019

Imanol Lopez: Lopez suffered an arm injury early in the 1st set of the Lekeitio Masters Final on August 4. He had to leave for treatment but returned to finish the match. All of his throws from that point forward (except for 2 or 3 soft dejadas from deep in the back) were reverses. He is scheduled to play up to 5 matches the week of August 5-10, including 2 possible finals (Gant d'Or if he wins the semi-final 1st, and the Gernika Grand Slam). How many, if any, of those matches he is able to play remains to be seen. So far this summer, after winning the 2 Championships at Fronton Mexico, he is 9-0 in the Basque Country Summer Partidos, with 2 Championships.

Lopez missed his Semi-final Gant d'Or match on August 5. In an interview with Jai Alai News Facebook on August 7, he said that his arm was responding to treatment "incredibly" well and that he planned to play in the Gernika Grand Slam Final on Saturday, August 10. He is going to take the other matches he is scheduled to play "a day at a time", according to the article.


He played in the 1st Semi-Final of the St. Jean de Luz Cesta Punta World Tour Master 4 on August 8 and lost in the tie breaker by the minimum, ending a 14 match winning streak. He played in a Hondarribia Grand Slam League match on August 9 and won in straight sets. He played in the Gernika Grand Slam and won--again in straight sets, running his new winning streak to 2 and 16 of the last 17. All this with an injured right arm that did not allow him to throw forehand until the Gernika match. In that match he used it sparingly but effectively (including one long low and slow cortada winner in the 2nd set). That he played at all was amazing. That he won 2 out of 3 was phenomenal.

He re-injured the arm in a Zumaia Masters Semi-final on September 27. He played in the last two matches of the season, splitting them.

July 28, 2019

Mikel EgigurenFor Egiguren the stress of having played 2 matches in 3 days (July 25 in the Cesta Punta World Tour Master 2 Final, and July 27 in the Jai Alai World Tour Gernika Grand Slam Liguilla match), along with the prospect of playing in the 1st Semi-Final of the CPWT Master 3 Tournament on July 30, led to his dropping out of the Leikeitio Masters Semi-final on July 28.

July 27, 2019

Txabi Inza: After playing twice in 3 days (July 23 and 25 in the Semi-final and Final of the CPWT Master 2 Tournament, Inza was unable to play in the 3rd Round Liguilla match of the Gernika Grand Slam. He was replaced by (Aimar) Aldazabal. I have found no information about the reason for his absence. Inza returned to play in the Final of the Gant d'Or Tournament at Biarritz on August 7. He won. 

July 26, 2019

Diego Beaskoetxea: Beaskoetxea was unable to play in his Hondarribia League match with Minvielle v Erik-Ekhi on June 26. According to the JAWT story (the same story for all matches), he decided to skip the June 26 Hondarribia Grand Slam League match in order to be more physically fit for the Gernika Grand Slam League match on July 27. (He was replaced by Ludovic Laduche. Beaskoetxea did play (and win) his League 3 Gernika match on July 27.

July 20, 2019

Nicolas Etcheto: Etcheto suffered an abdominal injury ("un pinchazo en la cintura") in warm-ups for his Round 2 Liguilla match in the Gernika Grand Slam. He played through it for one set but then could go no further. Etcheto returned to action on July 28 for his Lekeitio Masters Semi-final, partnering with Egiguren in a hard fought loss to (Jon) Zulaika-Lopez.

July 13, 2019

(Unai) Lekerika: Lekerika suffered a "cintura" (waist) injury in his July 13 opening Liguilla Group A match in the Gernika Grand Slam competition. He was unable to play in his Markina Masters semi-final match with Arbe v Erik (Mendizabal)-Irastorza on July 14. He was replaced by Ekhi. He returned to action, partnering with Goikoetxea on July 27 in their Gernika Grand Slam Liguilla match.

July 7, 2019

Jean Olharan: Olharan missed his Quarter final match in the Master Series Markina, still feeling the effects of the shoulder injury he played through in the Fronton Mexico in the Moises Cosio Gomez Copa Premier League Final on June 30. Olharan returned in the Gant d'Or Quarter-final on July 31. He was re-injured (back) in a Tournament at Mauleon on August 9. He missed Master 4. (Latest Source: Jai Alai News Facebook and Cesta Punta St. Jean Facebook). He played in the Zumaia Masters and at Gernika to close the season.

Ludovic Laduche: Laduche (who suffered a severe tendon injury in the April 26, 2019 FFPB (Federation Francais de Pelote Basque) Pro-Am Final. He missed the entire Fronton Mexico season and returned as a substitute for Olharan in the Master Series Markina on July 7. For more on Laduche's injury, including full match video of the match he was injured in, check the NEWS AND INJURY ARCHIVE OF THIS BLOG. Injuries are listed under obituaries and news items, in reverse chronological order. Modalities are mixed together.

JAWT Matches were played in sets, two to 15. Tie breaker to 5. 5 pasas (over serves) were allowed. After that any over serve was a fault. Any under serve was immediately penalized. 


(Banakako Txapelketa) Singles Championship--Mendibaren, Berriatua (1) (2) (December 13, 14, 20, 27)

The  final tournament of the 2019 season was a single elimination tournament with 2 play-in matches followed by 2 quarter-finals (against seeded in players), 2 semi-finals (against seeded in players) and a final.

The players: d=Delantero (front); z=zaguero (back)

Play-in: Etcheto (z); (Jokin) Arbe (d); Hormaetxea (d); Antxon (Alberdi) (d)

Quarter-finals: Seeded in: Aimar (Aldazabal) (z); Laduche (d)

Semi-finals: Seeded in: Olha (d); Lopez (z)

Tournament Preview (Jai Alai World Tour)
Tournament Preview (Jai Alai News Facebook, includes a list of finalists and winners for 1992, 1993, 1996, and 1998-2018)
Calendar, including a list of winners back to 2007) (.pdf format, 8p.)

Note: Source for all scores, unless otherwise specifically noted, is Jai Alai World Tour Resultados

FINAL

December 27

Match preview (Jai Alai News Facebook)
Match preview (Jai Alai World Tour)

(11-12, 12-10, 5-3) (28-25)

Judges: Benat Markuergiaga and Aitor Elkoro

Condensed linescores (EITB) (match winner always listed 1st)

Set 1:

0-1; 3-1; 3-2; 4-2; 4-5; 5-5; 5-7; 7-7; 7-9; 8-9; 8-10; 10-10; 10-11; 11-11; 11-12

6 equal scores

Set 2:

5-0; 5-3; 6-3; 6-4; 7-4; 7-7; 8-7; 8-8; 9-8; 9-9; 10-9; 10-10; 12-10

4 equal scores:

Tie breaker:

0-1; 1-1; 1-2; 2-2; 2-3; 3-3(Aldazabal, in the front, waits for an easy kill shot opportunity, but slightly misjudges the speed of Lopez' return and drops the catch) 4-3; 5-3

Scoring (EITB): Lopez +19 -8; Aldazabal +17 -9

Total scoring for the match: +36 (.679) -17 (.321)

Balls in play (EITB data for the first 2 sets, my counts for the tie breaker): 252

Lopez 127 (105 on the bounce; 22 on the fly)
Aldazabal 125 (116 on the bounce; 9 on the fly)

Non-error %: .933

Time of the match: (EITB for the first two sets, my calculations for the tie breaker) 65:45 (no actual playing time available)
Average balls per point: 4.75
Average time per point: 1:14

Match article (Jai Alai News Facebook)
Match article (Jai Alai World Tour)

Imanol Lopez, nursing a quadriceps injury along with a right bicep that is still recovering from a serious injury suffered during the summer, found a way to make the big plays when he had to, and came from behind to defeat Aimar Aldazabal (the veteran front who played this entire season in the back) to win his 2nd Singles championship. But it was anything but easy. Aldazabal, a heavy "underdog", played superbly and twice came to within 2 points of a great upset. But he couldn't quite get over the top, and a simple error in the tie breaker (see above) finally did him in. The match was played on the 48 meter court at Berriatua, in my opinion a perfect length court for Cesta Punta singles matches. The long court at Dania Beach, Florida (where world class singles quiniela matches are held every performance) seems to me a little too long for singles, and the 38 meter court at Bizkaia (Bilbo (Bilbao)), where this tournament has been played in the recent past, seems a little too short. But here, back wall shots were a little easier to defend, which made for some great rebotes. In addition, both players showed great touch on their dejadas (drop shots), landing them from mid-court. 

The 13 equal scores in the match testify to its closeness and competitiveness. The biggest lead all night was the 5-0 lead Lopez carved out at the beginning of the 2nd set, a thunderous reply to his narrow defeat in the 1st. But Aldazabal was unflappable, and fought back with a 7-2 run to tie the score. There were 3 equal scores after that before Lopez took the last two points. Aldazabal was in control of the tie breaker until the unfortunate error. Lopez then quickly closed the proceedings with a perfect chic-chac on the first throw he had after the serve. 

Berriatua is Aldazabal's home town, so the large, appreciative crowd went home a little disappointed, no doubt. But they saw a great match, won by a great champion who always seems to "figure out a way," no matter what the obstacles. Lopez closed out a fantastic 6 months in which he won the Championship at Fronton Mexico, The Gernika Grand Slam, and this title, an impressive trifecta. In Mexico, Hegoalde (South Basque) and Ipparalde (North Basque), his overall record was 27-10 (not counting a loss in Mexico in a hastily arranged 15 point partido where he played in the front). He also had a 14 match winning streak during this period. At 35, he is still by far the best zaguero (back) in the world. Is he the best overall in the world? Perhaps, perhaps not. There is a puntista named Inaki Goikoetxea, who also won a "trifecta" (Gant d'Or, Cesta Punta Pro Tour SLAM, and the Fronton Mexico Championship). Let the debate begin :).

Match article (Jai Alai News Facebook)
Match article (Jai Alai World Tour)

Zagueros (backs), in matches against delanteros (fronts), were 4-1 in this competition. However, 2 of those wins were by Aldazabal.

Semi-finals

December 20

Match previews (Jai Alai World Tour)
Match previews (Jai Alai News Facebook)

Lopez (z) 2 Laduche (d) 0
(12-6, 12-5) (24-11)
(z 3-1; d 1-3)

(Aimar) Aldazabal (z) 2 Olha (d) 0
(12-8, 12-9) (24-17)
(z 2-1; d 1-2)

Match article for both matches (Jai Alai News Facebook)
Match article for both matches (Jai Alai World News)

+++++

Quarter-finals

Match previews (Jai Alai World Tour)

December 14

Laduche (d) 2 Arbe (d) 1
(7-12, 12-8, 5-1) (24-21)

(Aimar) Aldazabal (z) 2 Hormaetxea (d) 1
(12-10, 10-12, 5-4) (27-26)
(d 1-1; z 1-1)

Play-ins

December 13

Hormaetxea (d) 2 Antxon (d) 1
(12-6, 7-12, 5-2) (24-20)

Arbe (d) 2 Etcheto (z) 1
(12-6, 7-12, 5-3) (24-21)
(d 1-0; z 0-1)

Match article for all 4 matches (Jai Alai News Facebook)


+++++

October 28

Gernika Open Urriko (1) (2)

Full match videos for both matches (EITB--Arbe-Aldazabal v Olharan-Basque begins at 0:00, Beaskoetxea-Lopez v Goikoetxea-Inza begins at 1:05:47)

(Diego) Beaskoetxea-Lopez 2
Goikoetxea-Inza 0
(15-12, 15-11) (30-23)

Selected linescores (El Correo, Noticias de Alava, and Gernika Jai Alai via Jai Alai News Facebook) (match winners always listed 1st)

Set 1

4-7; 6-9; 11-11; 12-12; 15-12

Set 2

5-2; 8-4; 10-6; 11-6; 11-8; 13-8; 13-11; 15-11

Scoring: (Noticias de Alava and EITB)

Beaskoetxea +16(including 1 service ace) -2; Lopez +4 -5
Goikoetxea +13 -3; Inza +3 -7

Total Match Scoring: +36 (.679) -17 (.321)

Balls in Play: 404: Beaskoetxea 90; Lopez 115; Goikoetxea 107; Inza 92

Time of the Match: 73:48

Match article (Noticias de Alava)
Match article (El Correo)
Match article (Jai Alai News Facebook)

This was JAWT's final pairs match of the season and pitted the Iparralde (North Basque) double champions (Gant d'Or and Saint-Jean-de-Luz SLAM) against the Gernika Grand Slam champions. Beaskoetxea had a great match (as he also had in the Gernika GS Final on August 10 v Goikoetxea-(Unai) Lekerika), scoring over half his team's points. He scored about once every 5 1/2 times he threw the pelota (17.8% of his throws). Goikoetxea didn't exctly have a bad game (once every 8 throws--12.8%).

At the end of the match, Erik Mendizabal won the season's Best Front award (received by his father Jesus Mari--Erik was playing at Dania) and Lopez won the season's Best Back).

Opening Match

(Jokin) Arbe-(Aimar) Aldazabal 2
Olharan-T. Basque 0 
(15-14, 8-15, 3-2) (26-31)

Note: the tie breaker was played to 3.

Scoring: (EITB)

Arbe +10 -3; Aldazabal +4 -10
Olharan +13 -4; Basque +4 -8
Scoring adds to 26-30)

Total Match Scoring (56 of 57 points accounted for): +31 (.554) -25 (.446)

+++++

October 26

Open Ciudad de San Sebastian (1) (2)

Goikoetxea-Etcheto (substituting for Irastorza) 2
Egiguren-Lopez (Jai Alai World Tour Resultados)
(15-12, 15-12) (30-24)

Selected linescore (winners always listed 1st)

Set 1 only:

1-0; 3-0; 8-8; 15-12

Opening Match

Laduche-Minvielle 2 Olha-Arkaitz 0
(I couldn't find any set scores)

Match article for the first match (MemorialElola Facebook). An interesting and quirky first person account. Read between the lines and it seems Lopez may have been looking forward to his Gernika match two days later.


+++++

Aitzuri, Zumaia (1) (2) (3) Masters

September 27

FINAL

Goikoetxea-T. Basque 2 Egiguren-Lopez 1 (EITB--match begins at 0:00)
(8-15, 15-13, 5-2) (28-30)

Scoring (EITB)

Goikoetxea +12 -4; T. Basque +4 -4
Egiguren +14 -6; Lopez +8 -6

Total Match Scoring: +38 (.633) -22 (.)367

Balls in Play: 431: Goikoetxea 103; T. Basque 111; Egiguren 106; Lopez 111

Time of the Match: 70:47

Lopez re-injured his arm in the 2nd set and had to play the rest of the match with only his backhand

Match preview (Diario Vasco)
Match preview (Jai Alai World Tour)
Match article (Jai Alive Facebook)
Match article (MemorialElola Facebook)

Note: On the video, after the Final there is a full match video (beginning at 1:26:13 of the Final of the Zumaia Youth Championship (amateur).

 (Cosme) K. Agirre-Izagirre (blue) 2  E. Agirre-Uranga (red)
(12-8, 12-7 (24-15)

Keep an eye on Cosme. Before playing in this match, he played in a Quarter-final and Semi-final of the Masters (see below).

September 20

Semi-finals

Preview article, including explanation for Irastorza's absence (Jai Alive Facebook)

Full match video for both matches (EITB--Matches are listed in the order below)

Egiguren-Lopez (seeded in) 2
Olharan-Minvielle 0
(15-11, 15-11) (30-22)

Scoring: (EITB)

Egiguren +7 -5; Lopez +14 -3
Olharan +10 -5; Minvielle +4 -3
(Scoring adds to 29-22)

Total Match Scoring (51 of 52 points accounted for) +35 (.686) -16 (.314)

Balls in Play: 323: Egiguren 72; Lopez 93; Olharan 101; Minvielle 57

Time of the Match: 61:08

Goikoetxea-T. Basque (substituting for Irastorza) (seeded in) 2
Cosme (Agirre)-Etcheto 0
(15-4, 15-10) (30-14)

Scoring (EITB)

Goikoetxea +10 -4; T. Basque +10 -1
Cosme (Agirre) +7 -6; Etcheto +2 -3
(Scores add to 29-14)

Total Match Scoring: +29 (.674) -14 (.326)

Balls in Play: 291: Goikoetxea 74; T. Basque 79; Cosme (Agirre) 61; Etcheto 77

Time of the Match: 46:26

September 13

Quarter-final

Cosme (Agirre)-Etcheto 2 Laduche-T. Basque 0
(15-12, 15-12) (30-24) (Jai Alive Facebook)

Feature article on Cosme Agirre (Baleike.eus--Basque)

September 6

Quarter-Final

Olharan-Minvielle 2 (Jokin) Arbe-(Aimar) Aldazabal 1
(15-8, 11-15, 5-1) (31-24)

+++++++++

Grand Slam Hondarribia

August 30

FINAL

(15-13, 15-12) (30-25)

Scoring: (EITB)

Erik +19 -7; Ekhi +3 -2
Olha +11 -5; Etcheto +7 -3
(Scores add to 30-27)

Total Match Scoring (57 of 55 points accounted for): +40 (.702) -17 (.298) 

Balls in Play: 383: Erik 117; Ekhi 77; Olha 93; Etcheto 96

Time of the Match: 70:48

Jai Alive Facebook interviews with Christophe Olha and Erik Mendizabal

Match article (Jai Alai News Facebook)
Match article (Jai Alai World Tour)

3rd Place

Due to injuries to Egiguren and Lopez, their match for 3rd place with Goikoetxea-(Ibon) Aldazabal was canceled. Source: Jai Alai World Tour

==============================

Recaps: Full chronological coverage of all tournaments. These were done this way because Tournaments overlapped. 






==============================

Rankings explanation (see #8 and #9)

Cumulative record of JAWT players
Key: Player, match w-l, set w-l (5 pt. tie breaker worth .3) Tournaments won. FINAL (JULY 7-DECEMBER 27, 2019)--45 MATCHES

MM-Markina Masters; LM-Lekeitio Masters; GS-Gernika Grand Slam; HS-Hondarribia Grand Slam; ZM-Zumaia Masters; BT-Banakako Txapelketa (Singles Tournament--Berriatua)

Delanteros (front)

Diego (Beaskoetxea); 5-1; 9.3--3 GS
Goikoetxea; 8-5; 15.9--11.6 ZM

Erik (Mendizabal); 6-4; 13.3--6.6 MM; HS*

(Jokin) Arbe; 3-3; 6.6--6.6
(Jon) Zulaika; 3-3; 4.3--8 LM
Cosme (Agirre); 1-1; 2-2
Egiguren; 4-5; 9--9.3

Hormaetxea; 5-6; 9.6--12.6
Olha; 2-4; 3.3--9
Laduche; 2-4; 3.3--9
Olharan; 1-2; 2.3--4.3
(Xabier) Barandika; 1-4; 5--5.9
Antxon (Alberdi); 0-1; 1-1.3

*=Won Season's Best Front award.

Zagueros (back)

Irastorza; 2-0; 4--0; MM
Lopez; 12-3; 22.2--9.3; LM; GS*; BT
(Unai) Lekerika; 4-2; 7.6--5.3
Ibon (Aldazabal); 5-5; 11.3--8.9
Ekhi; 4-4; 10--6.6 HS
Minvielle; 3-3; 5.3--7
(Aimar) Aldazabal; 6-8; 11.6--15.9
Etcheto; 4-6; 9.3--10.6
T. Basque; 2-3; 4.3--6.3 ZM
Arkaitz; 0-1; 0-2
Salegi; 0-2; 0--4
Inza; 0-3; 0--6

*=Won Season's Best Back Award

==============================

COMPLETE COVERAGE OF IPARRALDE (NORTH BASQUE) CESTA PUNTA FALL PRO TOUR (INCLUDES LINKS TO 10 FULL MATCH VIDEOS)


COMPLETE COVERAGE OF FRONTON MEXICO SUMMER SEASON  (INCLUDES LINKS TO 63 FULL MATCH VIDEOS)

Friday, December 27, 2019

Mano--Binakako Txapleketa/Campeonato Parejas 1a and Promotion Competition--Week 2 (November 29-December 1, 2019)

Campeonato Parejas (Binakako Txapelketa) 1a and Promotion (November 22, 2019--April 5, 2020)

This is the premier professional Mano pairs Championship competition. There are 8 teams. It starts with a double round robin league. The format then changes from previous years. The top two teams go to a Semi-final League. There is a playoff" #3 v #6 and #4 v #5 to determine the other two teams in the Semi-final League (6 post league teams rather than 4). The SF League is a single round robin. The top two SF League finishers play in a Final on April 5, 2020. There is no 3rd place match this year.

ASPE player roster
Baikopilota player roster

The teams (4 from each company A=ASPE; B=Baikopilota

A
Ezkudia-Martija
Altuna III-L. Galarza
Irribarria-Rezusta
Jaka-Zabaleta

B
Oliazola II-Urrutikoetxea
Bengoetxea VI-Marriezkurena
Artola-Imaz
Laso-Albisu

This year sees 3 interesting and perhaps controversial changes, 1 involving format, and 2 involving players.

MY ARTICLE: EXPANDING THE PLAYOFFS AND THE CURIOUS DECISION BY ASPE TO DROP LAST YEAR'S CHAMPION DELANTERO (FRONT), DANEL ELEZKANO, FROM THIS YEAR'S COMPETITION.

Complete Calendar (with complete results back to 2001 (baikopilota.eus)
Selected finalists going back to 1941 (Wikipedia)
Competition preview (baikopilota.eus)
Video highlights week by week (EITB)

Note that the results, statistics, match articles (when available), links to full match videos, and selected analysis for the BT/CP Promotion competition can be found below that for the 1a competition.

-----------------------------------------

Note that the matches are in reverse order as they were originally entered into the current results (right side of the blog) in reverse chronological order in order to have the most current results at the top. If you wish to follow this championship in chronological order, please read them from the bottom up. 

The letters next to the players' names denote the company they play for (see above).

Source for all linescores and scoring, unless otherwise specifically stated, is the EITB telecast.

Time per point (see below) is calculated from the total time of the match. I can find no source that consistently keeps track of actual playing time for this competition.

I am experimenting with counting "saves," a variable that perhaps gives a bit of insight into the defensive side of BP sports. I define a save as an excellent play that keeps the point alive. It is, obviously, a subjective judgment, and yours may be different from mine. Saves include going on the apron (running or diving), going into the left wall, backs running far into the front court, fronts covering the back, direct off the front wall returns of very high shots, and backs going behind the 10 line, among others. As a subjective  experiment in judgment, I hope to get those with much more knowledge than I interested in keeping the statistic. A save is like art. It may be difficult to define, but one "knows it when one sees it." I will also provide the number of saves as a percentage of the total balls in play.

For each week's results the weekly table, information about each match, and "leader boards" will be provided, in that order.

========================================

Week 1; Week 2; Week 3; Week 4; Week 5; Week 6; Week 7

Week 8Week 9; Week 10; Week 11; Week 12; Week 13: Week 14

Post-Season
1A Semi-Final League W 2 and Promotion W 3
1A Semi-Final League W 3
Promotion FINAL
1A FINAL

========================================

League Table at the end of Week 2 (Match record, Net Points + or -; Consecutive Wins/Losses (under construction), Change in Table (green +red -)

Jaka-Zabaleta(A)                   (2-0;+22) +2
Artola-Imaz(B)                     (2-0;+13) +2 (+1)
Ezkurdia-Martija(A)                (1-1; +4) -1 (-1)
Bengoetxea VI-Marriezkurrena II(B) (1-1;  0) +1 (+1)
Oliazola II-Urrutikoetxea(B)       (1-1; -8) -1 (-1)
Irribarria-Rezusta(A)              (1-1;-16) +1 (+2)
Laso-Albisu(B)                     (0-2; -5) -2 (-1)
Altuna III-L. Galarza(A)           (0-2;-10) -2 (-1)

Week 2 Statistical Summary

4 matches for all except balls in play and saves, which are for 3 matches (the ones televised by EITB).  NOTE: THIS IS A TEMPLATE FROM Week 1. Week 2 informaton is forthcoming (March 19, 2020)

Total cumulative match score +70 (.470) -79(.530)
Total cumulative balls in play: 2645 (Avg.=661)
Non-error %: (BIP - errors)/BIP: .970
Saves: 122 (Avg. 41)
Save % (Saves/BIP for 3 matches [1901]): .064
Total cumulative time of matches: 295:12 (4 hours, 55 minutes 12 seconds)
Average time: 75 minutes
Average balls per point: 17.75


Average time per point: 1:59

Week 2 

December 1

Polideportivo de Juventad, Soria (1) (2

Artola-Imaz (B) 22 Oliazola II-Urrutikoetxea (B) 13 (EITB--match begins at 1:08:50)

Judges: Daniel Rey and Jesus Marie Estebas

Highlights (EITB) 


Condensed linescore (Deia) (winners always listed 1st)

3-0, 3-3, 5-3, 5-4, 6-4, 6-6, 8-6, 8-8, 8-11, 11-11, 12-11, 12-12, 21-12, 21-13 22-13

Scoring (EITB and Deia)

Artola +11(including 2 service aces) -4; Imaz +2 -0
Oliazola II +7 -1(including 1 service fault); Urrutikoetxea +2 -8

Total Scoring for the match: +22 (.629) -13 (.371)

Cumulative scoring (7 matches): +164 (.594) -112 (.406)

Non-error %: .967

Balls in play: 584: Artola 163; Imaz 133; Oliazola II 115; Urrutikoetxea 173

Saves: 42:  (42/584=.072)
Artola 13; Imaz 3; Oliazola II 11; Urrutikoetxea 15

Time of the Match: 66:50
Balls per point: 16.7
Time per point: 1:40

Match article (Deia)
Match article (Mundo Deportivo)

For the 2nd week in a row, A-I used big late run to turn a very competitive match into an easy victory. At 12-12, they put together a 9-0 run to win. Last week they scored the last 7 points of the match to turn a 15-18 deficit into a win. Urrutikoetxea had an up and down day, with 8 errors and 15 saves.

Interestingly, the first coin toss landed on its side (1:09:12--1:09:26--action slow motion replay at 1:09:59! on the video), just like the famous coin toss in the Twilight Zone, where Hector B. Poole drops a coin into a box to pay for a newspaper. The coin lands on its side and then the fun begins. Unfortunately, in this case, Imaz stepped on the coin immediately and then there was a re-toss. Everything looked normal after that :) Imaz played immaculate defense and now has committed one error in two matches.

+++++

November 30

Remontivar, Estella (1?) (2)

Bengoetxea VI-Aretxabaleta (substituting for Mariezkurrena II) (B) 22
Laso-Albisu (B) 21 (no full match video available)

Highlights (EITB) (highlights for this match begin at 0:54)

Selected linescore (Noticias de Gipuzkoa) (winners always listed 1st
0-1; 1-1; 4-1; 4-3; 10-3; 10-9; 11-10; 16-10; 16-12; 17-12; 17-13; 19-13; 21-14; (Laso 4 winners, Albisu winner, Bengoetxea VI and Aretxabalaeta errors) 21-21; (Albisu error) 22-21.

Scoring: (Noticias de Gipuzkoa)

Bengoetxea VI +6(including 1 service ace) -2; Aretxabaleta +0 -5
Laso +11(2a) -7 Albisu +3 -9

Total scoring for the match: +20 (.465)  -23 (.535)

Balls in play: No information in the match article.

Time of the match: 67 minutes
Average time per point: 1:33


Match article (Noticias de Gipuzkoa) (added March 19, 2020)

B-A have now opened their season with two 43 point matches, splitting them. Both ended with an error, this one an excruciating one by Albisu after his team had roared back from a 21-14 deficit, with a little help from 2 B-A errors. The match was not particularly well played, with 23 of the 43 points coming via errors. B-A were gifted 16 of their 22 points. In spite of that, it would be difficult to top this match for excitement, and it is unfortunate that there is no video. 

+++++

November 30

Astelena, Eibar (1) (2). Astelena opened in 1904.

Irribarria-Rezusta (A) 22 Ezkurdia-Martija (A) 21 (EITB--match begins at 52:15)


Highlights (EITB) (highlights for this match begin at 0:00)

Judges: Koldo Cunado and Ibon Ayesta

Condensed linescore:  (winners always listed 1st)

3-0; 3-4; 6-4; 6-6; (51 balls in play, 8 saves; 1:09:43-1:12:05) 7-6; 9-6; 9-8; 10-8; 10-10; 11-10; (7 Ezkurdia winners) 11-18; 15-18; 15-19; 17-19; 17-20; 19-20; 19-21; 22-21

6 equal scores, 4 lead changes

Scoring: 

Irribarria +14(including 1 service ace and 7 "airez"); -2 ; Rezusta +6 -3
Ezkurdia +14 (2a, 3 two walls; and 5 "airez") -1; Martija +2 -1

Total Scoring for the Match: +36 (.837) -7 (.163)

Cumulative scoring: (6) matches: +142 (.589) -99  (.411)

Balls in Play: 559: 
Irribarria 155; Rezusta 125; Ezkurdia 148; Martija 131

Non error %: .987

Saves: 47 (47/559=.084)
Irribarria 14; Rezusta 4; Ezkurdia 21; Martija 8

Time of the Match: 68:25
Average balls per point: 13
Average time per point: 1:35

Match article (Mundo Deportivo)

This was the best quality match I have seen so far in the tournament, with only 7 errors and 47 saves. Both Irribarria and Ezkurdia put on an awesome offensive display. Ezkurdia's defense "held" Irribarria to +14. Irribarria's "held" Ezkurdia to the same amount. The match was very even until the 2nd half, when an 10-1 (including 8 points in a row) run featuring 3 beautiful Ezkurdia two wall winners, put E-M in command. Seemingly down and out, I-R roared back with a 10-3 run of their own, which ended with the last 3 points of the match to overcome a 19-21 deficit. Irribarria featured in this run with, by my count, 7 winners. The defense on both sides was magnificent, with Rezusta erasing the memory of a poor match last week. He was all over the court, and aided the cause with 6 winners, a very high number for a back man in this modality. A large and raucous crowd enjoyed every minute. Ezkurdia's defense has been very impressive so far. Martija went off for treatment after the E-M had achieved their biggest (18-11) lead. When he came back, I-R seemed to "go after" him, with Irribarria "steam shoveling" several high and deep "Meet Irribarria--see the Basque Country" shots to the back wall of the relatively small Astalena concha. Martija handled most of them, but they kept Ezkurdia out of the action, and some of them, because of the distance, set up later Irribarria winners. The best point of the match, in my opinion, is referenced in the linescore above. Those 2 minutes and 22 seconds were some of the best Mano I have seen. 

+++++

November 29

Larrunarri, Amezketa (1) (2

Jaka-Zabaleta (A) 22 Altuna III-L. Galarza 17 (EITB--match begins at 1:06:32) 

Full match video (Fronton TV Youtube, Castilian)

Highlights (EITB)

Judges: Joseba Rekalde and Garikoitz Agirrezabal

Condensed linescore: 

(4 Jaka winners) 5-0; 5-3; 6-3; 6-6; 7-6; 7-10; 9-10; 9-11; 11-11; 11-13; 13-13; 13-14 (2 Jaka winners followed by 3 L. Galarza errors); 18-14; 18-15; 20-15; 20-17; 22-17

5 equal scores and 2 lead changes. 

Scoring: 

Jaka +11 (including 10 "airez") -1 ; Zabaleta +1 -2
Altuna III +13 (5 "airez") -3; L. Galarza +1 -7

Total scoring for the match: +26 (.667) -13 (.333)

Cumulative scoring (5) matches: +96 (.511) -92 (.489)

Balls in Play: 685:
Jaka 178; Zabaleta 167; Altuna III 174; L. Galarza 166

Non-Error %: .981

Saves: 63:  (63/685=.091)
Jaka 22 ; Zabaleta 11; Altuna III 23; L. Galarza 7

Time of the match: 77:40

Number of balls per point: 17.56
Time per point: 1:59

Match article (Deia)

After Jaka got off to a great start in providing J-Z with a 5-0 opening run, A-G answered with a 10-2 run. The match hung in the balance at 13-13. But another 5-0 run by the winners, punctuated by 3 consecutive L. Galarza errors, was decisive. Jaka and Altuna III both played excellent defense, with Altuna III covering massive amounts of ground throughout, including going into the back court on two occasions to keep points alive. Zabaleta was also effective on defense, showing his quickness in running in and saving points near the front wall on more than one occasion. 

Leader Board through Round 2 (8 matches)

For all below, the number of matches indicates matches data is available for, not necessarily the number of matches played.

*=Substitute

Scoring:

Delanteros (fronts) (ranked by average net score)

Jaka(A) +20 -3 (+17)(2 matches)
Average:+10 -2        (+8)

Ezkurdia(A) +21 -5 (+16) (2 matches)
Average:+11 -3        (+8)
Altuna III(A) +24 -11 (+13) (2 matches)
Average:+12 -5        (+7)
Artola(B) +18 -8 (+10) (2 matches)
Average: +9 -4        (+5)
Laso(B) +12 -7        (+5)(1 match)
Irribarria(A) +15 -7 (+8) (2 matches)
Average: +7 -3        (+4)
Oliazola II(B) +13 -5 (+8) (2 matches)
Average: +7 -3        (+4)
Bengoetxea VI(B)+9 -9  (0)(1 match)

Zagueros (backs) (ranked by errors)

Imaz(B)          +3  -1   (+2) (2 matches)

Martija(A)       +3  -3    (0) (2 matches)
Zabaleta (A)            +1  -4   (-3) (2 matches)
Aretxabaleta*(B) +2  -4   (-2)   (1 match)
Albisu(B)                 +1  -7   (-6)   (1 match)
Rezusta(A)                +-11   (-5) (2 matches)
L. Galarza(A)       +1 -13  (-12) (2 matches)
Urrutikoetxea(B)  +5 -14   (-9) (2 matches)

Saves: 6 matches only.

N.A=not available

Delanteros (fronts) (ranked by average)

Oliazaola II(B) 44 (2 matches)
Average:         22

Ezkurdia
(A) 42      (2 matches)

Average:         21
Altuna III(A) 33    (2 matches)
Average:         17
Artola(B)        13   (1 match)
Jaka(A)  24         (2 matches)
Average:         12
Bengoetxea VI(B) 11 (1 match)
Irribarria(A) 16    (2 matches)
Average:          8
Laso(B)         N.A. 

Zagueros (backs)

Urrutikoetxea(B) 24 (2 matches)
Average:         12

*Artexabaleta(A) 12   (1 match)
L. Galarza(A) 14    (2 matches)
Average:          7
Zabaleta(A) 11      (2 matches)
Average:                    5
Martija(A)  9       (2 matches)
Average:          5
Rezusta(A)  6       (2 matches)
Average:          3
Imaz(B)           3 (1 match)
Albisu(B)       N.A.

=================================
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Campeonato Parejas Promocion (November 22, 2019--March 28, 2020)

This is the Premier Promotion Professional Mano Championship. There are 8 teams. It begins with a double round robin league. The top 4 teams move on to a single round robin Semi-final League. The top 2 finishers play a Final on March 28, 2020.

Complete Calendar (with complete results back to 2002 (baikopilota.eus)
Competition preview (baikopilota.eus)

The teams (4 from each company: A=ASPE; B=Baikopilota

A
Egiguren V-Erostarbe
Salaberria-Garmendia
Elordi-O. Etxebarria
Zabala-Ruiz

B
Pena II-Aranguren
Alberdi-Salaverri
Agirre-Eskiroz
Arteaga II-Urretabizkaia II

League Table at the end of Week 2 (Match record, Net Points + or -; Consecutive Wins/Losses (under construction), Change in Table (green +red -)

Agirre-Eskiroz(B)           (2-0;+16) +2 (+1)
Elordi-O. Etxeberria(A)     (2-0;+16) +2
Egiguren V-Erostarbe(A)     (1-1; +3) -1 (-2)
Pena II-Arenguren(B)        (1-1;  0) -1
Salaberria-Garmendia(A)     (1-1; -5) +1
Arteaga II-Urretabizkaia(B) (1-1; +3) -1
Zabala-Ruiz (A)             (0-2;-14) -2
Alberdi-Salaverri(B)        (0-2;-19) -2


Week 2

November 30 (3 matches) (note: I have been unable to find any information except scores for the two matches played at Fuenmayor).

Fuenmayor Municipal (1) (2)

Arteaga-Erasun (substituting for Urretabizkaia II) (B) 22
Alberdi-Saliverry (B) 10

Salaberria-Garmendia 22 (A) Zabala-Ruiz (A) 19

Source for both scores: ASPE

Astelena, Eibar (1(2). Astelena opened in 1904.

Agirre-Ezkiroz (B) 22 Pena II-Aranguren (B) 15 (EITB--match begins at 2:06:57)

Judges: Koldo Cunado and Ibon Ayesta

Scoring:

Agirre +12(including 2 service aces and 5 "airez") -6; Ezkiroz +1 -1
Pena II; +7(1a; 4 "airez")  -6; Aranguren +1 -3

Total scoring for the match: +21 (.568) -16 (.432)

Cumulative scoring for 5 matches:

+94 (5 matches) -69 (4 matches): Average: +19 (.528) -17 (.472) 

Balls in Play: 576
Agirre 127; Eskiroz 164; Pena II 119; Aranguren 166

Non-error %: .972

Time of the Match: 61:51
Average balls per point: 15.57
Average time per point: 1:40

November 29

Larruzkarre, Amezketa (1) (2

Elordi-O. Etxeberria (A) 22 Egiguren V-Erostarbe (A) 17 (EITB--match begins at 0:00

Judges: Joseba Rekalde and Garikoitz Agirrezabal

Partial Scoring:

Elordi +9 -? ; O. Etxeberria ? ? 
Egiguren V +11 -?; Erostarbe ? ?

Cumulative Scoring for 4 matches

+73 (4 matches) -53 (3 matches): Average: +18 (.500) -18 (.500)

Balls in Play: 753
Elordi 188; O. Etxeberria 191; Egiguren V 169; Erostarbe 205

Time of the Match: 74:12
Average Balls per Point: 19.31
Average Time per Point: 1:54


+++++

Leader Board:  Through Round 2 (8 matches)

Scoring:

Delanteros (fronts) (ranked by net score)

Egiguren V(A) +23 (2 matches) -4 (1 match)(+19)

Average:+11 -4     (+7)

Elordi(A) +17 (2 matches) -3 (1 match) (+14)

Average:+9 -3      (+6)
Agirre(B) +23 -12 (+11)     (2 matches)

Average:+11 -6     (+5)
Dario*(A) +7 -3    (+4)       (1 match)
Pena II(B)+7 -6    (+1)       (1 match)
Arteaga II(B) +2 -2 (0)       (1 match)
Salaberria(A) +5 -7(-2)       (1 match)
Alberdi(B)         N.A.

Zagueros (back) (ranked by errors)


O. Etxeberria(A) +1  -0 (+1) (1 match)

Garmendia(A)     +1  -2 (-1) (1 match)
Arenguren (B)    +1  -3 (-2) (1 match)
Eskiroz(B)       +4  -4  (0) (2 matches)
Erostarbe(A)     +1  -4 (-3) (1 match)
Urretabizkaia(B) +2  -6 (-4) (1 match)
Ruiz (A)         +0 -10 (-10)(1 match)
Erasun*(B)          N.A.