2019 Dania Partido Challenge (November 1-December 13, 2019)--FINAL--a match for the ages.
The top 16 scorers (8 fronts and 8 backs), determined by their October 2-27 Campeonato points (5 for win, 3 for 2nd place, and 1 for show) played in this knock out Tournament. The entire competition schedule can be found here. Friday Evening Performance Game 11 was a 15 point partido every Friday from November 1 to December 13. Nov 1, 8, 15, and 22 were Quarter-finals 1-8, 4-5, 3-6, 2-7 (see seeding below). Semi-finals were November 29 and December 6. 3rd place match was played December 12. The Final was played December 13. Total prize money was $15,000.
Champion: $4,500; 2nd: 3,500, 3rd: 2,500, 4th: 1,500; 5th-8th: $750.
The Teams (by seed):
e-early game players; l-late game players
1: Erik (late)-Bailo (early)--eliminated 12/13
2. ZULAIKA(l)-LATUDXE(e)--CHAMPIONS
3. Barandika (l)-Elgezabal (l)--eliminated 12/6
4. Goixerri (e)-Ibon (l)--eliminated 11/29
5. Xabat (e)-Arta (e)--eliminated 11/8
6. Goitia (l)-Amigorena (l)--eliminated 11/15
7. Goenaga (e)-Salegi (l)--Eliminated 11/22
8. Foronda (e)-Yeche (e)--eliminated 11/1
There were 8 earlies and 8 lates. There were two early pairs, two late pairs, and 4 mixed pairs. The 4 mixed pairs were evenly divided between e-l and l-e.
For complete coverage of the Tournament, from start to finish, see the Dania Jai Alai Daily and Weekly Leaders Page, on the right side of the page (scroll to Fall 2019 Season).
For complete coverage of the Tournament, from start to finish, see the Dania Jai Alai Daily and Weekly Leaders Page, on the right side of the page (scroll to Fall 2019 Season).
December 13, 2019
FINAL
Erik-Bailo (l-e) 14 (flusyndrome Youtube, last two points of the match are missing)
Final points (including the missing points above) and post match presentations (Benbueno Youtube).
Final points (including the missing points above) and post match presentations (Benbueno Youtube).
Condensed linescore (winners always listed 1st)
1-0; 1-2; 2-2; 2-3; 3-3; 3-5; 5-5; 5-7; 6-7; 6-8; 8-8; 8-9; (3 great saves by Bailo to no avail) 9-9; 10-9; (32 balls in play--11 saves) 10-10; 10-11; 12-11; 12-12; 13-12; 13-13; 14-13; 14-14; 15-14
11 equal scores, 3 lead changes
Scoring (mine, yours may be different)
Zulaika +8 -1 (24 saves); Ladutxe +0 -3 (17 saves)
Erik +9 -4 (20 saves); Bailo +1 -3 (15 saves)
Total scoring for the match: +18 (.621) -11 (.379); 76 saves
Balls in Play: 264
Non-error %: .958
Saves %: (.288)
Balls in Play/Points
0-4......8
5-9.....10
10-14....5
15-19....5
+30......1
Longest Point: 9-10--10-10, 32 balls in play
Time of the Match: 44 minutes
Match article (Jai Alai News Facebook)
The final was a classic, a 44 minute struggle that consumed 264 balls in play. Neither team had more than a 2 point lead throughout. Both fronts were magnificent, with Zulaika gaining a slight net scoring advantage (+7 to +5 for Erik). Ladutxe and Bailo played excellent matches as defensive bulwarks for their teams. Bailo won the scoring battle -2 to -3.
Hallmarks of the excellence of this match were the following:
1. The +.621 -.379 total scoring was a bit deceptive, in my opinion. 5 of the 11 errors came after 10-10. That these were crucial points is true, and these players (particularly the fronts) were not strangers to partido play. Both fronts played in the Summer European partido tournaments. I think the intensity of play simply wore them all down (all 4 had errors during this period of play), and the errors were more the result of exhaustion than poor play. But watch, and judge for yourself.
2. This was a match were almost 29% of the balls in play were "saves" that kept points alive (my scoring, yours may be different). My definition of a save is an excellent defensive play, catch or throw or both, that is anything but routine. It can be a catch of a vicious cortada, an over the shoulder catch, a falling or one knee rebote, a play made while plastered against the back corner, a running save of a sure dejada winner, an apron save, a "short hop" catch, or a "wall climb" catch, among others. For my judgments of saves, I used my own experience watching, Dave Lemmons' call of the match, which was every bit as good as the match itself (Lemmons is superb at his trade, and really showed what the announcer can do to enhance the fan's enjoyment and appreciation of the action), fan reaction, player body language, etc. Of course these are subjective judgments. That is half the fun of trying to assign saves. In any event, 76 saves in 29 points is phenomenal.
Saves are one of the little "secrets" of what defines any BP modality. Watching for them opens another dimension in understanding the modality. Because saves "only" prolong points, some of which the saving team loses anyway, they do not get the attention I believe they deserve. Defense is crucial in this, as well as all other modalities. Which is why I am attempting, in some way, to quantify it, as best I can. Hopefully, experts who know much more about these sports than I do, will "pick up the ball." There is so much more to the story of a match than + and -.
3. The sheer intensity of play in this match was palpable. Sure there was money on the line. And these four are among the best on the roster and most definitely world class. But it must be stated that this match was played AFTER these players had played their quota of Quiniela matches for the evening. This is a roadblock that few if any partido tournaments throw in. That all four could play at this level, after a full "day at the office", is astonishing.
Below you will find a point by point "map" of the match.
Key: Server; Number of balls in play; Score (match winners always listed 1st); Assignment of winner or error, Commentary, Player/number of saves during the point.
Note: (P)=Pasa--an overserve, of which one is allowed for each point. All underserves are immediately penalized by loss of point. Carom serves are allowed in this form. There was only one attempted, to my knowledge. Players are allowed as many time outs as needed, for as much time as needed.
Note: linked point numbers link to video of that point. Use the back arrow to get back to the game map.
Match article (Jai Alai News Facebook)
The final was a classic, a 44 minute struggle that consumed 264 balls in play. Neither team had more than a 2 point lead throughout. Both fronts were magnificent, with Zulaika gaining a slight net scoring advantage (+7 to +5 for Erik). Ladutxe and Bailo played excellent matches as defensive bulwarks for their teams. Bailo won the scoring battle -2 to -3.
Hallmarks of the excellence of this match were the following:
1. The +.621 -.379 total scoring was a bit deceptive, in my opinion. 5 of the 11 errors came after 10-10. That these were crucial points is true, and these players (particularly the fronts) were not strangers to partido play. Both fronts played in the Summer European partido tournaments. I think the intensity of play simply wore them all down (all 4 had errors during this period of play), and the errors were more the result of exhaustion than poor play. But watch, and judge for yourself.
2. This was a match were almost 29% of the balls in play were "saves" that kept points alive (my scoring, yours may be different). My definition of a save is an excellent defensive play, catch or throw or both, that is anything but routine. It can be a catch of a vicious cortada, an over the shoulder catch, a falling or one knee rebote, a play made while plastered against the back corner, a running save of a sure dejada winner, an apron save, a "short hop" catch, or a "wall climb" catch, among others. For my judgments of saves, I used my own experience watching, Dave Lemmons' call of the match, which was every bit as good as the match itself (Lemmons is superb at his trade, and really showed what the announcer can do to enhance the fan's enjoyment and appreciation of the action), fan reaction, player body language, etc. Of course these are subjective judgments. That is half the fun of trying to assign saves. In any event, 76 saves in 29 points is phenomenal.
Saves are one of the little "secrets" of what defines any BP modality. Watching for them opens another dimension in understanding the modality. Because saves "only" prolong points, some of which the saving team loses anyway, they do not get the attention I believe they deserve. Defense is crucial in this, as well as all other modalities. Which is why I am attempting, in some way, to quantify it, as best I can. Hopefully, experts who know much more about these sports than I do, will "pick up the ball." There is so much more to the story of a match than + and -.
3. The sheer intensity of play in this match was palpable. Sure there was money on the line. And these four are among the best on the roster and most definitely world class. But it must be stated that this match was played AFTER these players had played their quota of Quiniela matches for the evening. This is a roadblock that few if any partido tournaments throw in. That all four could play at this level, after a full "day at the office", is astonishing.
Below you will find a point by point "map" of the match.
Key: Server; Number of balls in play; Score (match winners always listed 1st); Assignment of winner or error, Commentary, Player/number of saves during the point.
Note: (P)=Pasa--an overserve, of which one is allowed for each point. All underserves are immediately penalized by loss of point. Carom serves are allowed in this form. There was only one attempted, to my knowledge. Players are allowed as many time outs as needed, for as much time as needed.
Note: linked point numbers link to video of that point. Use the back arrow to get back to the game map.
Pt. 1: Erik (P); 10; 1-0; Zulaika + (1-0); a "Home Run", a pelota hit so hard off the back wall that it passed Erik coming back to the front wall.
Pt 2: Zulaika; 18; 1-1; Erik + (1-0); dejada; Saves: Zulaika 1, Erik 1
Pt. 3: Erik; 5; 1-2; Erik + (2-0); two wall
Pt. 4: Erik; 6; 2-2; Bailo - (0-1); dropped catch; Saves: Zulaika 1(2); Erik 1(2)
Pt. 5: Zulaika; 6; 2-3; Erik + (3-0); cortada; Saves; Ladutxe 2(2)
Pt. 6: Erik; 8; 3-3; Erik - (3-1); attempted two wall goes off the court; Saves: Zulaika 1(3); Erik 1(3); Ladutxe 1(3); Bailo 2(2)
Pt 7: Zulaika; 4: 3-4; Erik + (4-1); two wall ; Saves: Ladutxe 2(5)
Pt 8: Erik; 7; 3-5; Erik + (5-1); cortada
Pt. 9: Erik; 18; 4-5; Zulaika + (2-0); two wall; one of the best points of the match; Saves: Zulaika 3(6); Erik 1(4); Ladutxe 2(7).
1st Time Out.
Pt. 10: Zulaika; 13; 5-5; Zulaika + (3-0); cortada; Saves: Zulaika 1(7); Erik 1(5)
Pt. 11: Zulaika; 8; 5-6; Bailo + (1-1); cortada running in from the 6 line, only point in the match scored by a back; Saves: Erik 2(7); Bailo 1(3)
Pt. 12: Erik; 17; 5-7; Ladutxe - (0-1); throws off the court; Saves: Zulaika 2(9); Erik 2(9); Ladutxe 3(10); Bailo 1(4)
2nd Time Out.
Pt. 13; Erik; 6; 6-7; Zulaika + (4-0); two wall
Pt. 14; Zulaika; 4; 6-8; Erik + (6-1); left wall pass
Pt. 15; Erik; 6; 7-8; Zulaika + (5-0); chic-chac; Saves: Ladutxe 1(11)
Pt. 16; Zulaika; 15; 8-8; Erik - (6-2); attempted outside winner off the court; Saves: Zulaika 1(10); Ladutxe 2(13); Bailo 1(5)
Pt. 17; Zulaika; 2; 8-9; Ladutxe - (0-2); dropped catch
Pt. 18; Erik; (P); 10; 9-9; Zulaika + (6-0); chula; Erik executes the only carom save of the match, trying to beat Zulaika to the outside; Saves: Zulaika 4(14); Bailo 3(8)
3rd Time Out.
Pt. 19: Zulaika; 1; 10-9; Erik - (6-3); dropped catch on the attempted intercept of Zulaika's serve
Pt. 20; Zulaika; 32; 10-10; Erik + (7-3); two wall; Saves: Zulaika 3(17); Erik 2(11); Ladutxe 1(14); Bailo 5(13), including possibly the best save of the match: 11 saves; possibly the best point of the match
4th Time Out.
Pt. 21: Erik; 5; 10-11; Erik + (8-3); left wall
Pt. 22: Erik; 2; 11-11; Zulaika + (7-0); intercepts the serve and immediately kills the point with a two wall
Pt. 23: Zulaika; 17; 12-11; Erik - (8-4); attempted two wall off the court; Saves: Zulaika 1(18); Erik 2(13); Ladutxe 1(15); Bailo 1(14)
Pt. 24: Zulaika; 4; 12-12; Zulaika - (7-1); attempted two wall too low; Saves: Ladutxe 1(16)
Pt. 25: Erik; 14; 13-12; Bailo - (1-2); dropped catch; Saves: Zulaika 1(19); Erik 3(16); Ladutxe 1(17)
Pt. 26: Zulaika; 2; 13-13; Erik + (9-4); action replay of Point 22 above, only this time it is Erik who intercepts the serve, immediately killing the point with a two wall of his own.
Pt. 27: Erik; 14; 14-13; Zulaika + (8-1); hard backhand; Saves: Zulaika 4(23); Erik 2(18); Bailo 1(15)
Pt. 28: Zulaika; 4; 14-14; Ladutxe - (0-3); dropped catch; Saves: Zulaika 1(24)
Pt. 29: Erik; 6; 15-14; Bailo - (1-3); dropped catch; Saves: Erik 2(20); Ladutxe 1(17)
We can see that after 10-10 came not only the 5 errors, but also 2 poor serves that were immediately intercepted and followed by point killing winners, one by each front. So a total of 7 mistakes in the last 9 points. But even at this late stage, there were 4 winners and 22 saves (29% of all the saves in the match).
All in all, a magnificent match in which all 4 players gave a tremendous effort and put on a great show. If ever there was a match that no one deserved to lose, it was this one. What a way to end the season!
All results: as always, the best way to follow this tournament chronologically is to read from the bottom up.
+++++
Pt 2: Zulaika; 18; 1-1; Erik + (1-0); dejada; Saves: Zulaika 1, Erik 1
Pt. 3: Erik; 5; 1-2; Erik + (2-0); two wall
Pt. 4: Erik; 6; 2-2; Bailo - (0-1); dropped catch; Saves: Zulaika 1(2); Erik 1(2)
Pt. 5: Zulaika; 6; 2-3; Erik + (3-0); cortada; Saves; Ladutxe 2(2)
Pt. 6: Erik; 8; 3-3; Erik - (3-1); attempted two wall goes off the court; Saves: Zulaika 1(3); Erik 1(3); Ladutxe 1(3); Bailo 2(2)
Pt 7: Zulaika; 4: 3-4; Erik + (4-1); two wall ; Saves: Ladutxe 2(5)
Pt 8: Erik; 7; 3-5; Erik + (5-1); cortada
Pt. 9: Erik; 18; 4-5; Zulaika + (2-0); two wall; one of the best points of the match; Saves: Zulaika 3(6); Erik 1(4); Ladutxe 2(7).
1st Time Out.
Pt. 10: Zulaika; 13; 5-5; Zulaika + (3-0); cortada; Saves: Zulaika 1(7); Erik 1(5)
Pt. 11: Zulaika; 8; 5-6; Bailo + (1-1); cortada running in from the 6 line, only point in the match scored by a back; Saves: Erik 2(7); Bailo 1(3)
Pt. 12: Erik; 17; 5-7; Ladutxe - (0-1); throws off the court; Saves: Zulaika 2(9); Erik 2(9); Ladutxe 3(10); Bailo 1(4)
2nd Time Out.
Pt. 13; Erik; 6; 6-7; Zulaika + (4-0); two wall
Pt. 14; Zulaika; 4; 6-8; Erik + (6-1); left wall pass
Pt. 15; Erik; 6; 7-8; Zulaika + (5-0); chic-chac; Saves: Ladutxe 1(11)
Pt. 16; Zulaika; 15; 8-8; Erik - (6-2); attempted outside winner off the court; Saves: Zulaika 1(10); Ladutxe 2(13); Bailo 1(5)
Pt. 17; Zulaika; 2; 8-9; Ladutxe - (0-2); dropped catch
Pt. 18; Erik; (P); 10; 9-9; Zulaika + (6-0); chula; Erik executes the only carom save of the match, trying to beat Zulaika to the outside; Saves: Zulaika 4(14); Bailo 3(8)
3rd Time Out.
Pt. 19: Zulaika; 1; 10-9; Erik - (6-3); dropped catch on the attempted intercept of Zulaika's serve
Pt. 20; Zulaika; 32; 10-10; Erik + (7-3); two wall; Saves: Zulaika 3(17); Erik 2(11); Ladutxe 1(14); Bailo 5(13), including possibly the best save of the match: 11 saves; possibly the best point of the match
4th Time Out.
Pt. 21: Erik; 5; 10-11; Erik + (8-3); left wall
Pt. 22: Erik; 2; 11-11; Zulaika + (7-0); intercepts the serve and immediately kills the point with a two wall
Pt. 23: Zulaika; 17; 12-11; Erik - (8-4); attempted two wall off the court; Saves: Zulaika 1(18); Erik 2(13); Ladutxe 1(15); Bailo 1(14)
Pt. 24: Zulaika; 4; 12-12; Zulaika - (7-1); attempted two wall too low; Saves: Ladutxe 1(16)
Pt. 25: Erik; 14; 13-12; Bailo - (1-2); dropped catch; Saves: Zulaika 1(19); Erik 3(16); Ladutxe 1(17)
Pt. 26: Zulaika; 2; 13-13; Erik + (9-4); action replay of Point 22 above, only this time it is Erik who intercepts the serve, immediately killing the point with a two wall of his own.
Pt. 27: Erik; 14; 14-13; Zulaika + (8-1); hard backhand; Saves: Zulaika 4(23); Erik 2(18); Bailo 1(15)
Pt. 28: Zulaika; 4; 14-14; Ladutxe - (0-3); dropped catch; Saves: Zulaika 1(24)
Pt. 29: Erik; 6; 15-14; Bailo - (1-3); dropped catch; Saves: Erik 2(20); Ladutxe 1(17)
We can see that after 10-10 came not only the 5 errors, but also 2 poor serves that were immediately intercepted and followed by point killing winners, one by each front. So a total of 7 mistakes in the last 9 points. But even at this late stage, there were 4 winners and 22 saves (29% of all the saves in the match).
All in all, a magnificent match in which all 4 players gave a tremendous effort and put on a great show. If ever there was a match that no one deserved to lose, it was this one. What a way to end the season!
All results: as always, the best way to follow this tournament chronologically is to read from the bottom up.
+++++
December 12
3rd Place Match
Barandika-Elgezabal (l-l) 15
Goixerri-Ibon (e-l) 13
(l-l 1-1; e-l 1-1)
December 6
2nd Semi-final
Zulaika-Ladutxe (l-e) 15
Barandika-Elegezabal (l-l) 3
(l-e 1-0; l-l 0-1)
Condensed linescore (winners always listed 1st)
4-0; 4-1; 7-1; 7-2; 14-2; 14-3; 15-3
Scoring:
Zulaika +4 -1; Ladutxe +1 -1
Barandika +1 -4; Elgezabal +0 -6
Total Scoring for the match: +6 (.333) -12 (.667)
Balls in play: 128
Non-error %: .906
November 29
1st Semi-Final
Erik-Bailo (l-e) 15 Goixerri-Ibon (e-l) 13
Condensed linescore (winners always listed 1st)
0-1; 1-1; 1-5; 5-5; 5-6; 7-6; 7-7; 8-7; 8-10; 10-10; 10-11; 14-11; 14-13; 15-13
November 22
4th Quarter-final
Zulaika-Latdutxe (l-e) 15 Jairo-Salegi (e-l) 6 (Flusyndrome Youtube)
November 15
3rd Quarter-final
Barandika-Elgezabal (l-l) 15 Goitia-Amigorena (l-l) 10 (BLOG POST with video link)
November 8
2nd Quarter-final
Goixerri-Ibon 15 Xabat-Arta 3 (e-l 1-0; e-e 0-1)
November 1
1st Quarter-final
Erik-Bailo 15 Foronda-Yeche 9 (l-l 1-0; e-e 0-1)
