Angel Ugarte "Txantxangorri", one of the players who came to the US in the 1950s, passed away in early February at the age of 93. He was born in Sao Paulo Brazil on November 10, 1926. He played his first Jai Alai in the Canary Islands, then played at Zaragoza, and Mallorca (photos of the frontons, not Ugarte). He played in the States from about 1951-1965 at Miami (fronton from the outside in the 1950s), West Palm Beach, and Daytona Beach. He won two championships at West Palm Beach. He gained notoriety later in life as one of the interviewees in the film Jai Alai Blues (Hollywood Reporter). He lived his final years in the South Basque Country.
Jai Alai News Facebook page via manista.com
Monday, February 11, 2019
Mano--Binakako Txapelketako/Campionato Parejas--2018-2019--Week 11
Binakako Txapelketako/Campionato Parejas, the premier doubles competition of the 2018-2019 Mano season, began November 23, 2018. 8 teams will compete for the title. The first (league) phase is a double round robin (14 matches). The top 4 finishers will face off in a single round robin (3 matches). The two winners will play in a final on April 7, 2019.
Source for all match articles, unless otherwise specifically stated, is 21iguales.com. 21iguales.com will also keep an ongoing phase table at its main Parejas site.
This table is the most up to date of any I've found.
Match linescores will be provided from match articles when available. Full match linescores can be found at 21iguales.com Twitter feed. Track back to the date and match and follow from beginning to end. The feed is also available at the Main site of 21iguales.com while the matches are in progress.
Source for all highlights and full match videos, unless otherwise specifically stated, is EITB.
At present, EITB is providing all highlights, in chronological order:
We begin at Week 7 as that was when the 2019 calendar year began. Coverage of the first six weeks is available at 21Iguales.com, and the Baiko Pilota (formerly Asegarce and ASPE websites. Full match video coverage of all available matches can be found at EITB.
For all available full match videos
"buscar" (search--top right side of page): "binakako" (without the quotes). Look for "2019 Binakako Txapelketa." Matches are usually the second or first match on the video.
Full match videos of earlier finals going back to 2000:
"buscar" "Binakako Txapelketako finalak" (without the quotes)
Selected full match videos before 2000:
"buscar" "Gure bideoteka" (without the quotes) and scroll until you find them.
For complete print and video coverage of the 2016-17 competition
Links to all matches available (by week).
--------------------------------------
Week 7; Week 8; Week 9; Week 10; Week 11; Week 12; Week 13; Week 14; Semi-final Round 1; Semi-final Round 2; Semi-final Round 3;
Final
--------------------------------------
Week 11
February 3, 2019
Bizkaia, Bilbo (Bilbao) (1) (2)
Altuna III-Martija (5-6 -21) 22 Victor (substituting for Urrutikoetxea) Arretxabaleta (2-8 -62) 14 (EITB--match begins at 1:08:30)
Highlights (EITB)
Match article (includes balls in play, linescore, scoring)
Desparate to keep their playoff hopes alive, A-M won a match they had to win against the foot of the table team, U-A. Victor substituted for Urrutikoetxea this week and it is unknown when/or if Urruti. will return to this competition. The win was not an easy one as V-A fought back from an 8-3 deficit to lead 13-10, but that was as far as they could go, with A-M answering with a 12-1 run, including the last 9 points of the game. Altuna made only 2 errors, Victor 9. That was basically the difference. For the U-A team, which has now used Laso and Victor as substitutes, it was their 5th consecutive loss.
February 2, 2019
Igarando, Idiazabal (1) (2)
Ezkurdia-L. Galarza (4-7 -16) 22 Oliazola II-Albisu (7-4 +16) 11 (no match video available at this time)
Partial linescore: (winners always listed 1st) (El Correo, 21Igulaes, and EITB match highlights)
3-1; 7-2; 8-5(?); 12-8; 14-8; 18-9; 22-11
Partial scoring: Albisu -3
Highlights (EITB) (2nd half of the video)
Match article (El Correo)
Match article (21Iguales)
Both teams had all to play for in this match. O-A still had hopes of catching Elezkano-Rezusta, even after their disappointing loss to Bengoetxea VI-Imaz last week. For E-G, every game is a knockout game; they must win out to have any chance at a semi-final berth. On this occasion, according to both match articles, they simply outplayed O-A. They jumped to a 7-2 lead and never really looked back, stretching their lead to 6 and then 9 points to win going away. O-A have lost their last two matches by 44-25, but still have a bit of a cushion in their quest for the semi's. But this is a very bad time to go into a slump. As for E-G, they will meet Irribarria-Zabaleta next week in another elimination match. But remember, Ezkurdia (and his partner Zabaleta) last year were 3-5 at one point and finished 8-6 to make the semi-finals. Once there they won the Championship.
-------
Labrit, Iruna (Pamplona) (1) (2)
Irribarria-Zabaleta (7-4 +45) 22 Artola-Mariezkurrena II (6-5 +6) 15 (EITB--match begins at 54:50).
Highlights (EITB) (1st half of the video)
Match article (includes balls in play, linescore, scoring)
This was the marquee match of the week, in front of a large crowd at Labrit. Both teams still had aspirations of catching Elezkano-Rezusta for League honors coming in. In the end, early (5-1) and late (13-3) runs tipped the match to I-Z. Irribarria +11 and Zabaleta -0 showed the offense and defense needed for a deep post-season run for these two. Zabaleta is defending champion and Irribarria is a former champion (2017) in this competition. He is capable of dominating any match he participates in. A-M have won 4 of the last 6 games they have played together since a 22-6 loss to I-Z on December 14 (week 4). That will surely weigh on the minds of both teams should they make the semi-finals. As an aside, early in the match there was an interview with Juan Martinez de Irujo (1) (2), the great ex-front court player who retired from the circuit in 2017. I have always been a big fan of his, as he was one of the first great players who I learned the modality from. Talent, determination, and fire in the belly competitive instinct were his hallmarks. Championships were his coin of the realm. And he also liked playing Main Nue, where he was a very good back court man. I didn't understand a word of what he said, but he seemed relaxed and content. Esterrik Asko Juan.
February 1, 2019
Urduliz (1) (2)
Elezkano-Rezusta (9-2 +68) 22 Bengoetxea VI-Imaz (4-7 -36) (EITB--match begins at 54:46--Basque)
Fronton TV (Castilian)
Highlights (EITB)
Match article (includes balls in play, linescore, scoring)
Unfortuately, the 21Iguales linescore was incorrect. The correct linescore was (winners always listed first):
0-1; 4-1; 4-2; 9-2; 9-4; 11-4; 11-6; 12-6; 12-7; 13-7; 13-8; 14-8; 14-9; 16-9; 16-15; 22-15
E-R won their 6th consecutive match (their last loss came on December 23--week 5--to Oliazola-Albisu), cementing their place at the top of the table, while pretty much eliminating B-I from semi-final contention. But the match was much tougher than the final score indicated. After opening a big 9-2 lead, E-R maintained that lead to 16-9. But then a 6 point run put B-I back in contention. After the 16-14--16-15 point, Bengoetxea VI had to sit down with what looked like a side strain. The match was delayed for a short time, and, as it turned out, that was the last point B-I scored. Bengoetxea VI finished the match but it remains to be seen if he will be able to play next week. Elezkano had a big day with +11 and Rezusta was his usual reliable self, -3. The win gives E-R a two game lead with three to play. It would take quite a collapse, with the point differential they have, for them to finish anywhere but first in the League phase.
Source for all match articles, unless otherwise specifically stated, is 21iguales.com. 21iguales.com will also keep an ongoing phase table at its main Parejas site.
This table is the most up to date of any I've found.
Match linescores will be provided from match articles when available. Full match linescores can be found at 21iguales.com Twitter feed. Track back to the date and match and follow from beginning to end. The feed is also available at the Main site of 21iguales.com while the matches are in progress.
Source for all highlights and full match videos, unless otherwise specifically stated, is EITB.
At present, EITB is providing all highlights, in chronological order:
We begin at Week 7 as that was when the 2019 calendar year began. Coverage of the first six weeks is available at 21Iguales.com, and the Baiko Pilota (formerly Asegarce and ASPE websites. Full match video coverage of all available matches can be found at EITB.
For all available full match videos
"buscar" (search--top right side of page): "binakako" (without the quotes). Look for "2019 Binakako Txapelketa." Matches are usually the second or first match on the video.
Full match videos of earlier finals going back to 2000:
"buscar" "Binakako Txapelketako finalak" (without the quotes)
Selected full match videos before 2000:
"buscar" "Gure bideoteka" (without the quotes) and scroll until you find them.
For complete print and video coverage of the 2016-17 competition
Links to all matches available (by week).
--------------------------------------
Week 7; Week 8; Week 9; Week 10; Week 11; Week 12; Week 13; Week 14; Semi-final Round 1; Semi-final Round 2; Semi-final Round 3;
Final
--------------------------------------
Week 11
February 3, 2019
Bizkaia, Bilbo (Bilbao) (1) (2)
Altuna III-Martija (5-6 -21) 22 Victor (substituting for Urrutikoetxea) Arretxabaleta (2-8 -62) 14 (EITB--match begins at 1:08:30)
Highlights (EITB)
Match article (includes balls in play, linescore, scoring)
Desparate to keep their playoff hopes alive, A-M won a match they had to win against the foot of the table team, U-A. Victor substituted for Urrutikoetxea this week and it is unknown when/or if Urruti. will return to this competition. The win was not an easy one as V-A fought back from an 8-3 deficit to lead 13-10, but that was as far as they could go, with A-M answering with a 12-1 run, including the last 9 points of the game. Altuna made only 2 errors, Victor 9. That was basically the difference. For the U-A team, which has now used Laso and Victor as substitutes, it was their 5th consecutive loss.
February 2, 2019
Igarando, Idiazabal (1) (2)
Ezkurdia-L. Galarza (4-7 -16) 22 Oliazola II-Albisu (7-4 +16) 11 (no match video available at this time)
Partial linescore: (winners always listed 1st) (El Correo, 21Igulaes, and EITB match highlights)
3-1; 7-2; 8-5(?); 12-8; 14-8; 18-9; 22-11
Partial scoring: Albisu -3
Highlights (EITB) (2nd half of the video)
Match article (El Correo)
Match article (21Iguales)
Both teams had all to play for in this match. O-A still had hopes of catching Elezkano-Rezusta, even after their disappointing loss to Bengoetxea VI-Imaz last week. For E-G, every game is a knockout game; they must win out to have any chance at a semi-final berth. On this occasion, according to both match articles, they simply outplayed O-A. They jumped to a 7-2 lead and never really looked back, stretching their lead to 6 and then 9 points to win going away. O-A have lost their last two matches by 44-25, but still have a bit of a cushion in their quest for the semi's. But this is a very bad time to go into a slump. As for E-G, they will meet Irribarria-Zabaleta next week in another elimination match. But remember, Ezkurdia (and his partner Zabaleta) last year were 3-5 at one point and finished 8-6 to make the semi-finals. Once there they won the Championship.
-------
Labrit, Iruna (Pamplona) (1) (2)
Irribarria-Zabaleta (7-4 +45) 22 Artola-Mariezkurrena II (6-5 +6) 15 (EITB--match begins at 54:50).
Highlights (EITB) (1st half of the video)
Match article (includes balls in play, linescore, scoring)
This was the marquee match of the week, in front of a large crowd at Labrit. Both teams still had aspirations of catching Elezkano-Rezusta for League honors coming in. In the end, early (5-1) and late (13-3) runs tipped the match to I-Z. Irribarria +11 and Zabaleta -0 showed the offense and defense needed for a deep post-season run for these two. Zabaleta is defending champion and Irribarria is a former champion (2017) in this competition. He is capable of dominating any match he participates in. A-M have won 4 of the last 6 games they have played together since a 22-6 loss to I-Z on December 14 (week 4). That will surely weigh on the minds of both teams should they make the semi-finals. As an aside, early in the match there was an interview with Juan Martinez de Irujo (1) (2), the great ex-front court player who retired from the circuit in 2017. I have always been a big fan of his, as he was one of the first great players who I learned the modality from. Talent, determination, and fire in the belly competitive instinct were his hallmarks. Championships were his coin of the realm. And he also liked playing Main Nue, where he was a very good back court man. I didn't understand a word of what he said, but he seemed relaxed and content. Esterrik Asko Juan.
February 1, 2019
Urduliz (1) (2)
Elezkano-Rezusta (9-2 +68) 22 Bengoetxea VI-Imaz (4-7 -36) (EITB--match begins at 54:46--Basque)
Fronton TV (Castilian)
Highlights (EITB)
Match article (includes balls in play, linescore, scoring)
Unfortuately, the 21Iguales linescore was incorrect. The correct linescore was (winners always listed first):
0-1; 4-1; 4-2; 9-2; 9-4; 11-4; 11-6; 12-6; 12-7; 13-7; 13-8; 14-8; 14-9; 16-9; 16-15; 22-15
E-R won their 6th consecutive match (their last loss came on December 23--week 5--to Oliazola-Albisu), cementing their place at the top of the table, while pretty much eliminating B-I from semi-final contention. But the match was much tougher than the final score indicated. After opening a big 9-2 lead, E-R maintained that lead to 16-9. But then a 6 point run put B-I back in contention. After the 16-14--16-15 point, Bengoetxea VI had to sit down with what looked like a side strain. The match was delayed for a short time, and, as it turned out, that was the last point B-I scored. Bengoetxea VI finished the match but it remains to be seen if he will be able to play next week. Elezkano had a big day with +11 and Rezusta was his usual reliable self, -3. The win gives E-R a two game lead with three to play. It would take quite a collapse, with the point differential they have, for them to finish anywhere but first in the League phase.
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