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)!!!

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Mano--Binakako Txapelketako/Campionato Parejas--2018-2019--Week 13

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).

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Week 7Week 8Week 9Week 10Week 11; Week 12; Week 13; Week 14; Semi-final Round 1; Semi-final Round 2; Semi-final Round 3;

Final

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Week 13

Injury report:


February 17, 2019

Beotibar, Tolosa (1) (2)


Highlights (EITB)

Match article (including balls in play, linescore, scoring)

Scoring (EITB):

Altuna III +9 -2 Martija +2 -3
Artola +7-3 Mariezkurrrena II +3 -8

Balls in play: 428. Time of match: 58:53

This was the marquee match of the week, two strong Semi-final League contenders looking to clinch their places. All was going well for Artola-Mariezkurrena II, as they had a 14-8 lead. But then Artola served a little to hard, conceding a 7 line fault. And, as sometimes happens, a small mistake can change the course of a match. This one changed completely, as Altuna III-Martija turned the mistake into a 14-1 run and easy victory. Marriezkurrena II hurt his team with errors during the run, not terribly surprising for a young player under pressure in a big match. And the fault caused Altuna III's eyes to light up as he showed why he will be very dangerous if his team moves on. Artola's team has a +6 point differential cushion going into the final week, but they have a tough match with Ezkurdia-L. Galarza, who are still alive, but must win big and get help to advance. Expect Ezkurdia to "show up" for this match, as he still has a chance to defend his championship. Altuna III-Martija has a match against 4-9 Bengoetxea VI-Imaz that they must win decisively. Their chances are good, but Bengoetxea VI is always dangerous. 

February 16, 2019

Polideportivo La Juventud, Soria (1) (2)

Victor (substituting for Oliazola II)-Albisu (8-5 +14) 22 Elezkano-Rezusta (9-4 +47) 17. There is no match video at this time.

Highlights (EITB)

Match article (incl. balls in play, linescore, scoring) (Baiko Pilota)
Match article (incl. balls in play, linescore, scoring) (21Iguales)

This match was the shocker of the week, the O-A team coming off a loss to Artola-Mariezkurrena II last week and on a 3 game slide to oblivion. It was the perfect recipe for E-R to clinch the League championship, but they have been having their own problems the last two weeks. Last week they were hammered by Altuna III-Martija. This week they were beaten by an inspired performance by Victor, substituting for the 2nd time in two weeks on two different teams, and winning both matches. Last week Victor was +13 -3. This week he was +13 -4. V-A led the match from start to finish and were rewarded with a place in the Semi-Final League with the win. For, E-R, they must wait another week to clinch first place in the League. They will have a chance to increase their shaken confidence, playing their final match against tail enders Urrutikoetxea-Arretxabaleta. 

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Labrit, Iruna (Pamplona) (1) (2)


Final point (EITB)

Match article (incl. balls in play, linescore, scoring)

EITB scoring:

Ezkurdia +9 -3 L. Galarza +0 -1
Bengoetxea VI +10 -7 Imaz +0 -6

Balls in play: 461, Time of match: 57:35

Ezkurdia refuses to accept the fact that a Semi-final League appearance is a bridge too far, as he once again, with the help of 13 B-I errors, led his team to victory. He was +9-3. Last week he was +15. E-G put the match away with an early 7 point run (2-3--9-3) and cruised home from there. Now they face their biggest match of the season, needing to beat Artola-Mariezkurrena II by at least 22-10 in order to move ahead of them on point differential. They also need a loss by Altuna III-Martija against a 4-9 B-I. Hopeless? Maybe, maybe not. One thing I wouldn't bet against...a very big match from Ezkurdia. 


February 15, 2019

Fronton Municipal, Ultzama, Larraintzar (1) (2) (3)


Highlights (EITB)

Match article (incl. balls in play, linescore, scoring)

Scoring (EITB)

Irribarria +12 -3 Zabaleta +4 -0
Urrutikoetxea +2 -2 Aretxabaleta +1 -4

Balls in play: 443; Time of match: 46:14

Scoring (21Iguales)

Irribarria +15 -3 Zabaleta +3 -0
Urrutikoetxea +2 -1 Aretxabaleta +1 -3

Irribarria-Zabaleta knew exactly what they had to do and did it ruthlessly. But the match didn't start out that way. Urrutikoetxea, coming back from an injured hand, and Aretxabaleta made things interesting during the first two points of the match, which consumed 87 balls in play (almost 20% of bip for the entire match). When those points were over U-A led 2-0. They scored 4 more points. Irribarria took control on offense (+15) and Zabaleta played air tight defense (-0) as they easily clinched their Semi-final League place. As they have a 13 point differential lead over Elezkano-Rezusta, a win over Victor (I assume)-Albisu and an unlikely E-R loss to tail enders U-A will give I-Z something (a possible League first place finish) to play for. 

WEEK 14:

Artola-Mareizkurrena II (7-6 +6) v Ezkurdia-L.Galarza (6-7 -5)

Altuna III-Martija (7-6 0) v Bengoetxea VI-Imaz (4-9 -51)

Main Nue--FFPB Championnat de France Pro Individuel--Liguilla Round 3--February 15, 17 2019

The 2019 FFPB (Federation Francais de Pelote Basque) Championnat de France Pro Individuel Tournament began on January 4, and will end on March 3, 2019. For the third consecutive year, there are two competitions,  Group A and Group B. 21 players are involved. FFPB has provided a "dossier" (.pdf format, 7p.) explaining how the tournament works and who the players in each group are. This is a seeded ladder knock out tournament with qualification and league rounds, leading to the final.

The Players:

Player profiles at Esku Pilota

Group A: Peio Larralde (front); Matthieu Ospital (front); Baptiste Ducassou (back); Bixinto Bilbao (back); Augusti Waltery (front); Ximun Lambert (back); Peio Guichandut (back); Vincent Elgart (front); Julien Etchegary (front); Ion Iturbe (back); and Anton Monce (front)

Last year's finalists: Larralde and Ospital have been directly seeded into the League phase (1st and 2nd seeds)

Group B: Pascal de Ezcurra (back); Laurent Lambert (front); Alexis Inchauspe (front); Mickael Palomes (back); Gregory Aguirre (front); Cedric Lucu (back); Bixente (Vincent) Cubiat (back); Mattin Olcomendy (front); Mickael Darmendrail (front)

de Ezcurra and Lambert have been directly seeded into the League phase (1st and 2nd seeds)
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Previous Championships:

Complete coverage of the 2018 Championship was provided by FFPB:

Results
Brief Match Articles and Photos

More detailed articles and selected match videos were provided by Pilota Ttiki. When videos are available they are linked at the bottom of the article.

Beginning January 9 and "suivant" at the bottom of the article until you reach other tournament articles. The tournament ended on February 25 (A) and February 27 (B) (Note that not all articles you will link to are articles about this tournament).

Twenty 2018 FFPB Championnat de France Elite Pro condensed full match videos are available via Pilota Ttiki Youtube. Scroll to or find "Championnat Individuel" or "Liguilla" (without the quotes).

Finals:
Group A: Larralde 40 Ospital 18
Match article and link to full match video

Group B: Iturbe 40 L. Lambert 27
Match article and link to full match video

2017 Tournament complete coverage (match articles and available videos)

Finals:
Group A: Ducassou 40 Ospital 27
Group B: Etchegaray 40 Elgart 21

2016 Full Tournament Results: Final: Larralde 40 Ducassou 22
2015 Full Tournament Results: Final Ducassou 40 Larralde 21 (pelotelive.free.fr)

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Play in Round (January 4-7, 2019) Qualification Round Seeded Matches (January 12-14)January 19January 26

Liguilla: February 2; February 3; February 9; February 11; February 15, February 17

Finals: February 25--Group B; March 3--Group A

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

Liguilla Round 3

Note: All match videos, unless otherwise specifically stated, are condensed full match videos (usually between 15 and 40 minutes).

Injury report:

Group A



Group A

Duccassou and Ospital will play in the Final because of injury related forfeits by Larralde and Bilbao. Ospital has played in the last two finals and was beaten by Larralde last year and Ducassou in 2017. He doesn't have very good memories from those matches, as he was beaten soundly in both matches (see above). Both players are short of match experience, as they each played in only one Liguilla match. But it will be interesting to see if Ospital can make a better showing. At his best, he can play with anyone, but Ducassou looks to be a very formidable opponent. He missed last year's Tournament due to injury and wants his title back very badly.  Each of them have a couple of weeks to prepare. 

February 15, 2019

Group B

Both Group B matches were elimination matches. Neither was close.

Trinquet Berria, Hasparren--Trinquet (old and new) (1) (2Hasparren


Selected linescore (winner always listed first)

16-2; 23-5; 40-15

Inchauspe led from start to finish and increased his huge 16-2 opening lead by 11 more points before the match ended. Palomes never knew what hit him. 


Selected linescore (winner always listed first)

13-5; 20-10; 30-17; 40-22

This top seed match was also a mismatch, as Lambert got off to a 13-5 start and then also increased his lead throughout the rest of the match.  

Lambert will now meet Inchauspe, whom he beat 40-25 in Liguilla Round 1 in a match dominated by big runs by both players. Both of them know that Lambert had the last run, 18-4 to close out that match. It should be an intriguing match, as any Inchauspe match is, simply because he is a left hander. 

Group B: front 2-2; back 2-2


FINAL

Group A

Hasparren

March 3, 2019

Ospital (#2) (front) (1-0 +5) v Ducassou (#3) back (1-0 +3)

Group B

Le Garat, Donibane Garazi (St. Jean Pied-de-Port)

February 25, 2019

L. Lambert (#2) (front) v Inchauspe (#3) (front)

Pala/Remonte--Jose Javier Albisu's Histories of Pala and Remonte

Jose Javier Albisu Perez maintains a blog called PelotaManoRemonte, which specializes in the history of the modalities in its title. It is a great place to start for those who may love to watch these modalities, but are unaware of that history. He tells the histories through biographies of great players. He has two condensed histories on his blog. Both are in Castilian. They are:

1A. A Brief History of Pala (in 3 chapters)

Chapter 1: (18th and 19th Centuries)
Chapter 2:  (20th Century)
Chapter 3:  (20th and 21st Centuries)

Included are several biographies of great Palistas down through the years.

1B. earlier version (in 4 chapters)

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4

InnPala also contains a brief history of the sport by Jesus Azurmendi

2. A brief history of Remonte

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

3. Remonte--1909-1950

Albisu has also written books about Remonte history, including a recent one biography of Koteto Ezkurra, one of the best players in the history of the sport, who retired last October.

Pala/Pala Larga--InnPala Rankings--February 16, 2019

New InnPala rankings were recently published at the InnPala website. Note: The rankings include the Liga Kutxabank competition which ended on January 12, 2019, and the Mundo Individual competition that ended on February 15.

As of February 16, 2019

Player information and photos

DELANTEROS (front) ZAGUEROS (back)
Gaubeka 108 Urrutia  96
                                       Ibargarai 96
Necol  102
Fusto    84    Ibai P  84
Garate  66 Gordon  84
Landeta 60            Brefel  66

The ranking criteria are available at InnPala at this time (scroll past the rankings, which are current).

Google Translate version of how the rankings are derived.

The company awards diamonds (*) (1 to 3) to the championships depending on their importance, duration, etc. Note: *** ranked tournaments are the major annual tournaments, to the best of my knowledge. These would by the Liga Kutxabank (pairs), the Mundial Individual (singles), the Mundo Parejas (pairs) and the Bizkaia Open (pairs). The rankings of the summer tournaments are unknown to me at this time.

The diamonds of each tournament are multiplied by the following points ladder:

1º: 22 | 2nd: 18 | 3rd: 14 | 4th: 12 | 5th onwards: 10

In the individual world the points are awarded depending on the elimination in which each paddler has fallen

The pelotaris that do not compete in a tournament acquire as many points as the last of the competition.

* New incorporations to the company that are linked to the ranking with the palista who has the fewest points on the day of incorporation.

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As of January 13, 2019

DELANTEROS ZAGUEROS
(Front Courters)      (Back Courters)

Necol 66 Urrutia 66
Fusto 54 Gordon 54
Gaubeka 42 Ibai Perez 42
Garate 36 Brefel 36
Landeta 30      Ibargarai 30


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For 2019,a table of actual wins and losses along with jokos won and lost for players by position is also available, as another way to look at how the Palistas are doing throughout the year. It includes all of the matches that I find, whether tournament or independent matches. This, along with some data for about 1/2 of the 2016-17 season is available at the InnPala Player win-loss table page on the right side of the blog.