Challenge Elhina (Amendaritz) (June 2-30, 2019
The format of this tournament has changed this year. 6 pairs will participate, in two groups of three pairs. There was a preliminary "barrage" (single round robin) in each group. The winners of each Group met in the Final on June 30.
(Source: Esku Pilota)
The Groups:
*Not on Esku Pilota roster at present
Group 1:
Ospital-Harismendy
P. Laralde-Garat*
Etcheverria*-X. Lambert
Group 2:
Echeverry-Ducassou
Waltary-B.Larralde
Inchauspe-Guichandut
Note: linescore and statistics sources for all matches: Esku Pilota and Pilota Ttiki match articles. To follow the tourmament chronologically, scroll up from the bottom of the page.
June 30:
FINAL
Ospital-Harismendy 40 Etcheverry-Ducassou 36 (Pilota Ttiki Youtube condensed full match video)
From 33-33 to the end
(123 balls in play--O +4 -1; H +1 -0; E +1 -1; D +1 -1)
(123 balls in play--O +4 -1; H +1 -0; E +1 -1; D +1 -1)
Selected linescore (winners always listed first (Esku Pilota and Pilota Ttiki)
12-2; 21-11; 27-17; 27-25; 28-25; 31-31; 33-33; 34-34; 40-36
Time of the match: about 1 and 1/2 hours.
Match article (with audio interview with Harismendy and video of the last few points). (Esku Pilota)
Match article (Pilota Ttiki)
In brutal heat, "a boiling audience", according to one of the match articles, O-H were in command well into the third decade. Then E-D, helped by some service aces by Etcheverry which allowed Ducassou to recover stamina, led to the inevitable comeback. It started with an 8-0 run the eventually led to equalities at 31, 33, and 34. From there (see the above end video portion), Ospital led his team home.
Lever de Rideau (Curtain Raiser--"Friendly")
Elgart-Sanchez* 40 L. Lambert-Palomes 37 (Pilota Ttiki Youtube condensed full match video)
Final Table
Group 1
Ospital-Harismendy 2-0
P. Larralde-Garat* 1-1
Echeverria*-X. Lambert 0-2
Group 2
Etcheverry-Ducassou 2-0
Waltary-B. Larralde 1-1
Inchauspe-Guichandut 0-2
June 16
Group 1
Ospital-Harismendy (2-0) 40 Echeverria*-Iturbe (substituting for X. Lambert) (0-2) 19 (Pilota Ttiki condensed full match video)
Group 2
Etcheverry-Ducassou (2-0) 40 Inchauspe-Amulet (substituting for Guichandut) (0-2) 22 (Pilota Ttiki condensed full match video)
Selected linescore (winners always listed first)
7-0; 40-22
Partial scoring: Etcheverry 11 service aces Inchauspe 6
Time of the match: about 1 hour
Match articles for both matches
June 9
Group 1
P. Larralde-Garat* (1-1) 40 Echeverria*-Iturbe (substituting for X. Lambert, who was scheduled to play in the 50 point Challenge de Cize Final on June 10) (0-1) 18 (Pilota Ttiki Youtube condensed full match video)
Selected linescore (winners always listed first)
14-7: 20-11; 40-18
Partial scoring
Larralde 12 service aces Echeverria 2
Time of the match: about 50 minutes
Group 2
Waltary-Palomes (substituting for B. Larralde) (1-1) 40 Inchauspe-Amulet (substituting for Guichandut) (0-1) 39 (Pilota Ttiki condensed full match video)
Selected linescore: (winners always listed first)
20-20; 23-23; 38-32; 38-38; 39-39; 40-39
Partial scoring:
Waltary 10 service aces Inchauspe 7 (Waltary won the match with a direct point xare into the first quadrant dugout meshwork.)
Match articles for both matches
June 2
Ospital-Harismendy 40 (1-0) P. Larralde-Garat* (0-1)35 (Pilota Ttiki condensed full match video)
Selected linescore (winners always listed first)
3-8; 7-12; 19-19; 30-24; 37-26; 37-35 (Larralde 5 aces during this run); 40-35
Partial Scoring:
Ospital 5 service aces, P. Larralde 12
Time of the match: about 1 and 1/2 hours
O-H open the Tournament by beating arguably the best front court player. It was a foreshadow of the final (see above), when they would beat the best back court player, in a match that had interesting similarities to this one.
Group 2
Etcheverry-Ducassou 40 Monce (substituting for Waltary)-B. Larralde 18 (Pilota Ttiki condensed full match video)
Selected linescore (winners always listed first)
4-7; 5-8; 6-10; 7-10; 12-12; 20-14; 31-14; 40-18
Partial scoring:
Etcheverry 14 service aces Monce 4
Match articles for both matches:
