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)!!!

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Mano--Torneo Asta Nagusia Bilbao--August 21, 22, 24

Torneo Asta Nagusia Bilbao (1) (2) (August 21, 22, 24). This tournament was part of the Asta Nagusia (Great Week) Festival in Bilbo (Bilbao)




Tournament Preview (21Iguales.com)

Complete results (along with results going back to 2011 (baikopilota.eus)

Final scoring: (two of the matches were not televised, so 21Iguales.com scoring was used). EITB scoring was used in the other match.

Laso +13 -3; Albisu +0 -5
Urrutikoetxea +10 -3; Albisu +0 -0
Altuna III +15 -8; Rezusta +3 -11
Elezkano +8 -4; L. Galarza +2 -5
Oliazola +4 -2; +0 -9

Note: the individual scoring in the two 21Iguales.com matches did not add up to the total score. EITB's scoring did. 

The Tournament scoring was interesting. The fronts were +50 -20, while the backs were +5 -30. Laso was the "hero", coming in on short notice due to  a shoulder injury to Urrutikoetxea, while Rezusta had 2 uncharacteristically poor "days at the office." Altuna III, the leading scorer in the tournament, was able to help his team over the line once, but he was basically shut out in the Final. Albisu was player of the Tournament.

August 24

FINAL

Altuna III-Rezusta 13 (EITB--match begins at 1:15:42)

Selected linescore (Mundo Deportivo) (winners always listed 1st)

12-11; 15-11; 18-13; 22-13

Scoring (EITB)

Laso +13 -3; Albisu +0 -5
Altuna III +5 -4; Rezusta +0 -5

Balls in Play: 629; Altuna III 150; Rezusta 160; Laso 169; Albisu 150

Time of the Match: 69:00
Playing Time: 31:34

Match article (Mundo Deportivo)
Match article (Baikopilota.eus)

Laso's play made the difference as the substitute led his team to victory. Not only did he have a great offensive match, but he also (along with a lot of help from Albisu), limited Altuna III's offense enough to control the match and win decisively.

August 22

2nd Semi-Final

Altuna III-Rezusta 22 Elezkano II-L. Galarza (substituting for Zabaleta) 19

Selected linescore (21Iguales.com) winners always listed 1st)

5-3; 6-6; 7-7; 10-10; 11-12; 14-13; 20-13; 20-15; 21-17; 21-19; 22-19

Scoring:

Altuna III +10 -4; Rezusta +3 -6
Elezkano II +8 -4; L. Galarza +2 -5
(Scoring adds to 22-20)

Balls in Play: 595

Time of the Match 71 minutes

Match article (21Iguales.com)

After an equal 1st half, a 6 point run by the winners seemed to be sufficient, but E-G answered with a 6-1 run of their own to fall just short. The match article praised the play of Ladis Galarza, the substitute back.

August 21

1st Semi-final

Urrutkoetxea-Albisu 22
Oliazola II-Mariezkurrena II 7

Highlights (EITB)

Selected linescore (21iguales.com) (winners always listed 1st)

8-0; 8-1; 13-1; 13-3; 15-3; 16-4; 17-5; 17-7; 22-7

Scoring (21Iguales.com)

Urrutikoetxea +10 (including 3 service aces) -3; Albisu +0 -0
Oliazola II +4 -2 Mariezkurrena II +0 -9
(Scores add to 21-7)

Balls in Play: 331

Time of the Match: 41:00

Match article (21Iguales.com)

Oliazola II, playing for the 2nd day in a row after an exhausting 640 ball match in the Torneo Bizkaia Final Pairs match, and Mariezkurrena II, returning to action after a month's absence with "bad hands", were no match for a sharp U-A team, which scored 13 of the 1st 14 points to advance easily.