Campeonato Parejas (Binakako Txapelketa) 1a and Promotion (November 22, 2019--April 5, 2020)
This is the premier professional Mano pairs Championship competition. There are 8 teams. It starts with a double round robin league. The format then changes from previous years. The top two teams go to a Semi-final League. There is a playoff" #3 v #6 and #4 v #5 to determine the other two teams in the Semi-final League (6 post league teams rather than 4). The SF League is a single round robin. The top two SF League finishers play in a Final on April 5, 2020. There is no 3rd place match this year.
ASPE player roster
Baikopilota player roster
This is the premier professional Mano pairs Championship competition. There are 8 teams. It starts with a double round robin league. The format then changes from previous years. The top two teams go to a Semi-final League. There is a playoff" #3 v #6 and #4 v #5 to determine the other two teams in the Semi-final League (6 post league teams rather than 4). The SF League is a single round robin. The top two SF League finishers play in a Final on April 5, 2020. There is no 3rd place match this year.
ASPE player roster
Baikopilota player roster
The teams (4 from each company A=ASPE; B=Baikopilota
A
Ezkudia-Martija
Altuna III-L. Galarza
Irribarria-Rezusta
Jaka-Zabaleta
B
Oliazola II-Urrutikoetxea
Bengoetxea VI-Marriezkurena
Artola-Imaz
Laso-Albisu
This year sees 3 interesting and perhaps controversial changes, 1 involving format, and 2 involving players.
MY ARTICLE: EXPANDING THE PLAYOFFS AND THE CURIOUS DECISION BY ASPE TO DROP LAST YEAR'S CHAMPION DELANTERO (FRONT), DANEL ELEZKANO, FROM THIS YEAR'S COMPETITION.
Complete Calendar (with complete results back to 2001 (baikopilota.eus)
Selected finalists going back to 1941 (Wikipedia)
Selected finalists going back to 1941 (Wikipedia)
Competition preview (baikopilota.eus)
Video highlights week by week (EITB)
Note that the results, statistics, match articles (when available), links to full match videos, and selected analysis for the BT/CP Promotion competition can be found below that for the 1a competition.
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Note that the matches are in reverse order as they were originally entered into the current results (right side of the blog) in reverse chronological order in order to have the most current results at the top. If you wish to follow this championship in chronological order, please read them from the bottom up.
The letters next to the players' names denote the company they play for (see above).
Source for all linescores and scoring, unless otherwise specifically stated, is the EITB telecast.
Time per point (see below) is calculated from the total time of the match. I can find no source that consistently keeps track of actual playing time for this competition.
I am experimenting with counting "saves," a variable that perhaps gives a bit of insight into the defensive side of BP sports. I define a save as an excellent play that keeps the point alive. It is, obviously, a subjective judgment, and yours may be different from mine. Saves include going on the apron (running or diving), going into the left wall, backs running far into the front court, fronts covering the back, direct off the front wall returns of very high shots, and backs going behind the 10 line, among others. As a subjective experiment in judgment, I hope to get those with much more knowledge than I interested in keeping the statistic. A save is like art. It may be difficult to define, but one "knows it when one sees it." I will also provide the number of saves as a percentage of the total balls in play.
For each week's results the weekly table, information about each match, and "leader boards" will be provided, in that order.
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Note that the results, statistics, match articles (when available), links to full match videos, and selected analysis for the BT/CP Promotion competition can be found below that for the 1a competition.
-----------------------------------------
Note that the matches are in reverse order as they were originally entered into the current results (right side of the blog) in reverse chronological order in order to have the most current results at the top. If you wish to follow this championship in chronological order, please read them from the bottom up.
The letters next to the players' names denote the company they play for (see above).
Source for all linescores and scoring, unless otherwise specifically stated, is the EITB telecast.
Time per point (see below) is calculated from the total time of the match. I can find no source that consistently keeps track of actual playing time for this competition.
I am experimenting with counting "saves," a variable that perhaps gives a bit of insight into the defensive side of BP sports. I define a save as an excellent play that keeps the point alive. It is, obviously, a subjective judgment, and yours may be different from mine. Saves include going on the apron (running or diving), going into the left wall, backs running far into the front court, fronts covering the back, direct off the front wall returns of very high shots, and backs going behind the 10 line, among others. As a subjective experiment in judgment, I hope to get those with much more knowledge than I interested in keeping the statistic. A save is like art. It may be difficult to define, but one "knows it when one sees it." I will also provide the number of saves as a percentage of the total balls in play.
For each week's results the weekly table, information about each match, and "leader boards" will be provided, in that order.
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Post-Season
1A Semi-Final League W 2 and Promotion W 3
1A Semi-Final League W 3
1A Semi-Final League W 3
Promotion FINAL
1A FINAL
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Summary: All matches this week were decided by 6 or less points. 1 was decided by the minimum (the 4th time that has happened in 1st 16 matches). However, only 1 was well played. Total match score for the week was +80 (.537) -69 (.463) (1 point not scored). But most of that was due to the 1 superbly played match. The other 3 were +52 (.430) -69 (.570). Jaka-Zabaleta and Artola-Imaz lost their first match. Among the fronts, Altuna III (A) had the highest score (+16) and the best net (+13). Artola (B) had the lowest score +6 and tied with Jaka (A) for the lowest net (-3). Among the backs Martija (A) had a perfect day on defense, with 0 errors, while Mariezkurrena III had the most difficult day with 11. In the Laso-Albisu v Jaka-Zabaleta match, no one had a net + score.
On a positive note, only one match had less than 600 balls in play, and the non-error % was less than 96% in only one match. In the Altuna III-L. Galarza v Oliazola II-Aretxabaleta match, the non-error rate approached 99%. That match featured some of the finest front court play you will see.
December 16
Irriabarria-Rezusta (A) 22
Artola-Imaz (B) 16 (there is no full match video at this time)
(A 3-1; B 1-3)
Source linescore and all statistics: Deia
Highlights (EITB)
Selected linescore (Deia) (winners always listed 1st)
0-2; 2-2; 4-2; 4-4; 4-5; 7-5; 7-7; 8-7; 8-8; 8-10; 9-10; 9-12; 12-12; 13-12; 13-13; 13-15; 18-15; 18-16; 22-16
Scoring (Deia)
Irribarria +8 -5 (including 1 service fault); Rezusta +1 -3
Artola +6 -9; Imaz +2 -3
Score adds to 21-16
Total score for the match: +17 (.459) -20 (541)
Balls in Play: 626
Non-Error %: .968 (1 point missing)
Time of the Match: 67 minutes
Number of balls per point: 16.47
Time per point: 1:46
Match article (Deia) (The Deia article is no longer available (updated March 15, 2020).
Match article: (Mundo Deportivo)
Match article: (Berria) (Basque)
Match article: (Mundo Deportivo)
Match article: (Berria) (Basque)
A-I became the last undefeated team to lose in this exciting but not particularly well played match. I-R broke open a close struggle with a 9-1 run at the end, featuring, according to the match article, several Artola errors. For the points we have scoring for (1 point was missing), errors outnumbered winners, the 2nd time in 4 matches this week that has happened. Each team gave the other about half of their points with errors.
December 15
Laso-Albisu (B) 22 Jaka-Zabaleta (A) 21 (EITB--match begins at 57:11)
(A 2-1; B 1-2)
Highlights (EITB)
Condensed linescore (EITB) (winners always listed 1st)
2-0; 2-4; 6-4; 6-5; 8-5; 8-7; 10-7; 10-8; 12-8; 12-9; 14-9; 14-11; 15-11; 15-18; 17-18; 17-20; 21-20; 21-21; (Laso goes down the left wall; Zabaleta charging in as Jaka was going right; dives, doesn't get it) 22-21
5 equal scores, 4 lead changes
Scoring (EITB:
Laso +7 (including 5 "airez") -8; Albisu +0 -6
Jaka +7 (7 "airez") -10; Zabaleta +0 -5
Total scoring for the match: +14 (.326) -29 (.674)
Balls in Play (EITB): 501
Laso 116; Albisu 135; Jaka 108; Zabaleta 142
Non error %: .942
Time of the match: (EITB) 64:13
Number of balls per point: 11.65
J-Z suffered their 1st loss in a riveting match that had 5 equal scores and 4 lead changes. Jaka had a difficult beginning to the match, but his play improved later. L-A seemed "large and in charge" at 15-11, but then J-Z answered with a 7 point run and had a 20-17 lead. It all came down to the final point. Laso put a beautiful shot down the left side. As Jaka was leaning to the right, only Zabaleta could save the point. He came charging down the left side, a maneuver he is excellent at, but, on this occasion, a full diving try yielded only a crash with the front wall as he came agonizingly close to the save. A crowd that had been restless during the early, error filled part of the match, came alive at the end.
December 14
Oliaozola II-Arretxabaleta (substituting for Urrutikoetxea) (B) 16 (EITB--match begins at 1:12:05)
(A 2-0; B 0-2)
Condensed linescore (EITB) (winners always listed 1st)
0-1; 1-1; 1-2; 2-2; 2-4; 4-4; 4-6; 6-6; 6-7; 7-7; 7-9; 8-9; 8-11; 11-11; 11-13; 14-13; 14-15; 18-15; (54 ball point) 18-16; 22-16
9 equal scores; 3 lead changes
Scoring (EITB):
Altuna III +16 (including 11 "airez") -3; L. Galarza +1 -2
Oliazola II +11 (8 "airez") -2; Arretxabaleta +0 -3
Total scoring for the match: +28 (.737) -10 (.263)
Balls in Play: (EITB) 695
Altuna III 192; L. Galarza 158; Oliazola II 168; Arretxabaleta 177
Non Error %: .986
Time of the match: (EITB) 75:22
Average balls per point: 18.29
Although this match ended with a 6 point margin of victory, it was easily the best match of the week. The two fronts were spectacular, with Altuna III taking the match over at the end. The best point of the match was the 52 ball 18-15--18-16 point, but it was the last one that O-A won. Aretxabaleta played well in his 2nd substitute assignment of the competition. He is now 1-1.
December 13
Bengoetxea VI-Mariezkurrena II (B) 19 (EITB--match begins at 1:07:09)
Condensed linescore (winners always listed first) (EITB)
1-0; 1-1; 5-1; 5-4; 6-4; 6-5; 9-5; 9-7; 11-7; 11-9; 13-9; 13-13; 14-13; 14-16; 20-16 (controversy over a Bengoetxea VI winner that was ruled "out of bounds"--very close, appeared to be in) 21-16; 21-19; (complete miscommunication between B and Mari, B leaves a sure winner go and Mari is nowhere to be seen) 22-19
Scoring (EITB):
Ezkurdia +6 (including 5 "airez") -5; Martija +1 -0
Bengoetxea VI +11 (7 "airez") -4; Mariezkurrena II +3 -11
Total scoring for the match: +21 (.512) -20 (.488)
Balls in Play (EITB): 634:
Ezkurdia 176; Martija 142; Bengoetxea VI 163; Mariezkurrena II 142
Non-Error %: .968
Time of the Match: 71:48
Average Balls per point 15.46
B-M were on the "back foot" through a good portion of the match, but then struck with a 3 point run to take their first lead. E-M then struck back with a 5 point run of their own, including a controversial call on what looked like a Bengoetxea VI winner, but was called out of bounds. Still B-M fought back with another 3 point run before an unfortunate mis-communication between them led to an easy retrieval for either of them fail and the match to end. Martija was quietly rock solid, making no errors and playing tidy if unspectacular defense. Unfortunately, Mariezkurrena II could not do the same. His 11 errors were too much for his team to overcome.
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Campeonato Parejas Promocion (November 22, 2019--March 28, 2020)
This is the Premier Promotion Professional Mano Championship. There are 8 teams. It begins with a double round robin league. The top 4 teams move on to a single round robin Semi-final League. The top 2 finishers play a Final on March 28, 2020.
Complete Calendar (with complete results back to 2002 (baikopilota.eus)
Competition preview (baikopilota.eus)
The teams (4 from each company: A=ASPE; B=Baikopilota
A
Egiguren V-Erostarbe
Salaberria-Garmendia
Elordi-O. Etxebarria
Zabala-Ruiz
B
Pena II-Aranguren
Alberdi-Salaverri
Agirre-Eskiroz
Arteaga II-Urreta
Week 4
Source for all raw statistics, unless otherwise specifically stated, is the EITB telecast.
December 15
Zabala-Ruiz (A) 22 Alberdi-Salaverri (B) 17
Source: ASPE Pelota Tweet
December 15
Arteaga II-Urretabizkaia II (B) 16 (EITB--match begins at 2:09:26)
(B 2-1; A 1-2)
Scoring:
Elordi +9(including 1 service ace and 7 "airez") -2; O. Etxeberria +2 -2
Arteaga II +10(1a and 5 "airez) -4; Urretabizkaia II +2 -7
Total scoring for the match: +23 (.605) -15 (.395)
Balls in play: 340
Elordi 92; O. Etxeberria 81; Arteaga II 80; Urretabizkaia II 87
Non error %: .956
Time of the match: 46:56
Average Balls per point: 8.95
Average Time per point: 1:14
December 14
Dario (substituting for Salaberria)-Garmendia (A) 10 (EITB--Match begins at 0:00)
(B 2-0; A 0-2)
Scoring:
Agirre +14(including 1 service ace and 8 "airez") -4; Eskiroz +2 -0
Dario +6 (3 "airez") -4; Garmendia +0 -2
Total scoring for the match: +22 (.687) -10 (.313)
Balls in play: 609
Agirre 164; Ezkiroz 146; Dario 136; Garmendia 163
Non-error %: .984
Time of the match: 61:30
Number of balls per point: 19.03
Time per point: 1:55
December 13
Egiguren V-Erostarbe (A) 13 (EITB--match begins at 0:00)
(B 1-0; A 0-1)
Scoring:
Bakaikoa +7(including 1 service ace and 3 "airez") -3; Arenguren +3 -4
Egiguren V +5 -7 (3 "airez"); Erostarbe +1 -5
Total scoring for the match: +16 (.457) -19 (.543)
There is no other statistical data available for this match.
Scoring:
Bakaikoa +7(including 1 service ace and 3 "airez") -3; Arenguren +3 -4
Egiguren V +5 -7 (3 "airez"); Erostarbe +1 -5
Total scoring for the match: +16 (.457) -19 (.543)
There is no other statistical data available for this match.
