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
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)
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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Week 1; Week 2; Week 3; Week 4; Week 5; Week 6; Week 7;
Week 8; Week 9; Week 10; Week 11; Week 12; Week 13; Week 14
Post-Season
Week 8; Week 9; Week 10; Week 11; Week 12; Week 13; Week 14
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
League Table at the end of Week 9 (Match record, Net Points + or -; Consecutive Wins/Losses (under construction), Change in Table (green +; red -)
Jaka-Zabaleta (A) 8-1 +73
Artola-Imaz (B) 5-4 +15 (+2) Ezkurdia-Martija (A) 5-4 +9 (-1)
Altuna III-L. Galarza (A) 5-4 +6 (-1)
Laso-Albisu (B) 5-4 -8
Irribaria--Rezusta (A) 4-5 -6
Oliazola II-Urrutikoetxea (B) 3-6 -42
Bengoetxea VI-Mariezkurrena II (B) 1-8 -47
Note: League Tables and Leaderboards FORTHCOMING.
Note: League Tables and Leaderboards FORTHCOMING.
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January 19
Altuna III-L. Galarza (A) 9 (EITB: match begins at: 1:20:51
Highlights (last 2 points) (EITB)
Condensed linescore (winners always listed
1st)
5-0; 5-2; 6-2; 6-3; 15-3; 15-7; 20-7; 20-9; 22-9
Scoring: (Deia) Note: I am using Deia scoring, which adds to the total. Below I have also provided EITB scoring, which does not add to the total
Jaka +13(including 1 service ace) -1; Zabaleta +2 -3
Altuna III +5(2a) -2; L. Galarza +0 -5
Total scoring for the match: +20 (.645) -11 (.355)
EITB:
Jaka +10(including 9 "airez") -1; Zabaleta +2 -5
Altuna III +3(1 "airez") -2; L. Galarza +0 -6
Score adds to 20-9
Balls in play: (EITB): 263
Jaka 75; Zabaleta 62; Altuna III 55; L. Galarza 71
Non-error %: .958
Saves: 33
Jaka 9; Zabaleta 7; Altuna III 11; L. Galarza 6
Save %: .125
Time of the match: 42:11
Average balls per point: 8.47
Average time per point: 1:22
Match article (Deia)
This was a crucial match for A-G. A win would have moved them within 1 game of top of the table. J-Z were having none of it. A 9-0 run sandwiched around two 5-0 runs turned this match into a route. The Deia match article talked about "an army", "boots on a road" "pit bulls gnashing their teeth," and "Atilla" (Google Translate). In this case, it wasn't necessarily hyperbole. J-Z erased their opponents in the shortest game of the year (by balls--263), in a little over 42 minutes. There were only 33 saves because Jaka was killing everything in site. Zabaleta kept L. Galarza back so that many of his returns did not pass Jaka. It was an emphatic victory that left J-Z with 8 wins in 9 matches and a 3 match lead over 4 teams behind them. At this rate, they can clinch first place within the next two weeks.
January 18
Oliazola II-Urrurtikoetxea 9 (EITB--match begins at: 54:40)
Highlights (EITB)
Judges: Irene Ortiz and Koldo Cunado
Condensed linescore (winners always listed 1st)
2-0; 2-1; 9-1; 9-5; 16-5; 16-6; 19-6; 19-7; 21-7; 21-9; 22-9
No equal scores, no lead changes
Scoring: (Deia) (EITB did not provide full scoring, Deia did.
Artola +10 (including 2 service aces) -2; Imaz +2 -2
Oliazola II +4(1a) -3; Urrutikoetxea +1 -5
Score adds to 20-9
Total scoring for the match: +17 (.586) -12 (.414)
I could find no balls in play data
Saves: 86
Oliazola 30; Urrutikoetxea 22; Artola 23; Imaz 11
Time of the match: 1:03:00
Match article (Deia)
A-I used two big 7-0 runs to win easily. The runs were very different. In the first one, Artola played aggresive mano, killing as many points as quickly as he could. After Artola's 1st error made the score 9-2 O-U made inroads with 3 more points as Artola seemed to go into a shell. At 9-5, A-I changed their strategy. Both Artola and Imaz kept the pelota away from Oliazola II, constantly (especially Artola) feeding Urrutikoetxea high lobs that he insisted on hitting on the fly. The mistake of poor return was always just around the corner, and Artola took care of business. Last week, A-I lost a heartbreaker to Laso-Albisu. They didn't let the possible "hangover" from that match effect them. They played smart, effective mano and now find themselves in 2nd position, a place they will want to stay in order to avoid a "play-in" match for the Semi-final Liga.
Laso-Albisu (B) 22
Bengoetxea VI-Marriezkurrena II (B) 19 (no full match video available)
Source for all statistics--Deia
Selected linescore
0-1; 1-2; 5-3; 6-4; 6-5 7-8; 8-9; 9-9; 10-10; 11-13; 14-14; 15-14; 17-15; 18-15; 18-16; 19-17; 21-18; 22-19
Scoring:
Laso +9(including 1 service ace) -4; Albisu +2 -5
Bengoetxea VI +9(3a) -6; Mariezurrena II +1 -4
Score adds to 21-19
Total scoring for the match: +21 (.525) -19 (.475)
Balls in play: 397
Non-error %: .952
Time: 60:00
Average Number of balls per point 9.93
Average time per point: 1:30
Match article (Deia)
L-A won the match in the closing stages. They outscored B-M 11-5 in the second half of the match for their 5th win. They are tied for 2nd place with 3 other teams but their goal differential puts them in 5th place at the moment. B-M's lost season continues. They have now won 1 in 9 matches and sit firmly at the foot of the table.
January 17
Match preview article (Mundo Deportivo)
Ezkurdia-Martija (A) 9 (EITB--match begins at 1:26:37)
Fronton TV Youtube (Castilian)
Highlights (EITB)
Judges: Joseba Recalde and Josu Ocariz
Condensed linescore (winners always listed 1st)
0-2; 1-2; 1-3; 2-3; 2-5; 6-5; 6-6; (5 Irribarria winners) 14-6; 14-7; 18-7; 18-9; 22-9
2 equal scores, 1 lead change
Scoring:
Irribarria +17(including 1 service ace and 9 "airez" -2; Rezusta +0 -0
Ezkurdia +7(1a) -1; Martija +0 -4
Total scoring for the match: +24 (.774) -7 (.226)
Saves: 67
Irribarria 25; Rezusta 15; Ezkurdia 18; Martija 9
Saves %: (478 balls in play) .140
Non error %: .986
Balls in play: 478
Irribarria 138; Rezusta 105; Ezkurdia 112; Marija 123
Time of the match: 51:00
Average balls per point: 15.42
Average time per point: 1:39
Match article (Noticias de Navarra)
Match article (Mundo Deportivo)
The first dozen points hinted at a fascinating matchup, but then I-R completely dominated the rest of the match, outscoring E-M 16-3.The MD article discussed the "speed" of the concha as an important factor. It also discussed the inability of Martija to get the pelota past Irribarria. As for Irribarria, he demonstrated just how powerful a force he can be in this modality, +17 -2, including 8 kill shots directly off the front wall. But he also showed his defensive abilities with a match leading 25 saves (34% of the times he hit the pelota the result was a winner or save). The proceedings were viewed by an overflow crowd of more than 400 and were the first two (see below under Promocion) professional Mano matches ever staged at Bunuel.
I-R, after a lackluster 1st half, are in a position to move up, as they are only 1 match behind the 4 teams directly ahead of them. One of those teams is Altuna III-L. Galarza, who the play next week.
Leaderboards (under construction)
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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
League Table at the end of Week 9 (Match record, Net Points + or -; Consecutive Wins/Losses (under construction), Change in Table (green +; red -)
Agirre-Eskiroz (B) 8-1 +70
Elordi-O. Etxebarria (A) 7-2 +24 (+1)
Pena-Aranguren (B) 7-2 +23 (-1)Salaberria-Garmendia (A) 3-6 -6
Arteaga II-Urretabizkaia II (B) 3-6 -22 (+2)
Egiguren V-Erostarbe (A) 3-6 -22
Zabala-Ruiz (A) 3-6 -33 (+1)
Alberdi-Salverri (B) 2-7 -34 (-1)
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January 19
Salaberria-Garmendia (A) 18 (EITB--match begins at 2:11:55
Condensed linescore (winners always listed 1st)
1-0; 1-1; 3-1; 3-4; 5-4; 5-9; 6-9; 6-10; 12-10; 12-12; 17-12; 17-18; 22-18
8 equal scores, 6 lead changes
Scoring:
Dario +11(including 4 "airez") -8; Ruiz +2 -7
Salaberria +3(1 "airez") -6; Garmendia +0 -3
Total scoring for the match: +16 (.400) -24 (.600)
Balls in play: 628
Dario 183; Ruiz 132; Salaberria 151; Garmendia 162
Non error %: .962
Time of the match: 64:50
Average balls per point: 15.7
Average time per point: 1:37
This was Dario's 3rd match as a substitute in this competition. He is now 1-2.
January 18
Egiguren V-Erostarbe (A) 16 (EITB--match begins at 0:00)
Judges: Irene Ortiz and Koldo Cunado
Partial condensed linescore (winners always listed 1st) Note: EITB joined the match in progress. If and when I find a full linescore, I will add it.
9-6; 9-7; 11-7; 11-8; 12-8; 12-11; 14-11; 14-12; 16-12; 16-13; 18-13; 18-14; 19-14; 19-15; 20-15; 20-16; 22-16
Scoring:
Elordi +10(including 9 "airez") -5; Tolosa +2 -3
Egiguren V +7 -5 (3 "airez"); Erostarbe +1 -5
Total match scoring: +20 (.526) -18 (.474)
Balls in play: 644
Elordi 168; Tolosa 157; Egiguren V 126; Erostarbe 193
Non error %: .972
Time of the match: 69:56
Average balls per point: 16.95
Average time per point: 1:50
Tolosa has now played in 3 matches as a substitute. He has won 2 and the 1 he lost (with Salaberria) was by the minimum to 7-1 Pena-Arrenguren.
Agirre-Eskiroz 22
Pena II-Erasun (subsituting for Aranguren) 10
The win gives A-E 8 wins in 9 matches, and moves them to the top of the table. There is no other information about this match that I could find.
January 17
Alberdi-Salaverri (B) 21 (EITB--match begins at 0:00)
Judges: Joseba Recalde and Josu Ocariz
Condensed linescore: (winners always listed 1st)
0-1; 1-1; 1-2; 3-2; 3-3; 5-3; 5-4; 11-4; 11-5; 12-5; 12-10; (Alberdi error) 13-10; 14-10; 14-11; 18-11; 18-17; (Alberdi winner) 18-18; 18-19 (Alberdi -) 19-19; (Arteaga II +) 20-19; (2 Urretabizkaia II -) 20-21; (Alberdi -) 21-21; (Arteaga II +) 22-21
7 equal scores, 5 lead changes
Scoring:
Arteaga II +13(including 3 service aces and 8 "airez"); -2; Urretabizkaia II +1 -7
Alberdi +12 (1a, 6 "airez") -5; Salaverri +0 -3
Total scoring for the match: +26 (.605) -17 (.395)
Non error %: (716 balls in play) .976
Balls in play: 716
Arteaga II 131; Urretabizkaia II 227; Alberdi 161; Salaverri 197
Time of the match: 80:23
Average balls per point: 16.65
Average time per point: 1:52
Leaderboards (under construction)
