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
Week 8; Week 9; Week 10; Week 11; Week 12; Week 13; Week 14
Post-Season
1A Play-offs and Promotion Semi-Final League Week 1
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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February 28-March 1
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February 28-March 1
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1A Playoff-Table
Key: Delantero (front)-Zaguero (back) (Company: A=ASPE; B=Baiko Pilota; W-L (wins-losses); PF (Points for); PA (Points against); Net (PF-PA)
5. Laso-Albisu (B).................1-0....22-15....+7
6. Olaizola II-Urrutikoetxea (B)...1-0....22-17....+5
3. Artola-Imaz (B).................0-1....17-22....-56. Olaizola II-Urrutikoetxea (B)...1-0....22-17....+5
4. Altuna III-L. Galarza (A).......0-1....15-22....-7
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1a Playoffs
Playoffs only
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1A Playoff, Semi-final, and Final Tournament Statistical Summary
2 matches
Total cumulative match score +40 (.519) -37 (.481)
Total cumulative balls in play: 1420 (Avg.=710)
Non-error %: (BIP - errors)/BIP: .974
Saves: 151 (Avg. 75)
Save % (Saves/BIP): .106
Total cumulative time of matches: 156:52 (2 hours, 36 minutes 52 seconds)
Average time: 78:26
Average balls per point: 18.44
Average time per point: 2:02
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March 1
Astelena, Eibar (1) (2) Astelena opened in 1904.
Laso-Albisu (B) (#5; 7-7; -7) 22
Altuna III-L. Galarza (A) (#4, 7-7; -5) 15 (EITB--match begins at 1:10:03)
Highlights (EITB)
Playoffs only
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1A Playoff, Semi-final, and Final Tournament Statistical Summary
2 matches
Total cumulative match score +40 (.519) -37 (.481)
Total cumulative balls in play: 1420 (Avg.=710)
Non-error %: (BIP - errors)/BIP: .974
Saves: 151 (Avg. 75)
Save % (Saves/BIP): .106
Total cumulative time of matches: 156:52 (2 hours, 36 minutes 52 seconds)
Average time: 78:26
Average balls per point: 18.44
Average time per point: 2:02
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March 1
Astelena, Eibar (1) (2) Astelena opened in 1904.
Laso-Albisu (B) (#5; 7-7; -7) 22
Altuna III-L. Galarza (A) (#4, 7-7; -5) 15 (EITB--match begins at 1:10:03)
Highlights (EITB)
Judges: Egoitz Ojinaga and Gorka Santos
Condensed linescore (winners always listed 1st)
1-0; 1-2; 4-2; 4-4; 9-4; 9-5; 14-5; 14-7; 15-7; 15-9; 17-9; 17-12; 19-12; 19-15; 22-15
Scoring
Laso +8(including 5 "airez") -2; Albisu +4 -4
Altuna III +9(6 "airez") -5; L. Galarza +0 -5
Total scoring for the match: +21 (.568) -16 (.432)
Balls in play: 604
Laso 150; Albisu 155; Altuna III 139; L. Galarza 160
Non-error % (BIP - errors)/BIP: .974
Saves: 62
Saves Key: f=in front; 10=at or near the 10 line;
Laso 30; most saves on a point: 6 (Pt. 4: 2-1--2-2); multiple saves on 8 points
Albisu 10 (including 3f, covering for Laso, 1-10): most saves on a point: 2 (Pts. 18--12-5--13-5, and 24--15-8--15-9); multiple saves on 1 point.
Altuna III 17; most saves on a point: 3 (Pts. 4 and 10--6-4--6-5); multiple saves on 5 points.
L. Galarza 5; (1f, 1-10); most saves on a point: 2 (Pt. 18--12-5--13-5); multiple saves on 1 point
Save % (Save/BIP): .103
Time of the match: 71:26
Average balls per point: 16.32
Average time per point: 1:56
Match preview (Mundo Deportivo)
Match article (El Correo)
Match article (Noticias de Navarra)
Match article (Mundo Deportivo)
Match article (Berria)--Basque
A-G entered this match with a perfect 2-0 League record against L-A (22-10 and 22-18). However, Laso played a terrific match, leading all scorers with +8 -2. He also played sterling defense with 30 saves, almost half of the saves in the entire match. Many of these kept Altuna III off the scoreboard or frustrated him into making errors.
At the heart of the match were 2 early 5 point runs that gave L-A a 9 point (14-5) lead. From there A-G couldn't answer and and never got closer than 4. L. Galarza did not have the best of days, with 5 errors. Added to Altuna III's 5, they gave the winners almost half their points.
L-A now enter the Semi-final League while A-G finish at 7-8.
February 29
Labrit, Iruna (Pamplona) (1) (2) Labrit opened in 1952.
Olaizola II-Urrutikoetxea (B) (#6; 6-8; -33) 22
Artola-Imaz (B) (#3; 8-6; +12) 17 (EITB--match begins at 30:02)
Fronton TV Youtube (Castilian)
Highlights (EITB)
Judges: Patxi Arbizu and Joso Ocariz
Condensed linescore (winners always listed 1st)
0-1; 2-1; 2-2; 3-2; 3-4; 5-4; 5-5; 10-5; 10-7; 11-7; 11-8; 12-8; 12-9; 13-9; 13-10; 16-10; (U falls twice, makes an error, and a miscommunication between O and U) 16-14; (after some communication difficulties between O and U almost cost them another point, A misses on a cross court kill shot winner to stop the run); 17-14; (O winner) 18-14; (A misses a sure dejada--drop shot-- winner) 19-14; 19-15; 20-15; 20-17; 22-17
5 equal scores, 4 lead changes, biggest lead O-U (5 points)
Scoring
Olaizola II +8(including 6 "airez") -2; Urrutikoetxea +1 -5
Artola +10 (2 "airez") -7; Imaz +0 -7
Score adds to 23-17
Total match scoring: +19 (.475) -21 (.525
Balls in play: 816
Olaizola II 180; Urrutikoetxea 229; Artola 202; Imaz 205
Non-error % (BIP - errors)/BIP: .974
Saves: 89
Olaizola II 26 (including 5 in the back covering for Urrutikoetxea--4 of those on Pt. 22--12-9--13-9); most saves on a point: 5 (Pts. 12--6-5--7-5 and 22--12-9--13-9); multiple saves on 6 pts.
Urrutikoetxea 28 (including 2 from near or behind the 10 line and 1 in the front covering for Olaizola II); most saves on a point: 6 (Pt. 12); multiple saves on 7 points.
Artola 28: most saves on a point: 4 (Pt. 31--17-14--18-14); multiple saves on 6 points
Imaz 7: most saves on a point: 2 (Pt. 12); multiple saves on 1 point
Save %: (Saves/BIP): .109
Time of the match: 85:26
Average balls per point: 20.92
Average time per point: 2:11
Match preview (Noticias de Gipuzkoa)
Match article (Mundo Deportivo)
Match article (Noticias de Navarra)
Match article (Diario Vasco)
Match article (El Correo)
Just as in the match above, A-I probably came into this match with confidence, having beaten O-U twice in the League phase, 22-13 and 22-9. And O-U barely made the playoff by winning their last 2 matches to finish 6-8 (the first time a team with a losing record has made the Post Season since 2014 (ASPE), and only the 2nd time since 2012, when the present 14 match League format began).
But all that went "out the window" during this match, a stern test of endurance in which 3 of the four Manistas played over 200 balls. The match took over 85 minutes and contained some great defensive play, with O and A making 28 saves apiece (by my count). Pt. 12, (6-5--7-5) featured 16 saves in total. O and A had several communication issues with regard to who was going to return the pelota (this happened on 4 separate points), but managed to communicate enough to establish an early 5 point lead and protect it for the rest of the match.
After a nightmare 4 point stretch where U fell down twice, committed an error, and the team lost a point due to a miscommunication, A-I got right back into the match at 16-14. Here A committed the first of 2 simple errors (he missed a straightforward cross court kill shot) that made the score 17-14. Olaizola II, the old pro who won this Championship with this partner in 2016 (the famous match where the great Juan Martinez de Irujo [EITB video; about 1 hour, Castilian with Basque subtititles] broke his finger trying for a save, sadly, the last match he ever played), took immediate advantage with a winner. 18-14. The 2nd Artola error followed on the next point, a certain dejada winner that he somehow missed. Even though he followed with 2 winners, the damage had been done, and soon O-U gained a place in the Semi-final league.
And they played well and deserved the win. However, they were gifted 14 of their points (7 errors by each of their opponents). That is never a good idea against a team with this experience and this hunger (both O and U have had a difficult time in this competition since 2016--O suffering a major injury last season that nearly ended his career). And now, after a mostly disastrous League campaign that they salvaged at the very end, they have "opened a crack" in the door. It's anyone's guess how far they will go, but it will certainly be interesting to watch. A-I finished 8-7.
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Playoff and Semi-final League Leader Boards. Note. Leader boards, unless otherwise specifically stated. are all based on EITB scoring,
2 matches
Delanteros (fronts) (net scoring)
Key: Name; Company A=ASPE, B=Baiko Pilota; +(winners) -(errors); (Net)
*=Playoff participants
Laso (B) +8 -2 (+6)*
Olaizola II (B) +8 -2 (+6)*
Altuna III (A) +9 -5 (+4)*
Artola (B) +10 -7 (+3)*
Saves (my scoring)
Laso (B) 30*
Artola (B) 28*
Olaizola II (B) 26*
Altuna III (A) 17*
Zagueros (backs) (least errors)
Albisu (B) 4*
Urrutikoetxea 5.
L. Galarza (A) 5*
Imaz (B) 7*
Saves (my scoring)
2 matches
Delanteros (fronts) (net scoring)
Key: Name; Company A=ASPE, B=Baiko Pilota; +(winners) -(errors); (Net)
*=Playoff participants
Laso (B) +8 -2 (+6)*
Olaizola II (B) +8 -2 (+6)*
Altuna III (A) +9 -5 (+4)*
Artola (B) +10 -7 (+3)*
Saves (my scoring)
Laso (B) 30*
Artola (B) 28*
Olaizola II (B) 26*
Altuna III (A) 17*
Zagueros (backs) (least errors)
Albisu (B) 4*
Urrutikoetxea 5.
L. Galarza (A) 5*
Imaz (B) 7*
Saves (my scoring)
Urrutikoetxea (B) 28*
Albisu (B) 10*
Imaz (B) 7*
L. Galarza (A) 5*
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Final 1a League Table
Key: Delantero (front)-Zaguero (back) (Company: A=ASPE; B=Baiko Pilota; W-L (wins-losses); PF (Points for); PA (Points against); Net (PF-PA)
W-L PF-PA Net
1. Jaka-Zabaleta (A)..................12-2..304-205...99
2. Ezkurdia-Martija (A)................9-5..282-259...23
3. Artola-Imaz (B).....................8-6..263-251...12
4. Altuna III-L. Galarza (A)...........7-7..263-268...-5
5. Laso-Albisu (B).....................7-7..274-281...-7
6. Olaizola II-Urrutikoetxea (B).......6-8..237-270..-33 (+1)
7. Irribarria-Rezusta (A)..............5-9..251-272..-21 (-1)
8. Bengoetxea VI-Marriezkurena II (B).2-12..236-304..-68
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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-Urretabizkaia II
Promotion Semi-final League Table--Week 1
Key: Delantero (front)-Zaguero (back) (Company: A=ASPE; B=Baiko Pilota; W-L (wins-losses); PF (Points for); PA (Points against); Net (PF-PA)
Agirre-Ezkiroz (B).......1-0....22-13...+9
Zabala-Ruiz (A)..........1-0....22-13...+9
Pena-Aranguren(B)........0-1....13-22...-9
Elordi-O. Etxeberria(A...0-1..13-22.....-9
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February 28, March 1
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Promotion Semi-Final and Final Tournament Statistical Summary
2 matches
Total cumulative match score: +37 (.529) -33 (471)
Total cumulative balls in play: 1123 (Avg.=561)
Non-error %: (BIP - errors)/BIP: .971
Total cumulative time of matches: 121:01 (2 hours 1 minute 1second)
Average time: 58:26
Average balls per point: 18.44
Average time per point: 1:44
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Promotion Semi-final League--Week 1
March 1
Pena II-Aranguren (B) (#2; 11-3; 76) 13 (EITB--match begins at: 2:32:32
Judges: Egoitz Ojinaga and Gorka Santos
Condensed linescore (winners always listed 1st)
1-0; 1-2; 3-2; 3-3; 9-3; 9-5; 11-5; 11-9; 15-9; 15-10; 16-10; 16-12; 21-12; 21-13; 22-13
3 equal scores, 2 lead changes, biggest lead A-E (9)
Scoring:
Agirre +8(including 4 "airez") -2; Ezkiroz +2 -0
Pena II +9(4 "airez") -6; Aranguren +2 -6
Total scoring for the match: +21 (.600) -14 (.400)
Balls in play: 580
Agirre 125; Ezkiroz 168; Pena II 132; Aranguren 155
Non-error % (BIP - errors)/BIP: .976
Time of the match: 63:21
Average balls per point: 16.57
Average time per point: 1:49
A-E won both League matches, 22-15 and 22-10.
February 28
Larrabetzu Municipal (1) (2) Larrabetzu Municipal opened in 1985
Known Judge: Irene Ortiz
Condensed linescore (winners always listed 1st)
4-0; 4-1; 6-1; 6-2; 7-2; 7-7; 10-7; 10-8; 18-8; 18-11; 19-11; 19-13; 22-13
1 equal score, 0 lead changes, biggest lead: Z-R (9)
Scoring:
Zabala +13(including 6 "airez") -7; Ruiz +0 -3
Elordi +3 (3 "airez") -7; O. Etxeberria +0 -2
Total scoring for the match: +16 (.457) -19 (.543)
Balls in play: 543
Zabala 149, Ruiz 127; Elordi 149; O. Etxeberria 118
Non-error %: (BIP - errors)/BIP: .965
Time of the match: 57:40
Average balls per point: 15.51
Average time per point: 1:39
Z-R, who got into the post season after outscoring Salaberria-Garmendi cumulatively by 1 point (S-B 22-19 week 2; Dario (substituting for Zabala)-R 22-18 week 9), made the most of their opportunity by dominating E-E, a team they had split with (11-22; 22-13) during the League matches.
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Promotion Semi-Final League Leader Boards
2 matches
Delanteros (fronts) (net scoring)
Key: Name; Company A=ASPE, B=Baiko Pilota; +(winners) -(errors); (Net)
Agirre (B) +8 -2 (+6)
Zabala (A) +13 -7 (+6)
Pena (B) +9 -6 (+3)
Elordi (A) +3 -7 (-4)
Zagueros (backs) (fewest errors)
Ezkiroz(B) 0
O. Etxeberria (A) 2
Ruiz (A) 3
Aranguren (B) 6
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Promotion Semi-Final League Leader Boards
2 matches
Delanteros (fronts) (net scoring)
Key: Name; Company A=ASPE, B=Baiko Pilota; +(winners) -(errors); (Net)
Agirre (B) +8 -2 (+6)
Zabala (A) +13 -7 (+6)
Pena (B) +9 -6 (+3)
Elordi (A) +3 -7 (-4)
Zagueros (backs) (fewest errors)
Ezkiroz(B) 0
O. Etxeberria (A) 2
Ruiz (A) 3
Aranguren (B) 6
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Final Promotion League Table:
1. Agirre-Ezkiroz (B).............11-3....298-201....97
2. Pena II-Arrenguren(B)..........11-3....281-205....76
3. Elordi-O. Etxeberria (A)........8-6....266-263.....3
4. Zabala-Ruiz (A).................7-7....247-260...-13*
5. Salaberria-Garmendia (A)........7-7....263-260.....3*
6. Arteaga II-Urretabizkaia II (B).5-9....247-264...-17
7. Alberdi-Salaverry (B)...........4-10...235-288...-53
8. Egiguren V-Erostarbe(A).........3-11...207-283...-76
* Z-R won the final playoff spot due to a better head to head points record against S-G. S-G won the first match between the two 22-19. Z-R won the 2nd match 22-18, moving on to the Promotion Semi-final League by a single point (head to head win loss record is the first tie-breaker, head to head point differential is the 2nd).
