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Sunday, March 15, 2020

Mano--Binakako Txapleketa/Campeonato Parejas POST SEASON--1a Week 1 Semi-final League and Promotion--Week 2 Semi Final League; March 6-8--UPDATE THROUGH MARCH 8

UPDATED THROUGH MARCH 8, 2020

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)
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.

-----------------------------------------

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.

========================================

Week 1Week 2Week 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
1A Semi-Final League W 1 and Promotion W 2
1A Semi-Final League  W 2 and Promotion W 3
1A Semi-Final League W 3
Promotion FINAL
1A FINAL

========================================

1A Semi-final League Table--Week 1

6. Olaizola II-Urrutikoetxea (B)...1-0...22-10...+12
2. Ezkurdia-Martija )(A)...........1-0...22-16....+6
1. Jaka-Zabaleta (A)...............0-1...16-22....-6
5. Laso-Albisu (B).................0-1...10-22...-12

========================

1a Semi-Final League--Week 1 

March 7-8

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1A Playoff, Semi-final, and Final Tournament Statistical Summary

4 matches

Total cumulative match score +77 (.524) -70 (.476)
Total cumulative balls in play: 2661 (Avg.=665)
Non-error %: (BIP - errors)/BIP: .974
Saves: 308 (Avg. 77)
Save % (Saves/BIP): .116
Total cumulative time of matches: 283:08 (4 hours, 43 minutes 8 seconds)
Average time: 71 minutes
Average balls per point: 18.10
Average time per point: 1:54

========================

March 8

Bizkaia, Bilbo (Bilbao) (1)(2) Bizkaia opened in 2011.

#.=Finishing position in League Table

5. Laso-Albisu (B) 10 (EITB--match begins at: 1;01:40

Highlights (EITB) Final points of match followed by interviews (no sound until the interviews).

Judges were not identified on the video.

Condensed linescore: (winners always listed 1st)

0-4; (Albisu error, Laso error) 2-4; 9-4; 9-5; 14-5; 14-10; (miscommunication: Laso lets a return go, expecting Albisu to cover. Albisu doesn't.) 15-10; 20-10 (another miscommunication, Albisu error) 22-10

4, 9, 5, 5, 8 (31 of the 32 points in the match were scored in significant runs).

1 equal score, 1 lead change, biggest lead O-A (12 points)

Scoring:

Note: "Airez" means "in the air i.e. the player hits the pelota directly off the front wall (non on the bounce) for a winner. Also known as a "kill shot."

Olaizola II +11(including 6 "airez") -3; Aranguren +0 -2
Laso +5(5 "airez") -2; Albisu +0 -9

Total scoring for the match: +16 (.500) -16 (.500)

Balls in play: 566
Olaizola II 161; Aranguren 127; Laso 125; Albisu 153

Non-error %: (BIP - errors)/BIP: .972

Saves: 60 

Saves Key: a=apron; b=in the back; ab=apron in the back (b and ab refer to front court players); f=in the front; af=apron in the front; t=behind or near the 10 line (f, af, and t refer to back court players); h=very high shot; sw=save winners; most=most saves on a point; mult=number of points a player made multiple saves) 

Olaizola II 16 (5a); most=4 (Pt. 22--14-7--14-8); mult=3

Aranguren 10 (6t, 1h, 1f); most=2 (Pt.2--0-1--0-2; Pt. 15--9-5--10-5; Pt. 22--14-7--14-8); mult=3 

Laso 22 (15a); most=3 (Pt. 1--0-0--0-1; Pt. 15--9-5--10-5; Pt. 31--20-10--21-10); mult=6

Albisu 12 (5t, 2h, 2a); most=2 (Pt. 18--12-5--13-5; Pt. 23--14-8--14-9; Pt. 32--21-10--22-10); mult=3

Save %: (Saves/BIP) .106 

Time of the match: 60:58
Average number of balls per point: 17.69
Average time per point: 1:54

The League Season: 

Week 3: L-A 22 O-U 14
Week 10: L-A 22 O-U 14

Match article (Naiz) (Basque)
Match article (Berria) (Basque)
Match article (Mundo Deportivo)
Match article (Noticias de Gipuzkoa) Article features the age difference between Olaizola II, who was already a professional Manista before Aranguren was born.

Urrutikoetxea's absence due to left hand pain (he also has pain in his right hand) left this match very much in doubt. U had hit the pelota an astonishing 229 times in O-A's marathon 816 ball 85 and 1/2 minute victory over Artola-Imaz in the playoff last week. His replacement was a call up from the Promotion League, 19 year old Aitor Aranguren. It was Aranguren's 3rd match in the 1a competition, and his 2nd time partnering with Olaizola II. O is old enough at 40 to be Aranguren's father (see the feature in Noticias de Gipuzkoa above). How would Arenguren do on the "big stage" in a crucial post-season match? 

He answered that question emphatically with an excellent performance (2 errors, as well as 6 saves at or near the 10 line). While he was doing that, L-A were stumbling at a number of crucial points. All that, along with a typically surgical performance from Olaizola II added up to a remarkably easy 22-10 win and leg up on what a few weeks ago was an extremely "long shot" place in the Final. O-U-A have now won 4 consecutive matches, the last two under tremendous pressure. One more victory will most likely propel them (assuming Urrutikoetxea comes back) o the Final, which they won in 2016. 

With Olaizola II, an opponent simply cannot make the mistakes that L-A made and expect to get anything but a thrashing. The match began well for L-A as they raced out to a 4-0 lead, one of which was an error on an easy winner by O. Then Albisu made an error, Laso missed a two wall... and when the "dust settled" O-A had a 9-4 lead. They followed that with another 5 point run before L-A fought back with a 5 point run of their own to make the score 14-10. But then Laso let a return go and Albisu was nowhere to be seen and that, it turned out, was the end of them. O-A closed them out with an 8 point run, the last two of which were gifted.

Olaizola II had a superb match with a net +8. On the other side, Albisu had a very "bad day at the office" with a -9. L-A gave O-A half their points. O scored the other half. And Aitor Aranguren very quietly showed that he can play at this level.

+++

March 7

#.=Finishing position in League Table

Labrit, Iruna (Pamplona) (1)(2) Labrit opened in 1952.

1. Jaka-Zabaleta (A) 16 (EITB--match begins at: 21:31)

Highlights (EITB) Final point and interview with Ezkurdia

Judges: Patxi Arbizu and Joseba Rekalde

Condensed linescore (winners always listed 1st)

0-2; 3-2; 3-3; 4-3; 4-4; 6-4; 6-5; 8-5; 8-8; (Jaka error) 9-8; 13-8; 13-9; 14-9; 14-10; 15-10; 15-13; 16-13; 16-15; 17-15; 17-16; 18-16; (Jaka 3 errors) 21-16; (Ezkurdia spectacular high and deep left pass); 22-16

4 equal scores, 1 lead change, biggest lead E-M (6 points)

Scoring:

Ezkurdia +11(including 5 "airez") -4; Martija +1 -3
Jaka +8(7 "airez") -6; Zabaleta +1 -4

Total scoring for the match: +21 (.553) -17 (.447)

Balls in play: 685
Ezkurdia 186; Martija 158; Jaka 161; Zabaleta 180

Non-error %: (BIP - errors)/BIP) .961

Saves: 97

Saves Key: a=apron; b=in the back; ab=apron in the back (b and ab refer to front court players); f=in the front; af=apron in the front; t=behind or near the 10 line (f, af, and t refer to back court players); h=very high shot; sw=save winners; most=most saves on a point; mult=number of points a player made multiple saves) 

Ezkurdia 24 (7a, 3b, 1ab, 2sw) most=3 (Pt. 19--10-8--11-8; Pt. 38--21-16--22-16); mult=8

Martija 16 (4t, 7f, 1h) most=2 (Pt. 8--4-3--4-4; Pt. 16--8-7--8-8; Pt. 33--17-16--18-16; Pt. 37--20-16--21-16); mult=4

Jaka 38 (21a, 1b) most=4 (Pt. 5--2-2--3-2; Pt. 8--4-3--4-4); mult=10

Zabaleta 19 (4t, 3f, 1af, 5a) most=4 (Pt. 4--1-2--2-2); mult=4

Save % (Saves/BIP): .142

Time of the match: 75:36
Average balls per point: 18.03
Average time per point: 1:59

The League Season:

Week 3: J-Z 22 E-M 20
Week 10: E-M 22 J-Z 19

Match article (Mundo Deportivo 1)
Match article (Mundo Deportivo II)
Match article  (Diario Vasco)
Match article (Noticias de Gipuzkoa)
Match article (Berria) (Basque)

In what might be a a foreshadow of a rematch in the Final, E-M opened up a very close match (with some help from Jaka) at the very end, scoring the last 5 points in a 22-16 win. While Ezkurdia was the difference (his +7 net (+11 -4) clearly outdistancing Jaka's +2 (+8 -6)), it was a very hard fought match in which 685 balls were played in over 75 minutes. There were 4 equal scores to 8-8. At that point Jaka made an error to give E-M a lead they would never relinquish. They soon followed with 4 more points to open up a 13-8 lead, and then split the next 4: 15-10. J-Z battled back, a Jaka winner closing the gap to 15-13. The two point lead remained at 18-16. But then Jaka made 3 consecutive errors and Ezkurdia finished the match with a long, high passing shot to the inside. 

Jaka had some difficulties under the bright lights of post season play, but he also played magnificent defense, helping to keep the score as close as it was. By my count he had 38 of the 97 saves in the match, over 20 apron saves along with multiple saves on 10 points. In fact everyone played a great defensive match, Ezkurdia had 24 saves (of which he turned 2 into immediate winners). On the 19th point (10-8--11-8) he had 2 saves in the back (covering for Martija)--1 an apron save in the back, as well as an apron save in the front. Each of the back court players had 4 saves on or near the 10 line (because of the camera angles, they may have had more that I didn't see). Zabaleta did what he does best, showing tremendous range with 4 saves in the front (covering for Jaka), including on apron save in the front. Martija, a very steady defensive player in the back, also had 7 saves in the front (covering for Ezkurdia). 6 of the 38 points, by my count, featured saves by all 4 players. 

It was unfortunate, but perhaps not terribly surprising, that Jaka, after all the controversy over his selection (see above MY ARTICLE link), and a superb season answering that controversy, stumbled at the end. The one thing he doesn't have (yet) is experience in the biggest competition in the modality. 

========================

A1 Playoff and Semi-final League Leader Boards. Note. Leader boards, unless otherwise specifically stated. are all based on EITB scoring,

4 matches

Delanteros (fronts) (net scoring)

Key: Name; Company A=ASPE, B=Baiko Pilota; +(winners) -(errors); (Net)

*=Playoff participant

2 matches
Olaizola II (B) +19 -5 (+14)*
Laso (B)        +13 -6  (+7)*

1 match
Ezkurdia (A)    +11 -4 (+7)
Altuna III (A)   +9 -5 (+4)*
Artola (B)      +10 -7 (+3)*
Jaka (A)         +8 -6 (+2)

Saves (my scoring)

2 matches
Laso (B)                 52*
Olaizola II (B)          42*

1 match
Jaka (A)                 39
Artola (B)               28*
Ezkurdia (A)             25
Altuna III (A)           17*

Zagueros (backs) (least errors)

2 matches
Albisu (B)               13*

1 match
Aranguren (B)             2
Martija (A)               3
Zabaleta (A)              4
Urrutikoetxea (B)         5*
L. Galarza (A)            5*
Imaz (B)                  7*

Saves (my scoring)

2 matches
Albisu (B)               22*


1 match
Urrutikoetxea (B)        28*
Zabaleta (A)             19
Martija (A)              16
Aranguren (B)            10
Imaz (B)                  7*
L. Galarza (A)            5*

========================

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 
7. Irribarria-Rezusta (A)..............5-9..251-272..-21 
8. Bengoetxea VI-Marriezkurena II (B).2-12..236-304..-68  

========================
========================

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 2

Key: Delantero (front)-Zaguero (back) (Company: A=ASPE; B=Baiko Pilota);  W-L (wins-losses); PF (Points for); PA (Points against); Net (PF-PA)

#.=Finish in League Table (see below)

1. Agirre-Ezkiroz (B).......2-0....44-18..+26
2. Pena-Aranguren(B)........1-1....35-32...+3
4. Zabala-Ruiz (A)..........1-1....27-35...-8
3. Elordi-O. Etxeberria(A)..0-2....23-44..-21 

Agirre-Ezkiroz advance to the Final.
Elordi-O. Etxeberria are eliminated.

========================

March 6-7

========================

Promotion Semi-Final and Final Tournament Statistical Summary

4 matches

Total cumulative match score: +62 (.481) -67 (.519)
Total cumulative balls in play: 1923 (Avg.=498)
Non-error %: (BIP - errors)/BIP: .965
Total cumulative time of matches: 215.26 (3 hours 35 minute 26 seconds)
Average time: 54:00 
Average balls per point: 14.91
Average time per point: 1:40 

========================

March 7

Labrit, Iruna (Pamplona) 

#.=Finishing position in League Table

1. Agirre-Ezkiroz (B) 22
4. Zabala-Ruiz (A) 5 (B-2-0; A 0-2)
EITB--Match begins at 0:00) Video begins at 16-4

Judges: Patxi Arbizu and Joseba Rekalde

Selected linescore (winners always listed 1st). Note: I was able to piece together selected scores before 16-4 from the video.

12-3; 13-3; 15-4; 16-4; 16-5; 22-5

Scoring:

Agirre +9(including 2 "airez") -3; Ezkiroz +2 -1
Zabala +1 (1 "airez") -4; Ruiz +0 -7

Total scoring for the match: +12 (.444) -16 (.556)

Balls in play: 350
Agirre 95; Ezkiroz 89; Zabala 86; Ruiz 80 

Non-error % (BIP -errors)/BIP: .957 

Time of the match: 39:40
Average balls per point: 12.96
Avrage time per point: 1:28 

The League Season: 

Week 6: A-E 22 Z-R 20 W
Week 13: (Aretxe II (substituting for Agirre) -E22 ZR 12

Given the facts that:

1. Z-R had an abysmal 1st half of the League season (1-6), and then roared back with a 6-1 2nd half (with a tremendous assist from Dario Ruizwho substituted for Zabala, and helped win 4 of the 6--Dario subbed in 6 matches, winning 4)

2. Z-R came very close to upsetting A-E in their first meeting (see above); and

3.  Z-R had beaten the only other winning team in the League (Elordi-O. Etxeberria) handily last week in the first round of the Semi-final League,

fans might have seen in them a "dark horse" team, with an even record but a very "hot" 2nd half, that might have a "Cinderella" finish.

But A-E smashed the "glass slipper" to "smithereens," dismantling Z-R 22-5. Unfortunately, the EITB video begins at 16-4 so you can only get an impression of the dominance of this win. The statistics tell the story, however. Agirre had a terrific match, with a +7 net score, but A-E were gifted half their points by Z-R errors. Ruiz had a particularly poor match with 7 errors, giving the winners almost 1/3 of their points by himself. When the EITB broadcast began, the score was already 12-3. And then A-E finished with a 10-2 run.

This match concluded Week 2 of the Semi-final league, and the overall totals were not pretty. The cumulative match score for both matches was +25 (.362) -34 (.638). 

+++

March 6

Mallabia (1)(2) I have been unable to find any information about the history of this fronton.

#.=Finishing position in League Table

2. Pena II- Erasun (substituting for Aranguren who was called up to the 1A Semi- finals to substitute for Urrutikoetxea) (B) 22
3. Elordi-O. Etxeberria (A) 10 (B 1-0; A 0-1)  
(EITB--match begins at 0:00)

Judges: Ibon Ayesta and Gorka Santos

Condensed Linescore: (winners always listed 1st)

1-0; 1-2; 2-2; 2-4; 4-4; 4-5; 10-5; 10-6; 11-6; 11-7; 14-7; 14-8; 16-8; 16-9; 21-9; 21-10; 22-10

3 equal scores, 1 lead change, biggest lead P-E (12)

Scoring:

Pena II +9(including 1 service ace and 6 "airez") -5; Erasun +1 -2
Elordi +3 -7; O. Etxeberria +0 -5

Total scoring for the match: +13 (.406) -19(.594)

Balls in play: 520
Pena II 130; Erasun 136; Elordi 127; O. Etxeberria 127

Non-error % (BIP - errors)/BIP: .963

Time of the match: 54:44
Average balls per point: 16.25
Average time per point: 1:43

The League Season: 
Week 5: P-A 22 E-E 21
Week 12 P-Erasun (substituting for Arenguren) 22 E-E 12

P-E swept E-E,  eliminating them with an easy 22-10 win. 6 and 5 point runs provided  half their points, the first establishing a lead, the second finishing the match. E-E both had poor "days at the office", scoring only 3 points on their own winners while gifting their opponents 12. It made for an "ugly" (only 41 % of the points came via winners) but effective win that put P-E back on track for a berth in the Final. It was Jon Erasun's 8th appearance as a substitute in this competition. He now has a 6-2 record, including 3-0 with Jon Ander Pena.


========================

Promotion Semi-Final League Leader Boards

4 matches

Delanteros (fronts) (net scoring)

Key: Name; Company A=ASPE, B=Baiko Pilota; +(winners) -(errors); (Net)

2 matches
Pena(B)      +18 -11(+7)
Zabala(A)    +14 -11(+3)
Elordi(A)     +6 -14(-8)

1 match
Agirre(B)     +8 -2(+6)
Arretxe(B)*   +9 -3(+6)

*Arretxe substituted for Agirre


Zagueros (backs) (fewest errors)

2 matches
Ezkiroz (B)        1
O. Etxeberria (A)  7
Ruiz (A)          10

1 match
Erasun (B)*        2
Aranguren          6

*Erasun substituted for Aranguren

========================

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).