A note about Remonte (Wikipedia--Castilian), for those who are unfamiliar with the modality. It looks like Jai Alai, but it is not Jai Alai. The implement, called a cesta (basket--the same name as the Jai Alai basket) is longer, more shallow, and more rigid than a Jai Alai cesta. The modality was invented in 1904 by Juanito Moya, who invented the implement (Gran Enciclopedia de Navarra--Pelota--Castilian). Cesta technology in Remonte, has not changed in well over 100 years.
Because of the nature of the implement, it is not a catch and throw sport. It is, for all practical purposes, a racquet sport. Players "hit" the pelota. It is not as fast as Jai Alai, but it is fast enough. It is raquetball on very powerful steroids. The pelota is smaller than a baseball but harder than a golf ball, as you will understand when you hear it bounce off the granite front wall. It is played almost exclusively in Hegoalde (South Basque)--Navarra and Bizkaia. Some say it takes more skill than Jai Alai. I don't know about that, watch and come to your own conclusions.
In 2015, Javier Urriza (see below), the "Goikoetxea" of Remonte, played an exhibition match against Imanol Lopez (one of the two best Jai Alai players in the world--the above mentioned Inaki Osa Goikoetxea being the other). The match was played in Mexico City. Each used the other's implement. Guess who won. (Manista.com). Even if you are a Jai Alai fanatic, you will, I hope, also appreciate the joys of Remonte.
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UTS Komunikazoia Master Txapelketa/El Campeonato UTS Komunikazioa Master Singles Championship was played on January 24 and 30, 2021.
This is one of the 4 Major "A" (two singles and two pairs) annual tournaments contested by the Oriamendi company, one of two major Hegoalde (South Basque) Remonte sponsoring organizations. This year it was contested as two Semi-finals and a Final. It has been contested under the auspices of Oriamendi (previously known as Oriamendi2010), on a somewhat larger scale, annually since 2010-11.
The matches were single partidos, to 30 points.
Note: all match articles, features, and previews, unless otherwise specifically stated, are in Castilian. For Oriamendi articles in Basque, simply remove the /es/ from the Internet address. For translation, set up your browser for translation or open a separate tab or window to your favorite translation service. I use translate.google.com.
The Players
Aritz Juanenea (D)
Urriza won his 6th Masters Tournament. 11 Oriamendi Master Singles Tournaments have been played since 2010-11.
Other winners have been: Xanti Uterga (see below), 2; Koteto Ezkurra (EITB-- Retirement Ceremony and Final match of possibly the Greatest of All Time), 2; and Barrenetxea IV, 1.
Julen San Miguel (Full match video of the 2013 Kutxabank Singles Final v Urriza) played in 3 Masters Finals and lost all three. Endika Urrutia played in two and lost both.
At the bottom of this post are links to Full match videos from the 2016-2020 Masters Singles FINALS.
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Note: This tournament was played on a long court (54 meters--over 1/2 the length of an American Grid Iron Football field). Note: Pairs back court players serve in this modality.
Urriza 30
Barrenetxea IV 25
Barrenetxea IV 25
Partial linescore (winner always listed first)
0-4; 1-7; 9-8; 16-18; 21-18; 23-24; 28-24; 28-25; 30-25
Scoring (Oriamendi)
Urriza +21 (including 8 service aces and 1 Two Walls) -0
Barrenetxea +25 (6a, 5 TW) -9 (including 2 service faults)
Barrenetxea +25 (6a, 5 TW) -9 (including 2 service faults)
Total Score: +46 -9 (.836)
Note: Urriza, according to Oriamendi scoring, played a "perfect game." That is to say, he made no errors. It is a very rare feat in Remonte or any other Basque Pelota modality. It is not uncommon for a player to hit the pelota 100 times in a Remonte singles match.
Match article (Oriamendi)
Match article (Naiz)
Match Article (Diario Vasco)
"He hit the ball very hard early, incisive, with self-confidence and I was challenged throughout the game. If I got ahead in the final it was because I didn't make mistakes and I was serious."
Match article (Naiz)
Match Article (Diario Vasco)
"He hit the ball very hard early, incisive, with self-confidence and I was challenged throughout the game. If I got ahead in the final it was because I didn't make mistakes and I was serious."
Javier Urriza
"Against Urriza you cannot make (as many mistakes as I did)."
Endika Barrenetxea
This was Urriza's 19th career major championship. He has won all 4 championships in 2021, two singles and two pairs.
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January 24
Semi-Finals
Semi-Finals
Selected linescore (winner always listed first)
2-5; 10-6; 17-20; 23-24; 29-24; 29-25; 30-25
Scoring: (EITB)
Barrenetxea IV +22 -7
Juanenea +18 -8
Juanenea +18 -8
Total Score: +40 -15 (.727)
Balls in Play: 203
Barrentxea IV 104 (65 on the bounce--botez, 39 in the air--airez)
Juanenea 99 (61 on the bounce, 31 in the air)
Balls in Play: 203
Barrentxea IV 104 (65 on the bounce--botez, 39 in the air--airez)
Juanenea 99 (61 on the bounce, 31 in the air)
Non-Error Percentage (BIP - errors / BIP) (188/203): .926
Time of the match: 54:26
Average balls per point: 3.8
Average time per point (for the full match, actual playing time was not provided): 61.6 seconds
Time of the match: 54:26
Average balls per point: 3.8
Average time per point (for the full match, actual playing time was not provided): 61.6 seconds
The match article noted that Barrenetxea IV capitalized on Juanenea's weakness with the rebote (rebound off the back wall, an extraordinarily difficult shot in Remonte, particularly for front court players, who almost never use it on the long court).
Urriza 30
Ansa II 23
Ansa II 23
Partial line score (winner always listed first)
6-1; 23-14; 23-20; 28-22; 30-23
Neither EITB nor Oriamend provided any statistics for this match.
PAST FINALS FULL MATCH VIDEOS
FULL MATCH VIDEO OF THE 2019-2020 Classic FINAL (EITB)
Barrenetxea IV 30
Urriza 29
FULL MATCH VIDEO OF THE 2019-2020 Classic FINAL (EITB)
Barrenetxea IV 30
Urriza 29
Complete Blog coverage of the entire 2016-2017 Tournament.
FULL MATCH VIDEO OF THE 2015-2016 FINAL (EITB)
FULL MATCH VIDEO OF THE 2015-2016 FINAL (EITB)
Uterga 30
Urriza 27
Urriza 27
Scroll to "Remonte" and then to the final article just before "Jai Alai/Cesta Punta".
