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2022 International Tournaments
Hegoalde (South Basque Country-AKA Spain)
Jai Alai Winter Series--Gernika--January 19-March 20, 2022 (9 Full Match Videos)
JAI ALAI WORLD TOUR
JAI ALIVE 2.0
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Iparralde (North Basque Country--AKA France)
CESTA PUNTA PRO TOUR
Cesta All Star Donibane Lohizune (Saint-Jean-de-Luz) (April 19-28, 2022) (9 Full Match Videos)
Cesta Punta Summer League (Biarritz, Pau) (May 6-June 17, 2022) (6 Full Match Videos)
Grand Slam, Espoir (Group B) (June 22-August 25)
Gant d'Or (Biarritz) (July 6-August 24) (4 Master and 1 SLAM)
Pau Cup (July 15-September 2) (2 Master and 1 Slam)
Grand Chistera (Biarritz) (July 8-August 25, every Tuesday--Outdoor Cesta Punta--3 player teams, 75 meter court, no helmets)
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Fronton Mexico (Mexico City)
Tourneo Betway (May 19-26) (14 Full Match Videos)
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Dania Jai Alai (Dania Beach Florida)
Battle at the Palace (April 1-10) (14 Full Match Videos)
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This Cesta Punta Pro Tour Grand Slam features 2 Master Tournaments. Each one consists of 4 teams, which contest two Semi-finals and a Final. At the end of the 2 Masters, the top 4 Fronts and Backs will contest a SLAM Tournament, 2 Semi-finals and a Final to determine who are the Champions of Champions.
Tournament Points System (Points are allocated to the individual fronts and backs). The 4 top fronts and backs (#1-#1, 2-2, 3-3, 4-4) will meet in a SLAM Tournament at the end of August. Points are allocated on a match by match basis. Any ties in points will be broken by point differential. There are no bonus points allocated for winning an individual Master Tournament.
2-0 win = 240 Points
2-1 win = 180
1-2 loss = 90
0-2 loss = 30
SLAM Points System
2-0 win = 400 Points
2-1 win = 350
1-2 loss = 150
0-2 loss = 50
Matches are played 2 sets to 15, with a Tie Breaker, if necessary, to 5. Servers are allowed 5 over serves (Pasa) with a second serve allowed. Any under serve is an automatic fault. Carom serves are allowed.
Final "Regular Season" Player point standings (Total and by venue, by position)
Current Slam Results and Standings by position (total and all venues--contains spoilers--DO NOT VIEW IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW THE OUTCOME OF MATCHES WHERE THE BLOG POSTS ARE NON-SPOILER/SPOILER--I.E. ST. JEAN-DE-LUZ)
Pau Cup Schedule (Section Paloise Pelote)
Pau Cup Players (Section Paloise Pelote)
Pau Cup Results (Section Paloise Pelote)
Beginning with Master 2 Section Paloise Pelote Facebook began streaming these Tournaments. Matches are scheduled for 9:00 PM (21:00) local time: Time Zone Converter. (Note that the Espoir [Under 25--see the link to that Blog Post above] Tournament matches precede these (8:00 PM--20:00).
These matches will be presented in Spoiler only format due to the fact that following the score is difficult (particularly for the Espoir matches, where there is no commentary). I am doing it this way to provide interested viewers with full lines scores and scoring information for ease of following the score. If Finals of these tournaments are broadcast by accessible commercial networks (i.e. Canal +, etc.) I will present those in Non-spoiler/spoiler format.
Note: The Pau Cup is covered in print by the excellent reporting of Raymond Cazadebat. It is in French and, unfortunately, new match reports over write the old ones, so there is no archive. For that reason I will provide a Google English translation of the reports here. Hopefully Section Paloise Pelote will at some point realize the archival importance of its match reporting and create a simple archive to link the latest match reports to the previous ones. The translated reports will appear at the bottom of the page, below the results and (when available) links to the full match videos.
To follow the Grand Slam in chronological order, read from the bottom up.
PAU CUP SLAM
The Players: (# indicates Player ranking at the end of the "regular season"--based on all results at all venues)
*= was added to the roster as a result of winning the Summer League Championship (see the link above)
JEAN OLHARAN(#4)--JON ZABALA*(#4)
LUDOVIC LADUCHE*(#3)--DAVID MINVIELLE(#2)
KEVIN ITHURRIA(#2)--IMANOL LOPEZ(#1)
ARITZ ERKIAGA(#1)--NICOLAS ETCHETO(#3)
Friday August 19
1st Semi-Final
JEAN OLHARAN (350 Pts.; +2)--JON ZABALA (350 Pts.; +2) (Blue) 2
LUDOVIC LADUCHE* (150 Pts.; -2)--DAVID MINVIELLE (150 Pts.; -2) (Red) 1
15-9, 7-15, 5-1 (27-25)
FULL MATCH VIDEO (Section Paloise Pelote Facebook)
Match Preview and Article (Raymond Cazadebat, Section Paloise Pelote) (French). The two articles will be over written when the next match is played so Google English translations are provided below the match scores and stats at the bottom of the page.
Line Score (Match winners always listed first)
Set 1:
0-2; 1-2; 1-4; 3-4; 3-5; 6-5; 6-7; 13-7; 13-8; 14-8; 14-9; 15-9
-2; -1; -3; -1; -2; +1; -1; +6; +5; +6; +5; +6
3 equal scores, 3 lead changes
Set 2:
0-3; 1-3; 1-4; 2-4; 2-7; 3-7; 3-12; 4-12; 4-13; 7-13; 7-15
-3; -2; -3; -3; -5; -4; -9; -8; -9; -6; -8
0 equal scores, 0 lead changes
Tie Breaker:
1-0; 1-1; 5-1
+1; =; +4
1 equal score, 0 lead changes
Tie Breaker Scoring (mine, yours may be different):
(Point number, Server, Balls in Play, Score, +/-
O=Olharan; Z=Zabala; L=Laduche; M=Minvielle)
1. ?; ?; 1-0; M- (source for the error: match report)
2. O; 8; 1-1; L+
3. L; 4; 2-1; O+
4. O; 11; 3-1; L-
5. O; 3; 4-1; O+
6. O; 3; 4-1; O+
Scoring:
Olharan +3 -0; Zabala +0 -0
Laduche +1 -1; Minvielle +0 -1
Total Score: +4 -2 (.667)
Balls in Play (for 5 points only): 29
Non-error % (BIP - errors) / BIP (for 5 points only): (29 - 2) / 29 (.931)
BIP/Points (5 points only)
0-4/3; 5-9/1; 11/1
Avg. BIP per Point (5 points only): 5.8
Total Match Scoring (mine, yours may be different)
SIIK=serve intercept-immediate kill, a=service ace, f=fault, u=under serve, P=Pasa (1st serve over serve, second serve allowed, maximum of 5 per server before penalty)
Note: elements of the scoring that had anything to do with balls in play are based on 51 points. There were 52 points in the match but the first point of the Tie Breaker was omitted from the video. We know who won the point and who the error was charged to, but there is no way to know who served or how many balls were in play. Total time of the match and time per points are also given for only 51 points.
Olharan +13 (3 SIIK) -3 (1f-u), 2P; Zabala +2 -10
Laduche +10 (1a, 1 SIIK) -7, 4P; Minvielle +2 -5
Total Score: +27 -25 (.519)
Balls in Play: 391
Non-error % (BIP - errors) / BIP: (391 - 25) / 391 (.936)
BIP/points:
0-4/21
5-9/15
10-14/9
15-19/4
20-24/1
28/1
Avg. BIP per Point: 7.7
Time of the Match (total time only--includes set breaks and 0 time outs). There was very little floor mopping as Pau has installed air conditioning: 56:22
Avg.Time per Point: 66.3 seconds
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Pau Cup
Master 2
The Players:
Friday, August 12
Master 2 FINAL
KEVIN ITHURRIA (180 Pts.; +2)--IMANOL LOPEZ (180 Pts.; +2) (Red) 2
JEAN OLHARAN (90 Pts.; -2)--AIZE ITURRALDE (90 Pts.; -2) (substituting for ERIC IRASTORZA) (Red) 1
15-9, 10-15, 5-4 (30-28)
FULL MATCH VIDEO (Section Paloise Pelote Facebook)
Match Preview and Article (Raymond Cazadebat, Section Paloise Pelote) (French). The two articles will be over written when the next match is played so Google English translations are provided below the match scores and stats at the bottom of the page.
Notable: of all the Summer Tournaments in Iparralde and Hegoalde, this Tournament and this match were, in my opinion, the best so far. All 3 matches were decided by tie breakers, the Final by a final point tie breaker.
The Final was a terrific match. Aize Iturralde, an Espoir player (see that competition link above) was thrown into the deep end when Eric Irastorza could not play after an exhausting tie breaker match at Biarritz two days before. Iturralde matched up with Imanol Lopez, clearly the pick of the Backs this summer. Meanwhile, Kevin Ithurria, who has had a great summer, matched up with the mercurial Jean Olharan.
The match was one of contrasts. While 31 of the 58 points, including 6 serve intercept immediate kills by Olharan, consumed less than 5 balls in play, 16 consumed more than 10, including points of 26 (to begin the tie breaker), 32 (to end the 2nd set), and 46 balls in play. Iturralde played a terrific match, finishing with +3 -6, although the last 3 errors were in the tie breaker. Part of his opponents' strategy was to work him over and that they did. But he played a solid, steady game, until finally running out of gas at the end. Olharan sparkled, Lopez was solidly Lopezian (7 winners), and Ithurria quietly outscored everyone. The quality of the match was indicated by the long ovation given to all 4 players at the end of it.
Line Score (Match winners always listed first)
Set 1:
1-0; 1-2; 5-2; 5-3; 6-3 (46 balls in play); 6-4; 7-4; 7-5; 8-5; 8-6; 11-6; 11-7; 14-7; 14-9; 15-9
+1; -1; +3; +2; +3; +2; +3; +2; ; +3; +2; +5; +4; +7; +5; +6
2 equal scores, 2 lead changes
Set 2:
1-0; 1-1; 2-1; 2-4; 5-4; 5-5; 6-5; 6-9 (Time Out); 6-10; 8-10; 8-12; 9-12; 9-14; 10-14; 10-15 (32 balls in play)
+1; =; +1; -2; +1; =; +1; -4; -2; -4; -3; -5; -4; -5
5 equal scores, 3 lead changes
Tie Breaker:
1-0; 1-1; 2-1; 2-3; 3-3; 3-4; 5-4
+1; =; +1; -1; =; -1; +1
4 equal scores, 2 lead changes
Tie Breaker Scoring (mine, yours may be different):
(Point number, Server, Balls in Play, Score, +/- ; SIIK=serve intercept, immediated kill; P=Pasa (1st serve over serve, 2nd serve allowed)
Ith=Ithurria; L=Lopez; O=Olharan; Itu=Iturralde
1. O; 26; 1-0; L+
2. Ith; 2; 1-1; O+ (SIIK)
3. O; 4; 2-1; Itu-
4. Ith; 4; 2-2; Itu+
5. O(P); 5; 2-3; L-
6. O; 2; 3-3; Itu-
7. Ith; 2; 3-4; O+ (SIIK)
8. O; 6; 4-4; Ith+
9. Ith; 17; 5-4; Itu-
Ithurria +1 -0; Lopez +1 -1
Olharan +2 (2 SIIK), 1P -0; Iturralde +1 -3
Total Score: +5 -4 (.556)
Balls in Play: 68
Non-error % (BIP - errors) / BIP: (68 - 4) / 68 (.941)
BIP/points:
0-4/5; 5-9/2; 15-19/1; 26/1
Avg. BIP per Point: 7.6
Total Match Scoring (mine, yours may be different)
SIIK=serve intercept-immediate kill, a=service ace, f=fault, u=under serve, P=Pasa (1st serve over serve, second serve allowed, maximum of 5 per server before penalty)
Ithurria +14 (2a, 1 SIIK), 3P -7 ; Lopez +7 -5
Olharan +13 (1a, 6 SIIK), 4P -3 (1f--u); Iturralde +3 -6
Total Score: +37 -21 (.638)
Balls in Play: 419
Non-error % (BIP - errors) / BIP: (419 - 21) / 419 (.950)
BIP/Points:
0-4/31
5-9/12
10-14/8
15-19/3
20-24/1
25-29/1
30-34/1
46/1
Avg. BIP per Point: 7.2
Time of the Match (total time only--includes set breaks and 1 time out. There was very little floor mopping as Pau has installed air conditioning: 71:22
Avg. Time per Point: 73.8 seconds
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August 5
Notable: In 6 sets, the two Semi-finals of Master 2 have ended with the total score for the winners 63-64. By comparison the two Semi-finals of Master 1 (4 sets) ended with the total score for the winners 60-40.
2nd Semi-Final
JEAN OLHARAN (180 Pts.; 0)--ERIC IRASTORZA (180 Pts.; 0) (Red) 2
ARITZ ERKIAGA (90 Pts.; 0)--THIBAULT BASQUE (90 Pts.; 0) (Blue) 1
15-14, 12-15, 5-3 (32-32)
FULL MATCH VIDEO (Section Paloise Pelote Facebook)
Match Preview and Article (Raymond Cazadebat, Section Paloise Pelote) (French). The two articles will be over written when the next match is played so Google English translations are provided below the match scores and stats at the bottom of the page.
Line Score (Match winners always listed first)
Set 1:
0-3; 1-3; 1-4; 2-4; 2-5; 8-5; 8-8; 10-8; 10-9; 12-9; 12-12; 13-12; 13-13; 14-13; 14-14; 15-14
-3; -2; -3; -2; -3; +3; =; +2; +1; +3; =; +1; =; +1; =; +1
6 equal scores, 1 lead change
Set 2:
0-2; 1-2; 1-3; 2-3; 2-5; 8-5 (Time Out); 8-6; 9-6; 9-13; 12-13; 12-15
-2; -1; -2; -1; -3; +3; +2; +3; -4; -1; -3
2 equal scores, 2 lead changes
Tie Breaker:
0-1; 3-1; 3-2; 4-2; 4-3; 5-3
-1; +2; +1; +2; +1; +2
1 equal score, 1 lead change
Tie Breaker Scoring (mine, yours may be different):
(Point number, Server, Balls in Play, Score, +/- ; P=Pasa (1st serve over serve, 2nd serve allowed)
O=Olharan; I=Irastorza; E= Erkiaga; B=Basque
1. O; 8; 0-1; I-
2. E; 6; 1-1; E-
3. O; 7; 2-1; E-
4. O; 3; 3-1; I+
5. O; 18; 3-2; E+
6. A; 4; 4-2; B-
7. O(P); 6; 4-3; I-
8. A; 8; 5-3; B-
Olharan +0 -0 1P; Irastorza +1 -2
Erkiaga +1 -2; Basque +0 -2
Total Score: +2 -5 (.286)
Balls in Play: 60
Non-error % (BIP - errors) / BIP: (60 - 5) / 60 (.917)
BIP/points
0-4/2; 5-9/5; 18/1
Avg. BIP per Point: 7.5
Total Match Scoring (mine, yours may be different)
SIIK=serve intercept-immediate kill, a=service ace, P=Pasa (1st serve over serve, second serve allowed, maximum of 5 per server before penalty)
Olharan +8 (1a, 1 SIIK) -4, 3P; Irastorza +6 -9
Erkiaga +17 (1a, 3 SIIK) -9; Basque +2 -9
Total Score: +33 -31 (.516)
Balls in Play: 558 (including 306 in Set 1)
Non-error % (BIP - errors) / BIP: (558 -31) / 558 (.944)
BIP/Points
0-4/20
5-9/23
10-14/9
15-19/6
20-24/2
25-29/2
30-34/2
Longest Point: 33
Average BIP per Point: 8.7
Time of the Match (total time only--includes set breaks and 1 time out. There was very little floor mopping as Pau has installed air conditioning (see preview article below): 79:35
Avg. Time per Point: 74.6 seconds
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July 29
1st Semi-final
KEVIN ITHURRIA (180 Pts.; -1)--IMANOL LOPEZ (180 Pts.; -1) (Blue) 2
JON TAMBOURINDEGUY (90 Pts.; +1)--DAVID MINVIELLE (90 Pts.; +1) (Red) 1
15-13, 11-15, 5-4 (31-32)
FULL MATCH VIDEO (SET 1) (Section Paloise Pelote Facebook)
Match article (French). It will be over written by the next match article. See below the scores for a Google English translation.
Line Score (Match winners always listed first)
Set 1:
1-0; 1-3; 4-3; 4-5; 6-5; 6-6; 7-6; 7-7; 9-7; 9-9; 10-9; 10-10; 11-10; 11-11; 12-11 (Injury Time Out, Minvielle was struck on the leg by a rebound from that back wall, received treatment, and stayed in the match); 13-11; 13-13; 15-13
+1; -2; +1; -1; +1; =; +1; =; +2; =; +1; =; +1; =; +2; =; +2
10 equal scores, 3 lead changes
Set 2:
0-1; 4-1; 4-6; 5-6; 5-7; 6-7; 6-9; 8-9; 8-11; 10-11 (Time Out); 10-13; 11-13; 11-14 (long stoppage, may have been a Time Out); 11-15
-1; +3; -2; -1; -2; -1; -3; -1; -3; -1; -3; -2; -4
1 equal score, 2 lead changes
Tie Breaker:
1-0; 1-2; 2-2; 2-3; 4-3; 4-4; 5-4
+1; -1; =; -1; +1; =; +1
4 equal scores, 2 lead changes
Tie Breaker Scoring (mine, yours may be different):
(Point number, Server, Balls in Play, Score, +/- ; SIIK=serve intercept-immediate kill, df=double fault, o=overserve, P=Pasa (1st serve over serve, 2nd serve allowed)
I=Ithurria; L=Lopez; T= J. Tambourindeguy; M=Minvielle
1. I; 21; 1-0; M-
2. I(P); 4; 1-1; L-
3. T; 5; 1-2; T+
4. T; 10; 2-2; I+
5. I; 8; 2-3; T+
6. T(P); 0; 3-3; T-df (o-o)
7. I(P); 13; 4-3; M-
8. I; 2; 4-4; T+ (SIIK)
9. T; 8; 4-5; M-
Ithurria +1 -0, 1P; Lopez +0 -1
J. Tambourindeguy +3(1SIIK) -1(df--o-o); Minvielle +0 -3
Total Score: +4 -5 (.444)
Balls in Play: 51
Non-error % (BIP - errors) / BIP (51 - 5) / 51 (.902)
BIP/points:
0-4/4; 5-9/3; 10-14/2; Longest point: 13
Avg. BIP per Point: 5.7
Total Match Scoring (mine, yours may be different)
SIIK=serve intercept-immediate kill, a=service ace, df=double fault, o=over serve, P=Pasa (1st serve over serve, second serve allowed, maximum of 5 per server before penalty)
Ithurria +10(1a) -5, 2P; Lopez +6 -8
J. Tambourindeguy +19(1a, 3 SIIK) -10(1df--o-o), 3P; Minvielle +0 -5
Total Score: +35 -28 (.556)
Balls in Play: 416
Non-error %: (BIP - errors) / BIP (416 -28) / 416 (.933)
BIP/points
0-4/29
5-9/16
10-14/12
15-19/4
20-24/1
25/1
Avg. BIP per Point: 6.6
Time of the Match (total time only--does not include set breaks, does include break between Set 2 and Tie Breaker, 2 time outs, 1 injury time out, and short breaks to mop the floor due to humidity): 78:48
Avg. Time per Point: 75.0 seconds
Fun facts: Jon Tambourindeguy had 16 falling rebotes in this match. He scored on 2 and kept the point going on 14. Tambourindeguy had a busy week, playing 3 matches. He was +44 -19, with 47 falling rebotes. He failed to execute one.
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Master 1
The Players:
*= was added to the roster as a result of winning the Summer League Championship (see the link above)
July, 22
FINAL
INAKI GOIKOETXEA (180 Pts.; +5)--TXABI INZA (180 Pts.; +5) 2
LUDOVIC LADUCHE (90 Pts.; -5)--JEROME PORTET (90 Pts. -5) (SUBSTITUTING FOR THE INJURED UNAI LEKERIKABEASKOA 1
15-12, 14-15, 5-2 (34-29)
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July 15
1st Semi-final
INAKI GOIKOETXEA (240 Pts.; +13)--TXABI INZA (240 Pts.; +13) 2
DIEGO BEASKOETXEA (30 Pts.; -13)--NICOLAS ETCHETO (30 Pts.; -13) 0
15-9, 15-8 (30-17)
Partial line score (match winners always listed first)
Set 1:
5-5; 11-5; 12-9; 15-9
Set 2:
7-7; 15-8
2nd Semi-final
LUDOVIC LADUCHE (240 Pts.; +7)--UNAI LEKERIKABEASKOA (240 Pts.; +7) 2
JOHAN SOROZABAL (30 Pts.; -7)--JON ZABALA (30 Pts.; -7) 0
15-10, 15-13 (30-23)
=================
MATCH ARTICLES (Raymond Cazadebat--Section Paloise Pelote)
PAU CUP SLAM
1ST SEMI-FINAL:
Match article:
The 3-stroke SLAM
It was an intense first semi-final that we witnessed in the final slam of the Cesta-punta Pau-cup; The four players were able to show their talent by revealing, each for what concerns him, his technical gestures and extraordinary know-how. The balanced start gave rise to the usual adjustments according to the balls and showed the strong or less strong points of the athletes. First at 7, Laduche and Minvielle seemed to make the best impression and showed better skill but it was Olharan and Zabala who would pick up the pace and score several winning attacks to achieve a decisive 6-0; Olharan on the 2 walls in backhand cortadas, left-right or 2 inside walls, Zabala in turn from the "cuadro" 9 and will even land a ball dropped from the 10. At 13-7, the first round could not escape them; it will end at 15-9 on a foul by Laduche on offense.
The second round will be of a completely different nature; Laduche found his bearings and his enthusiasm, Minvielle equal to himself, sure of his defense, good in anticipation and always placed imposed their game putting the adversaries at fault; 7-2, then 12-3, the trend will not be reversed in this second time. Zabala surprised at the back wall by an erebot conceded the last point for a 15-7.
The third round was to decide between the duo invited to the final on September 2. Would the dynamics of the winners of the second prevail or would the winners of the first react? Nothing was played in this challenge to five points; a fault of minvielle, an attack by Laduche for a tie at 1 then Olharan slammed a superb cortada in 2 walls; followed a foul by Laduche for a 3-1. Olharan still distilled a ball that passed his vis-Ã -vis and lobbed Minvielle. One last feat and the 5-1 validated the ticket for the final. The next evening of August 29 offers another summit, the other semi-final Ithurria and Lopez against Erkiaga and Etcheto.
Match Preview
The SLAM in the final round
We will go up another notch for the Cesta-Punta Pau-Cup on Friday in Pau. The Summer-League circuit ranked the panel of professionals after their performances in the 10 Masters contested in Saint Jean de Luz, Biarritz and Pau. Of the 16 participants, there will only be 8 left (4 forwards and four backs) called upon to compete in the SLAMs of the three jai-alais. New this year, the 8 players selected will be associated in each fronton according to their local ranking. The first U23 and Professional SLAM semi-finals will oppose the second to the third; the first and fourth jousting the following Friday.
Ludovic Laduche and David Minvielle (2nd) will be opposed to Jean Olharan and Jon Zabala (3rd); Eric Irastoza finding himself overtaken by Zabala overall after his last two games.
The line-up is still very attractive, with three of the six selected for the French team and one likely from the Spanish team for the next World Cup in Biarritz at the end of October who will perform at Jaï-alaï on Friday. Spectacular is expected again with the challenge that the two forwards will face; Laduche and Olharan evolve in a similar register with the maximum risk taking which the Pau public loves. Attacks in cortadas, replicas, counter movements of the game should follow one another in series. At the back it will be methodical, precise, controlled between David Minvielle and the member of Gernika jaï-alaï Zabala. The latter is doing his first year in France and had to go through the Series to earn his stripes; here he is after the Masters present in the Slams. The course speaks for itself. Minvielle now becomes the benchmark back on the French side. The evening will be intense; the public will be able to enjoy the comfort of the air-conditioned Jaï-alaï.
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Master 2 (Match article and Preview) (FINAL)
Match Article:
A suspenseful final!
The ideal scenario prevailed for this final of the second Master of the Cesta-Punta Pau-Cup; teams that had snatched their qualification in the decisive round with scores of 5-4 for Ithurria and Lopez and 5-3 for Olharan and Irastorza. We expected exchanges of hard fight for the gain of the Master. The presence of local Olharan opposed to neighbor Souletin Ithurria at the front and the opposition at the back of the former world number one against his successor, all the ingredients for success were there.
Irastorza's injury the day before will cause fear for a moment for the balance of the meeting; his replacement the young Aïze Ithurralde found himself thrown into the deep end at the least opportune moment. The start will be difficult; the adversaries took the ascendancy with the Lopez bomber allowing Ithurria to play with his hand in a powerful attacking register. At 11-6 we trembled for the opposing resistance. Olharan will rebel, distilling a few well-targeted boots including a 2 shot wall, stuck to the cuadro 7. The pace will become steady and Ithurralde, well supported by the public, will show all his potential by competing in all areas, even allowing himself to stick to the melts his illustrious rival. The round will remain with the leaders but the revolt was on.
We will witness a great show in the second round. Moving the game, variations, millimeter winning goals, intercepted goals followed by cortadas, unstoppable backhand diagonals at the back. He will not miss much in the panoply of the most beautiful possible actions. Olharan and Ithuralde will dominate the last time to win 15-10. Everything remained to be done in the decisive round and the suspense will be total until the end. The equality at each point will give even more intensity to this dream finale; first to four, Olharan and Ithuralde will be joined then passed for the victory on two actions of Ithurria. This master II will certainly remain in the annals of the Section Paloise.
Now for SLAM, an even higher degree of competition. In the three jaï-alaïs of the Summer-League, Saint Jean de Luz, Biarritz and Pau, only the four best forwards and the four best backs in the general classification will be in contention in oppositions taking into account their rank in each fronton. Three next evenings even more intense to live.
Online ticketing, subscriptions, www.sectionpaloise-pelote.com . Information, reservations on 05 59 82 93 46.
Match Preview
A suspenseful final!
After the superb matches in the semi-finals of the Master II Cesta-Punta Pau-Cup, we are expecting a very high quality final on Friday at 9 p.m. at the jaï-alaï in Pau. On the cancha, four actors at the top of their game, two teams which showed their complementarity to win the keys to the final in a hard-fought battle against opponents who pushed them to their limits until the end of the decisive rounds; 5-4 for Ithurria and Lopez, 5-3 for Olharan and Irastorza.
Who will win on Friday? the bets are open ; the Pau public will certainly have its preference with its resident Jean Olharan; the green and white front is at the forefront of the world hierarchy; he handles the thrust with delight, he is mobile and knows how to outdo himself by raising the level of play; with him Eric Irastorza, first world back when he played for jaï-alaï in Miami. He won it all. He plays just precise without overflowing and unleashes his shots at the important moment of the scenario. He knows how to dose his balls and be patient. We saw him little in Pau but we appreciate him every time he is present.
Opposite, the one who presents himself today as his worthy successor, the Spaniard Imanol Lopez; fellow of the same size, he plays on the striking power; beware of cannonades, Tambourindeguy retreated on each reception in half. He also knows how to move the game well and with the difficult speed to capture the balls. His forward Kévin Ithurria has a good reading of the game, he anticipates, he defends well; Souletin has a clear, clean practice and also has the means to surpass himself. The station-by-station challenges are sure to give some indication of how the final will unfold; at the front between attacks and defenses, at the back between game management and shot metering. It will certainly still be very high-level pelota. The qualification for the SLAM of the next three days is also at stake. The public will be able to find all the comfort of the air-conditioned Jaï-alaï.
Master 2 (Match article and Preview) (2nd Semi-final)
Match article
Exceptional Cesta Pau-Cup
What a festival at Jaï-alaï in Pau on Friday for the second semi-final of the Master II of the Cesta-punta Pau-Cup. We expected high-level performances, it's very high level that will have been declined by the four professionals in the running, Jean Olharan and Eric Irastorza on one side, Aritz Erkiaga and Thibault Basque on the other. The returning public was able to thrill to their prowess; if the previous parts were judged to be of the first order, we still went up a notch; sustained rhythm of play, permanent movements, the most beautiful technical gestures in series in defense or attack, speed of execution, variations, anticipation, he will not have missed anything. By adding a suspenseful scenario and a touch of dramaturgy, this evening will go down in the annals of the Section Paloise.
The most balanced first round will see many equalizers (5, 8, 12, 13 and 14); Olharan the 2018 World vice-champion and Erkiaga the champion will be constantly challenged; the Palois will strike superb direct cortadas flush with the line, left-right shots or inverted. The Spaniard was intractable on the improved goal interceptions of an immediate attack in two millimeter walls and out of reach. He will lose the gain of the sleeve on this same gesture, his ball pointing wrong under the low line of the "frontis". (Erkiaga threw a two wall that would have won the set 15-14, a throw he makes almost unconsciously. On this occasion it kissed off the left wall and hit the pad below the line)
In the second round, we will make the power speak; Basque will prove to be the strongest in this area, and will put Erkiaga into orbit; followed a 5-point break at 13-8 after parity at 8. Irastorza dosed his strikes trying to deceive the opposing forward on the rebound but the latter captured everything that passed within range. 15-11 for Erkiaga and Basque at the end of this second time, we had recourse to the decisive set in five points.
Organizations subjected to severe test until then, lucidity was going to prevail; a foul on both sides followed by a missed attack from Erkiaga, a winning line from cuadro 10 by Irastorza the score was 3 to 1; Erkiaga beat Olharan with a left-left cortada, 3-2. Irastorza dosed a ball in the leap in front of Basque who faulted, 4-2. The pressure intensified, fault of Irastorza then for a 4-3 then of Basque for a liberating 5-3.
Loud applause from the standing audience who will communicate for a long time with the four actors.
Olharan and Irastorza will meet Ithurria and Lopez in the Master II final on Friday August 12 at 9:15 PM.; another peak!
Online ticketing, subscriptions, www.sectionpaloise-pelote.com . Information, reservations on 05 59 82 93 46.
Match Preview
We remain on the best possible level on Friday at the jai-alai in Pau. The Section Paloise offers a second evening of the Master II with a top-notch professional line-up at 9:15 p.m.; this second semi-final puts on the cancha the darling of the fronton of Pau Jean Olharan the best French forward, fiery attacker, associated with the one who was without sharing the best World at the rear position, Eric Irastorza.
This last former resident of the Miami fronton has an incomparable track record; he will have won everything among the professionals. We saw him little in Pau and we are impatient to follow his performance. Opposite, Aritz Erkiaga, the Spanish forward, world champion in Barcelona in 2018 against Olharan; he monopolized the three SLAMS tournaments of the Summer-League 2021 with Lopez; he will be associated Friday with Thibault Basque, the most prominent and successful French full-back of the last year.
Forgotten from the selections for the October World Cup in Biarritz, he will be keen to prove that he deserved the ticket; his duel with Irastorza will be particularly worth watching. Front and rear challenges, this will be great for the show; efficiency in complementarity will be the key to “winning”. The challenge is of course the final of the Master II on August 12 but also access to the Slam on the following Fridays for the best in each position. efficiency in complementarity will be the key to “winning”.
The public will be able to find all the comfort of Jaï-alaï with the new air conditioning put in place.
Master 2: (Match article and Preview) 1st Semi-final
Match article:
An exceptional semi-final
We expected the high level of intensity of play on Friday at Jaï-alaï in Pau during the first semi-final of the Master II of the Cesta-punta Pau-Cup. The four actors responded to the public's expectations in the best possible way, by designating the winner at the end of a decisive round achieved on the smallest possible difference in score.
Jon Tambourindeguy found the cancha Paloise with envy after several months spent treating physical glitches; forward Luzien will show that he had lost none of his enthusiasm, his desire to energize the game and to attack.
David Minvielle proved that he now held the leading roles, sure of his potential, precise, enduring, skillful, he competed advantageously with his opponent (Lopez) and put his front in orbit to deliver imperial cortadas. The announced challenger duo will play the game, not fearing the favorites Ithurria and Lopez.
Souletin Ithurria will alternate good and less good actions, winning goals and precise releases but defense often too low; he will be countered several times and dominated by his opponent (Tambourindeguy).
Lopez, faithful to his classics, cannonaded, imposing the showdown; this allowed him to take the lead in the first round; the forecastle placed several "pearls" including a left-right dumbfounding his opponents. Held in respect by Minvielle, it will be moved in the second time by masterpieces of Tambourindeguy, using unpredictable diagonals obtained on angled balls thanks to 2 interior walls.
The game lived, moved at will, gave the public the opportunity to thrill to these feats. Tambourindeguy who had failed on the last two attacks of the first set – thus losing the set after equalization at 13 – found the resources to surpass himself and kept his hand here to maintain a four-point advantage in second.
Everything remained to be done in third; the scenario will maintain the suspense until the end with equalizers at each point up to 4. The cruel outcome for Minvielle who is backed into the back wall will be forced to make a mistake, he who had not committed any in the game. Ithurria and Lopez advance to the August 12 final where they will face the winner of the second semi-final (August 5) Olharan and Irastorza against Erkiaga and Basque, another peak in anticipation.
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Match Preview:
Place at the first evening of the second Master of Pau on Friday with another first-rate professional line-up at 9:15 p.m.; this first semi-final puts on the cancha two regional in opposition; on the one hand the Salisien David Minvielle who has always had his habits in Pau for fifteen years and on the other the Mauléonnais Kévin Ithurria who had impressed here even last year. Minvielle at fullback will be associated with Jon Tambourindeguy, the forward who won the title of World Champion in 2010 in the same fronton; the duo form a very complementary team with experience, dynamism, propensity for attacking play and vigilance in defense.
Ithurria will team up with one of the world's best defenders, if not the best, Imanol Lopez; the fellow is powerful, solid, skillful and rarely faulted; he makes his partners happy every time; if Ithurria are playing at their best, the team will be favourites. However, nothing is certain; Minvielle no longer fears anyone; he beat his direct opponent at the Master I in Biarritz at the beginning of July; his selection for the French team at the World Championship next October in Biarritz after that of Barcelona shows the place he has taken in the international space.
This semi-final promises to be exciting. The best hopefuls will raise the curtain at 8 p.m. on behalf of their Master II. We will notably see the young Spanish prodigy GoïtÃa world champion under 24 associated with the Franco-American Sorozabal. he beat his direct opponent at the Master I in Biarritz at the beginning of July; his selection for the French team at the World Championship next October in Biarritz after that of Barcelona shows the place he has taken in the international space.
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Master 1:
Unfortunately, the FINAL match article was over written before I had a chance to copy it out.
FINAL Preview:
The Master I of the Cesta Pau-Cup, counting for the Summer League, plays its pro final on Friday at Jaï-Alaï. The winners of the first semi-final, the experienced Iñaki Goïkoetxea and Txabi Inza showed that they had their habits, playing fair and perfectly applying the instructions they gave each other during rallies. A forward with an incomparable technical background who came determined with a solid and dominating rear, the duo will resume their classics on Friday; another strong point, the forward block; if the adversary does not support his strike sufficiently, the sentence will be terrible.
Opposite Ludovic Laduche and Unaï Lekerika, it is also a duo with enormous potential; they eliminated Sorozabal and Zabala, which was not a foregone conclusion. Laduche the fiery played more serious, precise, without dazzling but efficiency. Lekerika bet on his skill, his mobility and his impeccable defense on the left wall or in the background. Here too we will use the same assets but the status will be to challenge; it will be necessary to surpass oneself to destabilize the favorites. We bet that the youngster selected for the France team and the reigning Spanish world champion will be able to ignite the final.
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Match article for both July 15 Semi-finals:
Goïko and Inza dominate
The opening of the Cesta-punta Pau-Cup on Friday at the jaï-alaï put on the cancha a first professional opposition of high quality; Diego Beascoetxea associated with Nicolas Etchéto against Iñaki Goïkoetxea and Txabi Inza, we were going to witness great moments of pelota. The two duos displayed all their talent, neck and neck and neutralizing each other in the first five points distilled in perfect equality. Then two "pumpas" - ball that bounces and comes out of the glove - followed by another foul from Etchéto and a following from Beascoetxea in attack put the second-named in a favorable position. Another badly targeted and Goïko administered the sentence with a stinging "tornillo" to the back wall. The member of the pediment of Zumaïa displayed all his class, allowing Inza to shine in turn to contain the inclinations of an Etcheto subjected to severe test. At 11-5, the outcome was no longer in doubt; 4 units will be grabbed at 9-12 but a new series concluded the round 15-9. The second will follow roughly the same scenario; balanced up to 7 it will end on a final 15-8. Master Goïko with his developed gestures dominated the subject, in perfect harmony with the most serene Inza.
Fate had not given a draw of the same notoriety to the second semi-final; two young forwards Johan Sorozabal and Ludovic Laduche associated with Jon Zabala and Unaï Lekerika who resumed his place left until now at Palois Portet due to injury. The return of the reigning World Champion Spaniard would weigh in the balance; his know-how in defense glued to the left wall and a most serious and accomplished performance from Laduche will allow them to take charge of the game and keep their opponents at bay. Sorozabal, the youngest of the four, managed to place a few well-made shots, especially at the end of the second round, but it was not enough; his rear (Zabala) will not succeed in imposing himself despite his recognized striking power.
The winners will meet in the master I final next Friday at 9:30 p.m.; before then the Espoirs will have played theirs.
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2022 International Tournaments
Hegoalde (South Basque Country-AKA Spain)
Jai Alai Winter Series--Gernika--January 19-March 20, 2022 (9 Full Match Videos)
JAI ALAI WORLD TOUR
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Iparralde (North Basque Country--AKA France)
CESTA PUNTA PRO TOUR
Cesta All Star Donibane Lohizune (Saint-Jean-de-Luz) (April 19-28, 2022) (9 Full Match Videos)
Cesta Punta Summer League (Biarritz, Pau) (May 6-June 17, 2022) (6 Full Match Videos)
Grand Slam, Espoir (Group B) (June 22-August 25)
Gant d'Or (Biarritz) (July 6-August 24) (4 Master and 1 SLAM)
Pau Cup (July 15-September 2) (2 Master and 1 Slam)
Grand Chistera (Biarritz) (July 8-August 25, every Tuesday--Outdoor Cesta Punta--3 player teams, 75 meter court, no helmets)
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Fronton Mexico (Mexico City)
Tourneo Betway (May 19-26) (14 Full Match Videos)
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Dania Jai Alai (Dania Beach Florida)
Battle at the Palace (April 1-10) (14 Full Match Videos)
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