The 2023 Championnat Ligue du Pays Basque (#1 series) began on September 16, 2023 and ended on November 25, with the Final held at Campos Berri (Donibane Lohizune--Saint Jean de Luz). The Final was the 49th match of the Tournament. There were 42 matches in "Poule" play, followed by 4 Quarter Finals, 2 Semi-Finals, and a Final.
The following links are spoilers as to the results of the Championship Final. A No spoiler link will be given to that match below. If you do not want to know the outcome, DO NOT click on the below database links until AFTER you have watched the match.
Complete results are available at the Comite Territorial Pays Basque de Pelote Basque Database. Complete standings (for all teams, by "Poule" and "Final") are available at the "Classements" section of the same database. For a list of the Champions going back annually to 1997, see the "Palmares" (click on "voir le palmares") section. (Note: landscape works better, especially for mobile phones.
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Below you will find
NO SPOILER link to the FINAL full match video.
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SPOILER
A. Link to the same full match video, along with score, linescores, partial scoring and statistics, a match article, and an English Google Translation of that article.
B. Results of the 2 semi-finals. Links to the full match videos for those matches, along with score, linescores, partial scoring and statistics.
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NO SPOILER
FINAL--November 25, 2023
FULL MATCH VIDEO (Canal + via Cesta Punta Pro Tour Youtube)
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SPOILER
FINAL--November 25, 2023
15-8, 15-11 (30-19)
FULL MATCH VIDEO (Canal + via Cesta Punta Pro Tour Youtube)
Linescores (winners always listed 1st).
Set 1:
1-0; 1-1; 4-1; 4-2; 5-2; 5-5; 10-5; 10-6; 13-6; 13-7; 14-7; 14-8; 15-8
+1; =; +3; +2; +3; =; +5; +4; +7; +6; +7; +6; +7
2 equal scores, 0 lead changes
Set 2:
0-1; 3-1; 3-2; 4-2; 4-3; 5-3; 5-4; 6-4; 6-9; 11-9; 11-11; 15-11
-1; +2; +1; +2; +1; +2; +1; +2; -3; +2; =; +4
4 equal scores, 3 lead changes
Partial Scoring (Canal +)
Set 1:
J. Sorozabal +7 -4; Gorka Sorozabal -2
Gonzalez +1 -5; Minvielle -3
Canal + scoring adds to 15-7
For the match: J. Sorozabal +11; Gonzalez +3
Pasas (1st serve over serves, 5 allowed before penalty): J. Sorozabal 5; Gonzalez 0
Balls in Play (my count, as Canal + did not provide this data)
380
BIP/Points frequency distribution
0-4/16
5-9/21
10-14/7
15-19/2
20-24/1
35/2
Avg. BIP per point: 7.8
Time of the match (total match time, actual playing time was not provided):
60:50
Avg. time per point: 74.5 seconds
Note: The Sorazabal brothers were 9-0 in this competition. They lost 1 set in the entire competition. For brothers who are 22 (Gorka) and 21 (Johan), this is a remarkable feat over a long and grueling tournament. Johan dominated this match, and Gorka was solid, as he usually is. Minvielle had a disappointing match, too many errors for one at his level. Gonzalez (age 23) has a high ceiling, but was not at his best in this match.
Match article (Pelota Ttiki--French). This is an interview with the Sorozabal brothers on November 26, 2023.
GOOGLE ENGLISH TRANSLATION
IT WAS OUR GOAL NOT TO LOSE A GAME
Nov 26, 2023
JOHAN AND GORKA SOROZABAL, FROM BIARRITZ ATHLETIC CLUB, WON THE BASQUE COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP AGAINST BIXENTE GONZALEZ AND DAVID MINVIELLE. THEY HAVE NOT LOST A GAME IN THIS COMPETITION. INTERVIEW.
PT: You won this final in two rounds but Bixente Gonzalez and David Minvielle gave you a hard time, especially in the second round…
Johan Sorozabal: We started the game well, we managed to put our system in place well. In the second round, we made unforced errors which put us in trouble. We arrive at ten together. We had to fight but we got the victory in the end and that's what counts.
Gorka Sorozabal: That's it, we had a lot of desire for this final. In the second round, we started to make mistakes. They gained confidence and moved ahead. We took a tempo which was beneficial to us. We came back with better intentions and managed to get back in front and win quite easily at the end.
PT: What was your strategy?
JS: It was dominating the point. At the start of the game, with a new ball, we had a little difficulty. When it heated up, we managed to find areas that were hurting them. I had a few balls in front and Gorka was following me very well so we managed to block the game. When the ball broke, it put us back in trouble and it changed the shape of the second set.
GS: We're starting to get into winter conditions so it's a little less spectacular and the game is more physical. The strategies are much simpler, try to dominate the bottom and not make too many mistakes. This is what we tried to put in place today.
PT: You won your second title in a row in the Basque Country championship, being undefeated. What does this mean to you?
JS: We are very happy. It was our goal not to lose a game. For the moment it is working well. We still have the French championship so we have to continue like this.
GS: We train very hard every week to lose as few games as possible. We are very happy that the results are there. There is still a long way to go with the French championship, we will quickly get our minds straight, to play this championship to the fullest.
PT: What makes you unbeatable right now?
GS: We work hard, we give our all. As brothers, we know each other by heart, that can help, even if other teams in the championship have known each other for a long time too.
JS: It’s a long-term job. Every day we are at the fronton to train. We try to give everything to win. We are big competitors, we don't like to lose.
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Semi-Finals: (November 18, 2023)
1st Semi-Final
15-9, 15-7 (30-16)
FULL MATCH VIDEO (Canal + via Cesta Punta Pro Tour Youtube)
Linescores (winners always listed 1st)
Set 1
0-2; 2-2; 2-3; 3-3; 3-4; 7-4; 7-6; 8-6; 8-7; 13-7; 13-8; 14-8; 14-9; 15-9
-2; =; -1; =; -1; +3; +1; +2; +1 +6; +5; +6; +5; +6
3 equal scores, 1 lead change
Set 2
7-0; 7-1; 11-1; 11-2; 12-2; 12-3; 14-3; 14-7; 15-7
+7; +6; +10; +9; +10; +9; +11; +7; +8
0 equal scores, 0 lead changes
Partial Scoring (Canal +)
1st Set
J. Sorozabal +4 -3; G. Sorozabal +1 -3
Urrutia +2 -3; Oyhenard +0 -5
Score adds to 13-8
For the Match: J. Sorozabal +9; Urrutia +7; Oyhenard +1
Pasas (1st serve over serves, 5 allowed before penalty):
J. Sorozabal 2; Urrutia 4
Balls in Play (my count, as Canal + did not provide this data)
269
BIP/Points frequency distribution
0-4/23
5-9/15
10-14/5
15-19/2
23/1
Avg. BIP per point: 5.8
Time of the match (total match time, actual playing time was not provided): 47:42
Avg. time per point: 62. 2 seconds
2nd Semi-final
ROMAN CHAPELTEGUI (substituting for Ludovic Laduche)--NICOLAS ETCHETO 0
15-9, 15-6 (30-15)
Linescores (winners always listed first)
Set 1
4-0; 4-1; 6-1; 6-3; 8-3; 8-4; 10-4; 10-5; 13-5; 13-8; 14-8; 14-9; 15-9
+4; +3; +5; +3; +5; +4; +6; +5; +8; +5; +6; +5; +6
0 equal scores, 0 lead changes
Set 2
0-1; 10-1; 10-2; 13-2; 13-5; 14-5; 14-6; 15-6
-1; +9; +8; +11; +8; +9; +8; +9
1 equal score, 1 lead change
Partial scoring (Canal +)
Set 1
Gonzalez +7 -3; Minvielle +2 -2
Chapeltegui +3 -5; Etcheto +1 -1
For the Match: Gonzalez +9; Chapeltegui +4
Pasas (1st serve over serves, 5 allowed before penalty):
Gonzalez 3; Chapeltegui 0
Balls in Play (my count, as Canal + did not provide this data)
310
BIP/Points frequency distribution
0-4/15
5-9/20
10-14/7
15-19/3
Longest: 19
Avg. BIP per point: 6.9
Time of the match (total match time, actual playing time was not provided): 50:06
Avg. time per point: 66.8 seconds
