Player of the week: June 10-16, 2019
Mattin Olcomendy Olcomendy led his team (Olcomendy-X. Lambert) to a long and hard fought victory in the Challenge de Cize Tournament Final contested at Le Garat (Donibane Garazi/St. Jean Pied-de-Port) on June 10. Olcomendy had a dominating day, +23 (including 11 service aces and 6 direct points. It was a grueling, nearly 2 hour 50 point match, and his team saw their lead shaved from a comfortable 45-27 to 47-43. But then Olcomendy finished it with a direct point into the back dugout, a service ace, and a beautiful winner along the left dugout. Where he got the energy at that point is anybody's guess. This performance, along with his great performance in the semi-final, where he had +30 (including 17 aces) -5 in a 50-21 win, clearly marked him as the most valuable player in the tournament. His team was 3-0 for the tournament, outscoring their opponents 150-88, and he had 43 service aces.
Olcomendy-X.Lambert 50 Monce-Cubiat 43*** (Pilota Ttiki condensed full match video)
***Info Garazi Officiel Youtube*** Unclear as to if it contains every point, has crowd shots, player introductions and interviews, closing ceremonies
Selected linescore (Esku Pilota; Goizeko Izara (Henry Ocafrain) (winners always listed first)
7-0; 9-1; 15-5; 15-6; 20-8; 20-10; 24-16; 31-19; 38-22; 43-27; 45-27; 46-34 47-43; 50-43
Scoring (Goizeko Izarra--Henry Ocafrain)
Olcomendy +23 (including 11 service aces and 6 direct points--5 xareat and 1 pumpa xare) -9; X. Lambert +8 (including 2 direct points--2 pumpa xare) -7
Monce +13 (6a, 2dp--2 xareat) -6; Cubiat +14 (7dp--6 xareat and 1 pumpa xare) -13
Time of the match: 1 hour 56 minutes 37 seconds
Actual playing time: 55:41
Match article with link to the last few points: (Esku Pilota)
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Match of the week:
Fronton Mexico: Premier League "Battle of the Titans" (June 16, 2019):
***(Aritz) Erkiaga-Lopez 30-Goikoetxea-Irastorza 24*** (Fronton Mexico Facebook full match video)
Match article (Jai Alai y Mas Facebook--Fernando Sierra Fuelgueres
FM knows how to put on a spectacle, but they topped themselves with this 30 point partido that included, arguably, the best 4 puntistas on the planet. Playing on the world's longest and most difficult concha, these four put on an amazing show, until fatigue seemed to get the best of them in the last few points. In fact, by their standards, it wasn't the most technically proficient match. There were errors, but those were instantly forgotten when they put together fantastic rallies. If you really want to see what Cesta Punta at its best is, watch the the first few points in the 3rd decade of the match. But while you watch the rest of the match, know that it is not common practice in this sport to convert cortadas (low sidearm fireballs) from the 11 and 12 line like Lopez did. It is not common to see the terrific rebote (rebound) saves from the next county that Irastorza executed. Nor is it common to see the pure precision that Erkiaga shows when he gets his throws where he wants them, or when he takes on Goikoetxea on the apron, as he did on a couple of occasions. And as for Goikoetxea, "The King" as the promoters at FM like to call him, at 38, still has the most lethal cortada in the business, a throw so hard that it is past his opponents before they can even react, which is a good thing, because a cesta trying to intercept his rockets might be torn right off his opponents hands. But what Goiko has also shown in this tournament is touch, converting chic-chacs and chulas (long shots that hit the back wall or bounce and hit the back wall so low that they cannot be returned). It takes a very strong man to reach the back wall at FM, which is a full 8 meters longer than any other fronton. He not only reaches it, he scores. You will want to watch these four. They are not getting any younger. Erkiaga, the youngest, is 32, Lopez 35, Goiko 38, and Irastorza 42. But the mixture of talent and experience they bring to the table will still bring you up out of your seat when you watch them. Watch and enjoy. They are the best of their generation, perhaps the best of all time. When they retire, they will leave a large void in the fastest ball sport in the world.
Player of the week: June 3-9, 2019
Mano: Iker Irribarria (delantero-front)
Irribarria, who will be 23 in July, won his second Buruz Buruko/Campionato Manomanista World Singles championship in the last 4 years , an incredibly difficult come from behind win over Mikel Urrutikoetxea in front of "packed house" at Bizkaia, Bilbo (Bilbao) on June 8.. For more information on the match, see below, as it is also the match of the week. Since turning professional in 2015, Irribarria has also won the World Pairs championship in 2017 and was runner-up in the 2017 Singles and 2019 Pairs championship. Quite a beginning for what could be a sensational career. Known early in his career for an incredibly powerful left hand "steam shovel" that could easily hit the back walls of frontons (memorably, he hit one that crashed off the front wall and slammed against the ceiling, coming down so hard that it rolled almost to the back wall while EITB was tracking its trajectory). He still has an incredibly powerful left hand, but has refined his game quite a bit in the last 3 years. Still young and prone to errors of aggression, he seems to have no ceiling for his success in Mano when he really figures out the modality. His hustle and talent are always a joy to watch, unless you happen to be opposing him.
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Match of the week:
Mano: Note: the basic nuts and bolts of Irribarria's match are all listed below. The fifteen newspaper and web articles linked to will give you a flavor for just how intense this match was. The match had 14 errors. But it was about as exciting as a BP match can be, with a great finish.
Urruikoetxea (1/4 seed Group C; 2-1) 20 (EITB full match video championship matches)
21Iguales Highlights (includes highlights from parts or all of 16 points and the closing ceremony
Highlights (EITB)
Final Point (EITB)
Opening point (EITB) 23 balls in play
Condensed linescore (winner always listed first)
0-2; 2-2; 2-3; 3-3; 3-4; 7-4; 7-12; 10-12; 10-15; 15-15; 15-17; 18-17; 18-18; 21-18; 21-20; 22-20
7 equal scores, 3 lead changes
Scoring: (21Iguales)
Irribarria +16 (including 4 service aces) -8 (including 1 service fault)
Urrutikoetxea +12 (2a) -6
Balls in play: 285
Time of the match: 62:00; Playing time: 12:30
Baikopilota links to 14 match and feature storiesfrom El Correo, Diario Vasco, Deia, Diario de Navarra, and Mundo Deportivo (Castilian); Gara and EITB (Euskara)
21Iguales.com match article, including statistics and linescore
Player of the week: May 27-June 2, 2019
----Pala Larga: Justin Dardenne (delantero-front)(1) Societe de Pelote Basque a Biarritz (2) (Toute sur la Pelote Basque Youtube of FFPB Palete de Pelote Cuir FFPB National A Final); Ekain Mendezabal (zaguero-back) Mundo Deportivo); and Igor Aroita (zaguero-back) (same Mundo Deportivo article). These are the three amateurs who are partnering with Xabier Ibargarai (InnPala World Singles Champion and Mundo Parejas (World Pairs) runner up); Esteban Gaubeka(World Pairs Champion and Singles runner up), and Pablo Hernan "Fusto" (World Pairs Runner up and 6 time World Singles AND Pairs Champion) respectively. Dardenne recently won the FFPB National A Paleta Pelote de Cuir par Equipes (pairs) Championnat de France, beating his front court opponent, the recently retired InnPala Pro Sylvain Brefel.
All three of their teams advanced to the Semi-final Round of the Bizkaia Open (a tournament known for matching Pros with up and coming amateurs). In doing so, they knocked out two pairs of InnPala professionals. Aroita and Mendizabal are receiving a serious look as candidates to join the InnPala roster replacing Brefel. It would be easy, in a tournament of this magnitude, playing with the best of the best, to be overawed or intimidated. But all three have stepped up, and there is an excellent chance one of them will be wearing a Txapela after the Final on June 15.
----Main Nue: Peio Larralde (avant-front) and Agusti Waltary (arrete-back)
Waltary is the man with the devastating serve, but in this tournament he played the back. In their two wins that won the Championship in the Tournois Pilotarianak at Anglet, they outscored their opponents 80-51. In the May 29 Final, Larralde had 15 service aces and Waltary played solid defense, more than holding his own against Peio Guichandut, an easy 40-23 win. 7 0f their first 10 points were Larralde aces.
Match article (Esku Pilota)
Match article (Pilota Ttiki)
----Jai Alai/Cesta Punta: Jean Olharan(delantero-front) and Imanol Lopez (zaguero-back):
The 3rd Fronton Mexico Premier Tournament began on May 31. By June1 O-I had already qualified for the final. The tournament switched formats from 2 sets to 15 with a tie breaker to 5 to a single 30 point partido. That format suited O-H well as they crushed Goikoetxea (winner of Tournament 1)-Inza 30-18 and then did slightly better against (Aritz) Erikaga-Ekhi 30-17. Olharan already has won the 2nd Tournament and is becoming a dominant figure. Lopez had not made either of the first two finals, but he will be playing for one next Sunday. With the exception of a few early matches, these tournaments were very competitive. While the format may have something to do with things, it was only a matter of time until Lopez "came to the party." And Olharan is playing some of the best Cesta Punta of his career.
May 31: Olharan-Lopez 30 Goikoetxea-Inza 18 (Fronton Mexico Facebook full match video--match begins at -1:58:35 from the RIGHT side of the slider bar. Slide back from -1:58:35. Second match follows the first.)
Match article: (Jai Alai y Mas Facebook--Fernando Sierra Felgueres)
June 1: Olharan-Lopez 30 (Aritz) Erkiaga-Ekhi 17 (Fronton Mexico Facebook full match video--match begins at -54:10 from the RIGHT side of the slider bar. Slide back from -54:10.)
Match article: Jai Alai y Mas Facebook--Fernando Sierra Felgueres via Jai Alai News Facebook)
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Match of the week:
Challenge de Cize Quarter-final:
May 27, 2019
Le Garat, St. Jean-Pied-de-Port (Donibane Garazi)
Selected linescore (winners always listed first) (Esku Pilota)
1-6; 13-13; 24-13; 27-20; 30-25; 35-30; 40-36; 40-40; 50-43
Match article (Pilota Ttiki)
Match article (Esku Pilota)
It was a back and forth struggle to 50 points that lasted an hour and 50 minutes. The losers were in control early, only to be outscored 23-7. The winners' control slowly melted away until they were caught at 40. Then M-C dug deep to dominate the end 10-3. Doing so was a magnificent achievement, especially at that stage of exhaustion and sore hands, and punched their ticket to the Final on June 10.
Player of the week: May 20-26, 2019
Garate-Ibai Perez were shut out in their first two Bizkaia Open round robin League matches, a rude awakening, especially for Ibai Perez, who was coming off a perfect 7-0 Mundo Parejas Championship run. The Bizkaia Open Semi-finalists are determined by the number of jokos (sets) they win. Starting off 0-6 is not the way to get there. However, in the last 3 rounds they have roared back into contention, with 3 wins and a 9-5 joko record. They have a chance to make the Semi-finals, depending on the results of the last round. Few thought this possible just 3 weeks ago.
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Match of the week:
Fronton Mexico Tournament 2 Premier League Final:
May 26, 2019
Olharan-Irastorza 2 (Aritz) Erkiaga-Inza 1 (15-14; 14-15; 5-2) (34-31) (Fronton Mexico Facebook full match video--match begins at -1:27:50 (move the slider bar back from the RIGHT side to -1:27:50).
The linescore says it all about this match. The maximum number of points in a set based match like this is 67. The match ups were fantastic, the electric athleticism and "joi de vivre" of Olharan v the precision of Erkiaga; the power of Irastorza (even now, at over 40 years old) v Inza's strategy to hit the ball deep (and on the FM court, the longest in the world, not an easy assignment) and keep Irastorza from using his lethal overhand and forehand throws. It was not, from a technical perspective, the best of matches (the tie breaker was decided by errors). But for sheer spectacle and fun (FM leaves no stone un-turned in those departments), if you have never seen a CP/Jai Alai match, this would be a great place to start. And if you've seen hundreds, this would be an excellent choice for your next one.
Player of the week: May 13-19, 2019
---Mano: Iker Irribarria
The only survivor of the 1/8 seeded players in the Banakako Txapelketa/Campionato Manomanista (Singles) championship advanced to the Final when he demolished the man who beat him in the recently concluded Binakako Txapelketa/Mundo Parejas (Pairs) championship, Danel Elezkano, 22-12 on May 19. Irribarria did it with the remarkable figures of +16 (including 3 service aces) - 2. Of his 13 non service ace points, 8 came on high and deep shots. Astelena (Eibar) is one of the smaller conchas (courts) that professionals play on. Still it was remarkable that one of Irribarria's "steam shovel" bombs actually hit the back wall, a site seldom seen in Mano. Several others deep shots put Elezkano in such a poor position that Irribarria was able to win points with easy kill shots. Elezkano's precision short offense and tremendous defense in the front court was useless against Irribaria's bombs. It is remarkable to see him get his left hand under the ball and crash it high off the wall. "Meet Irribarria's hand, see the Basque Country," the pelotas say when they talk to each other. He also played very well with his right hand in this match, which is more "bad news" for his opponents. This match propelled him into the Final on June 2 at Bizkaia, Bilbo (Bilbao), against Mikel Urrutikoetxea. Urrutikoetxea is a big, strong, converted back court player, so he may have the tools to counter Irribarria's power. But Irribarria is riding a wave of momentum. This will be the second time in the last four years the two have met in this final. In the first, in 2016, when both had recently burst on the scene, Irribarria won 22-13. Full match video of that match is available via EITB.
Full match video of his victory over Elezkano(EITB--match begins at 1:01:15)
----Remonte: Aritz Juanenea and Jagoba Labaka
Juanenea and Labaka are up and coming "B" players on the Oriamendi2010 roster. Both have fallen on somewhat hard times recently. Juanenea has an uninspiring record this year (see his player page), but that is deceptive because he has often played in "unbalanced" matches where his "B-B" team plays "A-B" opponents, or his "A-B" team plays "A-A" opponents. Labaka was "B" player of the year in 2018, but has been inconsistent this year. Both reached maximum potential in their opening Group A League match on May 16 in the 1st Berria Tournament with an easy 35-20 win over Ansa II-Arruarte. But there was something very special about this win.
Juanenea +24 -0; Labaka +5 (including 2 service aces) -0... +29-0!!!!!
For one player to have a perfect match is rare and notable. For a team to have a perfect match is almost unheard of. And to do it in the opening match of a newly established tournament is...there are no words. Unfortunately, there is no video of this match.
Match article (Oriamendi2010)
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Match of the week:
Jai Alai/Cesta Punta: Dania Jai Alai, Game 10 (Florida Singles Tournament), May 19 (Matinee). Game 10 is a singles game to 7 points with "spectacular" 7 scoring. In the first round each point is worth 1 point, in subsequent rounds each point is worth 2. Game 10 pits Dania's best (late game) front court (mostly) players against each other. It, like all other games, is played 7 times a week.
Ithurria took this match in a tidy 10 minutes, needing only four points to do so. The match was unique among the ones I have analyzed so far in that it did not have an error. 12 points were played, including the playoff for 2nd and 3rd, and each was won. No errors. None! The closest to an error was on a service ace by Beitia that Barandika threw into the upper pad. So perhaps a perfect game with an *, but for now, as I always assign a 1 ball point a service ace (or fault), a perfect game nonetheless. There were 3 leaders, Ithurria early, then Ibon(substituting for Arrieta) who scored 4 points in dominant fashion and looked like he might win a perfect game. But Beitia, pretty much an early game front court player, dispatched Ibon with a left wall pass. Then Ithurria beat Beitia with a long, risky, and difficult outside pass, and then finished with a two wall against Erik and a chic-chac to beat Diego. This final point was amazing, the longest of any analyzed so far. 17 balls in play, including an over the shoulder catch against the left wall by Diego that had to be seen to be believed. In the end, he lost the point. In the last 3 games he has played by far the highest quality point in the game, and lost each point. Against Ithurria (13), Barandika (11) and this one. Ithurria beat him in the 5/18(M) performance in the same fashion he did today. Barandika also beat him with a chic-chac on the way to a perfect game in the 5/18(E) performance.
Ithurria played 5 points and won 4 (+4 -0). His points consumed 29 balls in play (of which he had 16).
One other notable thing about the game was the play of Ibon, the only back court player. By now it is well known that Ibon Aldazabal, in a throwing contest at Dania in 2017, threw a pelota 190 mph (306 km) (1) (2). This is the fastest any pelota has ever been thrown. While not the fastest ball ever projected, it is the fastest ever thrown. In this game he beat Ithurria in the first round with a service return that hit the front wall, back wall, and 1/2-3/4 of the way back to the front wall, getting past a retreating Ithurria before he could execute the rebote. In the playoff against Beitia he executed the same shot from closer in, a little lower. Beitia got to it but it went through him in the way a well executed Goikoetxea cortada goes through his opponents. That much power after colliding with two walls 54 meters apart is astonishing. And to show that he is not all about power, he also had a perfect chula against Erik in the first round, a ball that hit the very bottom of the back wall and rolled out. In a sense, though he came in second, Ibon was the player who will be remembered from this game.
Here is how Ithurria won:
* Possible game point.
1 Ithurria; 2 Barandika; 3 Ibon (back--substituting for Arietta); 4; Erik; 5 Diego; 6; Zulaika; 7; Beitia; 8 Goitia
Round 1
1(0)-2(0) 3 (balls in play); Ithurria (1 - 0(points) +1 - 0(winners-errors), 2 balls in play) +; chic-chac; Barandika (0-1, +0-0, 1)
1(1)-3(0) 2; Ibon (1-0, +1-0, 1) +; Ibon returns serve from near the back wall to front wall to back wall and then about 1/2-3/4 of the way back, a ball that went approximately 135-150 meters (about 440-500 feet) in the air (assuming Dania is a 54 meter court). It passed Ithurria's desperate attempt at a rebote while back pedaling. Ithurria (1-1, +1-0, 1)
3(1)-4(0) 3; Ibon (2-0, +2-0, 2) +; Perfect touch on a chula as Ibon rolls it out. CO-BEST SHOT OF THE GAME. Erik (0-1, +0-0, 1)
3(2)-5(0); 5; Ibon (3-0, +3-0, 3) +; 1st Ibon makes a great save running from right to left. He finishes with another chula. Diego (0-1, +0-0, 2)
3(3)-6(0); 1; Ibon (4-0, +4-0, 1) +; Ace. Zulaika (0-1, 0+0, 0)
3(4)-7(0); 4; Betia (1-0, +1-0, 2) +; left wall pass. Ibon (4-1, +4-0, 2)
7(1)-8(0); 7; Betia (2-0, +2-0, 4) +; big bounce winner. Goitia (0-1, +0-0, 3)
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Round 2 (points double for the rest of the game)
1 Ithurria; 2 Barandika; 3 Ibon (back--substituting for Arietta); 4; Erik; 5 Diego; 6; Zulaika; 7; Beitia; 8 Goitia
7(2)-2(0) 1; Betia (3-0 +3-0, 1) +; Ace on a serve that Barandika returns into the pad. Could have been scored an error (?). Barandika (0-2, +0-0(?), 0).
7(4)-1(1) 4; Ithurria (2-1, +2-0, 2) +; High risk perfectly placed long outside pass. Betia (3-1,+3-0, 2)
1(3)-4(0) 3; Ithurria (3-1, +3-0, 2) +; two wall (left-front) carom. Erik (0-2, +0-0, 1).
*1(5)-5(0) 17; Ithurria (4-1, +4-0, 9) +; chic-chac to end the BEST POINT OF THE MATCH. (Diego 0-2, +0-0, 8). Deigo kept this point going with an over the shoulder catch running along the left wall, a catch that would have made Willie Mays (hall of fame baseball outfielder) proud.
Ithurria wins (7 points--4 actual points).
Playoff for 2nd and 3rd.
3 (Ibon 4)- 7 (Beitia 4) 3; Ibon (5-1, +5-0, 2) + A weak Beitia return of serve sets up Ibon for another bomb, this one more laserlike than the first, lower and faster. Beitia takes it for the rebote but can't hold it as it almost tears his cesta off his hand. CO-BEST SHOT OF THE GAME.
Total balls in play. 53.
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Player of the week: May 6-12, 2019
Jai Alai/Cesta Punta: Diego Beaskoetxea (late-front), Dania Jai Alai.
Diego won the most games at Dania this week, 10 in 37 games, for a .270 winning percentage, the only player on the roster over .200 for the week. He had 3 more wins than the second place finishers. It wasn't the number of games he won, but what he did in 2 of the games in particular, Game 10 in the May 11 Matinee and Evening performances, that earned him the BP player of the week. Game 10, the Florida Singles Championship, matches the best 8 front court players (occasionally a back court player sneaks in) on the roster, 7 times a week, every week. In the short 10 week Spring season mostly these same players will battle for this championship 70 times, barring injury or illness. The player with the most wins at the end of the season wins one of the three major Dania Championships (most Game 10 wins, most Game 12 (Doubles Championship) wins, and most total wins). In the two games, Diego, from the 2 and 1 starting positions respectively, won 12 consecutive points, an almost unheard of feat for the same game in consecutive performances. After dropping a catch to break the streak, he came back in the second round to win the game with a service ace. He came within one point of two consecutive "perfect games" (games where the winner wins all the points consecutively to win the game). Perfect games are most difficult when playing from post position 1 and 2, as they require 7 consecutive points (most games are played to 7 points in quiniela Jai Alai--8 players compete--1 v 2, winner stays on the court, loser goes to the back of the line on the bench). The first round of points is worth 1 point, all other rounds are worth 2, meaning a 7 point match can be won with anywhere from 4 to 7 actual points. So perfect games are arduous from these post positions.
Diego annihilated his opposition, which included three other world class Partido players (Partidos are single opposition matches played in Mexico and the Basque Country during the Summer Season).
Here's how he did it.
Matinee (Post Position 2) * = world class Partido player. Note: Erik (Mendizabal) is the defending Triple Crown Champion.
1st Round
1(0) v 2(0) 2 balls in play; deep outside (right) pass from the back left wall after receiving serve, It landed inches inside the line, one of the best shots I have seen in Jai Alai; v Erik*
2(1) v 3(0) 1 bip; service ace v Goitia
2(2) v 4(0) 5 bip; outside pass v Arrieta
2(3) v 5(0) 3 bip; dejada (slow drop shot) v Ithurria
2(4) v 6(0) 7 bip; left wall pass after 2 superb catches saving the point v Urturan
2(5) v 7(0) 5 bip; Barandika error--throws too high into the upper pad above the front wall
** (Possible game point, possible perfect game)
2(6) v 8(0) 3 bip; chula (long shot that hits the back wall on the fly so low that the it cannot be rebounded)--a signature "touch" shot--ball usually goes about 15-25 yards to the front wall and then about 60 yards to the back wall; v Zulaika*
Diego wins a perfect game with 7 points.
7 points played; 7 points won (6 winners 0 errors). Diego puts 16 balls in play.
Diego dismantled the entire opposition in about four minutes.
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Evening (Post Position 1)
1st round
1(0) v 2(0) 1 bip; service ace v Zulaika*
1(1) v 3(0) 1 bip; service ace v Leke*
1(2) v 4(0) 1 bip; service ace v Erik*
1(3) v 5(0) 3 bip; dejada v Arrieta
1(4) v 6(0) 5 bip; 2 wall (left-front) carom shot v Ithurria
1(5) v 7(0) 8 bip; Diego error, only error in the two games, dropped catch
2nd round
6(1) v 1(5)** (possible game point) 1 bip; service ace v Ithurria
Diego with 7 points, wins.
7 points played, 6 points won; 1 lost (+6 -1) 13 balls in play.
These games were masterpieces by one of the best players in the world, at his best.
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Match of the week:
Jai Alai/Cesta Punta
Fronton Mexico Tournament 1: Premier and National League Finals
Fronton Mexico played its first of 5 scheduled tournaments between the May 3 and June 30, from May 3 to 12. 6 pairs were involved in the Premier (A) Tournament, 4 pairs in the National (B) Tournament. Both finals, on May 12 were streamed on Fronton Mexico's Facebook page and they were both great matches:
National League Final:
Ochoa-Perez 2 Ortega-Ihitsague 0 (Fronton Mexico Facebook: match begins at 0:00)(15-14;15-14) (30-28)
Premier League Final
Goikoetxea-Del Rio 2 (Aritz) Erkiaga-Portet 1 (Fronton Mexico Facebook--match begins at -1:10:35--slide back from the end to -1:10:35) (15-5; 12-15; 5-3) (32-23)
Match article for both matches (Jai Alai News Facebook)
Discounting the 1st set of the Premier League final, when young zaguero (back court) Jerome Portet had a very difficult time, the 4 sets were decided by 7 points. Inaki Goikoetxea, in his late 30s and still arguably the best player in the world, put on a clinic that didn't rely as much on his usual un-returnable cortadas (hard side arm shots at which Goiko is the best and most powerful in the world, usually throwing the pelota through cestas), as on long high and hard chic-chacs and chulas (chic-chac is a ball the hits the floor and then back wall too low to be returned), tremendously powerful serves that put his opponents on the back foot, and beautiful two wall carom shots. Del Rio was steady on defense and showed much promise with his overhand returns. Aritz Erkiaga is a master of the "ezker hornan" (left wall shot, which he executes from straight on or from a rebote). It is a shot that has earned him the nickname "Artiste" at FM, and if you watch this match you'll see why. Alas, Portet struggled with dropped catches, but righted the ship enough to show that he has tremendous potential as a back court player. Note that FM is the longest indoor court in the world, probably a good 8 to 10 meters longer than the usual 54 meter (about 60 yard) court. It is not easy for a back courter to adjust to that, especially a young back under the brightest of spotlights. After the first set E-P could have closed up shop. They didn't gain a lead in the match until 6-5 in the second set. They lost that lead but then fought back hard to win the set. And they fought back from 3-0 in the tie breaker to 3-3 before finally falling.
The National League match was tremendously exciting if not technically as proficient. What stuck in my mind was journeyman zaguero (back court) Julien Ihitsague even attempting, much less executing two wall carom shots from behind the 10 line, a "Lopezian" (Imanol Lopez, arguably the best back court player in the world, who has executed more than one two wall shot from behind the 12 line at FM) shot if ever there was one. Also the great disappointment of 42 year old Adrian Ortega upon dropping a difficult catch for the final point of the match. His disappointment was palpable, but he was consoled by his teammate and opponents. He has one of the sweetest looping dejadas I have seen. It is wonderful that such a "lazy" looking shot can be so lethal.
At the end of the night, a successful first tournament ended. This fan can hardly wait for Tournament 2, which begins on May 18.
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Remonte: Endika Urrutia (Group A zaguero (back)
Endika became the first Oriamendi player to win the Sagardoeren Txapelketa (Torneo Sidra/Cider Tournament) 3 times and the first to win with the same partner (Benat Segurola) twice as he led his Petritegi team to perfect 7-0 Tournament record with a decisive 40-31 win in the May 4, 2019 Final over Gurutzeta (Josetxo Ezkurra (Ezkurra II)-Aritz Garces). Though postitioned in the back, he "led from the front" with +19 (including only 3 service aces) -4, an almost unbelievable total for winners in play from a back court player. It was not the first time he played dominating offense. Here are his numbers for the 6 matches we have Oriamendi statistics for:
League play (2 matches) +23 -4
Semi-final League play (3 matches) +46 -19
Final: +19 -4
Total: +88 -27 (avg: +14.4 -4.5)
And he saved his best for the most important matches, in the Semi-final League and Final: +10 -4; +18 -10; +18 -5; +19 -4
It was a fabulous ending to a completely dominating Tournament for his team. And a performance that will not be soon forgotten.
Full match video (EITB)
Match article (Oriamendi2010)
Semi-final League match against the same opponents (EITB, match begins at 14:00)
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Match of the week:
A. Main Nue:
Quarter-final: Tournoi d'Itxassou
***Ospital-Xala 40 Etcheverria-Guichandut 35*** (Pilota Ttiki condensed full match Youtube)
Selected linescore (winners always listed first)
0-7; 10-18; 20-21; 26-26; 28-28; 29-29; 30-30; 34-34; 40-35
In the most competitive match of this "hybrid" tournament, played on a mur a gauche with a drop in dugout, E-G had things their own way for most of the first half, scoring the first 7 points and leading by 8 before a 10-3 run put O-X back in the match. The third and fourth decades were even, and E-G had one final lead before O-X equalized at 34. From there a 6-1 closing rush gave the victory to O-X, a victory that took an hour and a half and seemed very unlikely an hour before.
B. Mano:
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Buruz Buruko (Manomanista) Quarter Final
May 3, 2019
***Irribarria 22 Altuna III 18*** (EITB full match video--begins at 30:55)
Match article (21Iguales)
Last week Irribarria played quite poorly in a sloppy 22-20 victory over Victor. He made 9 errors yet survived to "tell the tale". This week, he played a brilliant match, +20 -4. So did defending champion Altuna III (+14 (including 5 service aces) -2). The match featured big runs and 3 lead changes. A 5-0 run put the defending champion ahead. An 8 point run give Irribarria a 9-5 lead. A 4 point run equalized for Altuna III. A 5 point run put him ahead 14-11. At 16-12, he was 6 points from victory but Irribarria answered with an 8 point run that put the match away. Irribarria used his "steam shovel" left hand effectively at the end to repeatedly put Altuna III on the back foot, leading to easy winners and showing how devastating he can be in this format when he is on his game. It was, arguably, the best played match of the tournament so far.
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Remonte: Josetxo Ezukurra (Ezkurra II) and Aritz Garces. The B-B team, representing Gurutzeta, unexpectedly punched their ticket to the Final of the Sagardoaren Txapelketa (Torneo Cidra/Cider Tounament) by upsetting the A-B team of Urriza-Zaldua (Gaztanaga) 40-36 (EITB full match video, begins at 0:00) on April 27. Ezkurra II was +20 -4 (to Urriza's +18 -1) playing an even match with the roster's best front court player (and being in the thick of a 6-0 run that turned a 9-12 deficit into a 15-12 lead). Garces played a brilliant match on defense against Urriza's attack and also contributed +13 (including 7 service aces) -1 (1 service fault) to his team's effort. And in the end his winner provided the 40th point, which knocked his 2018 Championship partner out of this year's Final.
Match article (Oriamendi2010.com)
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Match of the week:
A. Main Nue: FFPB Championnat de France 2019 Elite Pro Par Equipes (Pairs) Group A Final
April 28, 2019
Larralde-Bilbao 40 Ospital-Ducassou 37 (Pilota Ttiki Youtube condensed full match video)
Selected linescore (winners always listed first)
1-1; 2-8; 8-8; 14-14; 17-26; 30-30 31-31; 31-35; 35-35; 36-36; 40-37;
This was a classic match between the number 1 and 2 Group A teams. It was like a heavyweight boxing classic, punch and counter punch. There were 8 equal scores and L-B came back from 6, 9, and 4 point deficits to win. The struggle took an hour and 40 minutes and saved the best for last as the 4 best players (at the moment) in Main Nue battled it out, an appreciative packed house at Bayonne's Trinquet Moderne enjoying every moment.
B. Mano: Buruz Buruko/Campeonato Manomanista 1a 1/8 Round
April 27, 2019
Jaka 22 Artola 20 (EITB: match begins at 43:02)
Selected linescore (EITB) (winner always listed first)
20-9; 20-20; 22-20
Match article (21iguales)
The linescore tells it all as Artola makes a huge comeback only to fall a bit short at the end.
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Player of the week: April 15-21, 2019
***Remonte: Endika Urrutia (Group A zaguero (back), Javier Urriza (Group A delantero (front), and Ibon Zaldua (Group B, z/b).
These three players had stellar matches to help their teams to victories in Second Round Semi-final League action last week in the Sagardoeren Txapelketa (Torneo Cidra/Cider Tournament).
Endika led his Petritegi team (Segurola-Endika B-A) to a hard fought 40-36 win over Ezkurra II-Garces (B-B) (Gurutzeta). Handling the ball 111 times to his partner's 68, he was +18 -10. He was all over the court, instrumental in defense (see his contribution to the immense 32 ball 33-25--33-26 point (see above). He was also magnificent on offense. No point more symbolized his day than the final point of the match, which he won with an impeccable two wall winner from beyond the 11 line.
Urriza and Zaldua came about as close to perfection as possible as their combined +28 -2 overwhelmed Goikoetxea V-Barrenetxea IV (Oialume Zar) 40-32 and knocked them out of the Tournament. Although they were actually outscored by their opponents, a -10 advantage in errors turned the tide. Urriza played a perfect match (+16 -0), with a dazzling array of two wall winners, cortadas, and overhead passes, as well as making several point saving plays on defense. Zaldua has had a difficult time in Gaztanaga's losses in this tournament. In this match he put it all together, outplaying one of the best backs in the game, with +12(including 5 service aces) -2 He was also rock solid in defense, more than holding his own on rebotes, defending difficult left wall shots, and making one almost impossible diving save.
Match article for both matches (Oriamendi2010)
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Match of the week:
A. Remonte: Star Match, April 20, 2019
Uterga-Barrenetxea IV 40 Urriza-Endika 38
Calling a match a "star match" might seem hyperbole, but not in this case. These players are, more than arguably, the best at their positions on the roster. Going into this match Uterga was slumping, losing 8 of his last 11 matches (including a 5 match losing streak), as well as losing all three of his League Torneo Cidra matches). He was at his best in this match, +22 -2 with 7 two wall winners. Urriza was also very effective (+19 -2). The two back court players combined to almost completely cancel each other out. Barrenetxea IVwas+12 (including 4 service aces) -4. Endika was +13 (6 aces) -4. The match went right down to the wire, with Uterga winning it with a two wall shot. Ut-B have now beaten Ur-E the last three times they have met.
Match article (Oriamendi2010)
B. Main Nue: FFPB Elite Pro Par Equipes Group B Semi-final.
Inchauspe-Amulet 40 Olcomendy-Iturbe 36 (Pilota Ttiki Youtube condensed full match video)
With the score 32-18 I-A, this was looking like anything but a match of the week. But then O-I put on a tremendous 15-2 run to get to within 1. Alas, they ran out of steam and fell in the end, but not before one of the best rallies in a long time.
Match article (FFPB)
C. Mano: April 21, 2019.
Zabala-Martija 22 Elordi-Ladis Galarza 21 (EITB full match video--begins at 0:00)
This was a "filler" match, to fill out a program that was highlighted by a preliminary Buruz Buruko (World Singles Championship) match. Filler matches are usually as memorable as yesterday's newspaper, played and forgotten. Not this one. These two teams treated fans to a titanic 85 1/2 minute match. When all was said and done the pelota hit the hand 787 times. Elordi 204; L. Galartza 189; Zabala 200; Martija 194. It wasn't the most artistic: +27 -15. L. Galartza and Martija hit the pelota 393 times. They scored 4 times.
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April 8-14, 2019
Player of the week:
****Main Nue: Agusti Waltary (avant-front). Defending FFPB Championnat de France par Equipes (pairs) Group A champions Waltary-Guichandut were faced with a match on April 8 that, had they lost, would have sent them into a "Barrage" match against the winners of the B Group. If they lost that match, W-G would be demoted to the B Group Semi-finals. They were having none of it, destroying Monce-Harismendy 40-8 at Le Garate. Waltary's contribution was +24 (including 15 service aces and 1 direct point) -2. W-G took leads of 8-2; 16-4; 25-6; and 33-7. Needless to say, M-H played in the Barrage match. For the qualification round, Waltary had 37 service aces in 4 games, 13 more than Peio Larralde, who was second in the group. At age 39, he still has the most lethal serve in Main Nue.
Condensed full match video (Pilota Ttiki Youtube)
Match article (FFPB)
****Remonte: Benat Segurola (Group B, delantero (front). Not only did Segurola's +23 -4 hold Group A front Javier Urriza to a standoff and help his Petritegi team win its first Semi-final Leage match in the Sagardoeren Txapelketa (Torneo Sidra/Cider Tournament) (see below under match of the week), but it was also his 11th consecutive win, four more than anyone else on the Oriamendi2010 roster has achieved in 2019.
The streak began on March 2. For a list of the wins see the Oriamendi2010 database and "buscar" jugador (click and scroll to Segurola for 2019).
**** Pala Larga: Esteban Gaubeka and Ibai Perez. For the second week in a row, G-IP dominated their opponents, this time on the biggest Pala Larga stage, the Final of the Mundo Parejas Competition. Playing brilliant defense to neutralize their opponents' (Fusto-Ibargarai) power game, they wore them down, frustrated them, and finally forced them into errors that led to a decisive 3-1 victory (10-5, 10-4, 7-10, 10-5) (37-24). In the last two weeks they have beaten Fusto, the 4 time defending champion in this competition, twice by a combined score of 67-46, winning 6 of the 7 jokos (sets) in the two matches. For Ibai Perez, it was his 7th consecutive win as he finished with a perfect record in the competition, sporting an 18-8 joko record and compiling 520 tournament points, 60 more points than his partner Gaubeka. For Gaubeka it was the end of a frustrating 4 match losing streak to Fusto in this final. Gaubeka, at age 41, has now participated in the last two finals of InnPala's season, splitting them. It was his 8th overall Mundo Parejas Final since 2007, his 3rd win. Fusto leads with 6 wins in 8 Finals since then. Only Imanol Ibanez, the great zaguero (back), who retired a couple of years ago, has as many as 3 wins since then.
Match article (Mundo Deportivo)
Match article (Deia)
**** Cesta Punta/Jai Alai: Erik Mendezabal (late-front). This is a cumulative award for the entire season, given out after the last week of the Dania Jai Alai Winter season. Erik won the Triple Crown (most wins, 135 to 108 for his closest competitor); Florida Singles (Game 10) Champion (26-20) Florida Doubles (Game 12) Champion front court (24-14); most wins with a single doubles partner (Leke) (16-14), the highest winning percentage (.255-.252); the most weekly wins (6-4); leading performance winner (most performances leading or sharing most wins (23-20) most wins in a week (13-12(he won 12 4 times)). Five other players won 12 games in a week. One did it twice. He also had two performance winning streaks (most performances with at least one win) of 15 and 14 respectively, leading the roster in that department. As a late game player, he played against the toughest competition Dania has to offer. Erik played 529 games, 10th most on the Dania roster. The leader played 553.
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Match of the week:
A. Remonte: Sagardoeren Txapelketa (Torneo Cidra/Cider Tournament). First match of the Semi-Final League.
April 11, 2019
Petritegi (Segurola-Endika (B-A) 40
Gaztanaga (Urriza-Zaldua) (A-B) 38
For the second time in the last month, Petritegi beat Gaztanaga. Last time (a 40-26 win in the League phase) Segurola outplayed Urriza (arguably the best delantero (front) in the world) +18 -0 to +17 -5. This time, with the stakes much higher, Segurola held him to a stalemate (+23 -4 to +24 -2) so that Petritegi could use their advantage in the back court (+10 -4 to +6 -5) to eke out another win. At 38-39 and serving for the tie, Zaldua faulted to end the match.
Match article (Oriamendi2010)
B. Cesta Punta/Jai Alai: Game 10, Florida Singles Championship, April 14, 2019. Game 10 is the premier singles game of each Dania Jai Alai performance, featuring front court players, including world class players Diego Beaskoetxea, Jon Zulaika, and Erik Mendezabal among the 8 contestants in the Quiniela form of the game (1-1 matchups with the point winner staying on the court and the loser going to the back of the rotation. We have no video of this game but I did map it and took statistics. It lasted 19 minutes and had 6 possible game points, 5 of which were stifled by winners from the challenger. 26 points were played and 92 balls in play were consumed, an extremely hard fought match in this form. Of the 26 points, 22 were claimed by winners, and there were only 4 errors. Arguably as good or better than any of the other 1,259 games played during the Winter season. Beitia, the only player in this "late" game who is a regular "early" game player, received a gift from Zulaika on the 5th possible game point, an errant throw, and immediately converted it into a win on the next point, the 6th and final possible game point. He did it via a perfectly executed "chic-chac" (a throw that bounces into the back wall and rebounds out so low it can't be returned) to beat Diego.
Game map, statistics, and analysis. (Game is below the Summary for the Dania Winter season.
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April 1-7, 2019
**** Main Nue: Alexis Inchauspe. In a crucial match in the FPPB Championnat de France par Equipes (doubles) competition, Inchauspe and Antton Amulet defeated Vincent Elgart and Mickael Palomes 40-29 to win the Group B Classification League and earn a "barrage" match with the 4th place Group A finishers Antton Monce and Thierry Harismendy. A win in that match would move I-A into the Group A semi-finals. Inchauspe led the way in this match with (+21 -5, including 12 service aces and 2 direct points). From data provided by FFPB match reports, we see that Inchauspe has led all avants (front) (A and B)with 39 aces in 4 matches, to finish his League play with an average of 9.75 (see compilation below under Main Nue).
Condensed Full match video I-A 40 E-P 29(Pilota Ttiki Youtube) (Inchauspe is in black).
**** Pala Larga: Esteban Gaubeka and Ibai Perez. In the last match of the League phase of the Mundo Parejas (World Doubles Championship), G-P "pitched" the first and only shutout of the competition, beating Pablo Hernan "Fusto" and Inaki Urrutia 3-0 (10-7, 10-8, 10-7), earning 100 Tournament points apiece and vaulting Gaubeka ahead of Fusto into a first place finish for delanteros (fronts) in the League phase. It cemented Ibai Perez' first place standing among zagueros (backs). On April 13, 2019 G-P will face Fusto and Xabier Ibargarai in the Final.
Full match video (EITB--match begins at 53:36)
**** Cesta Punta/Jai Alai: Charlie Medrano (early-front). Medrano had a week to remember at Dania Jai Alai. He led or shared the roster lead 3 times for wins in a performance (out of 7 performances), notching 4 and 2 in the two performances on April 3 and 3 wins on April 5. These were the highlights of a week in which he won 12 games in 38starts for a .316 winning percentage(highest among players who carried a normal load (35 games or more). The 12 wins tied for the second most wins by any player in a week this season, and earned Madrano 1st place for the "pennant race" of April 3-7. A veteran journeyman, Medrano is one of the unsung heroes at Dania, grinding out 506 games to date this year, tied for 4th most on the roster, but only 10 behind the 516 by Ithurria (early-front) that leads the roster. This was his first "pennant" (source--Tiger Jai Alai bulletin board weekly compilation) in over 7 years. The 4 wins in the 4/3 Matinee made him the 10th player on the roster to achieve that feat this season. Going into this week, he ranks 10th on the roster in most wins (or tied for most wins) in a performance. He has done that 7 times. For the season, he ranks 10th on the 37 man roster with 66 wins. He is 14th in winning % at .130 (9 players have over a .150 percentage. The leader, Erik (Mendizabal) (late-front) is at .258).
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Match of the week:
A. Mano: The Final of the XVII Campionato de Parejas, played at Bizkaia, Bilbo (Bilbao) was an intense, electrifying match, 670 balls in almost an hour and 15 minutes of action, won by Danel Elezkano and Benat Rezusta over Iker Irribarria and Jose Javier Zabaleta 22-19. E-R took an early lead and then fended off four comeback attempts, leading to 10-10 and 16-16 scores. The final comeback attempt came from 21-17--21-19 before E-R finally nailed down the victory. The best point of the match was the 37 balls in play 10-9--10-10 point, featuring several fantastic saves by both sides. The match features 10 points of 20-29 bip; 3 points of 30-39 bip, and the longest point of the match, 43 bip. The first 5 points consumed 119 bip, the final 5 points consumed 90. It wasn't one of the most artistic matches ever played (+19 -22), but it was one of the most exciting and entertaining.
Full match video (EITB)
B. Cesta Punta/Jai Alai: Game 10, Florida Singles Championship, April 7, 2019. Game 10 is the premier singles game of each Dania Jai Alai performance, featuring front court players, including world class players Diego Beaskoetxea, Jon Zulaika, and Erik Mendezabal among the 8 contestants in the Quiniela form of the game (1-1 matchups with the point winner staying on the court and the loser going to the back of the rotation. We have no video of this game but I did map it and took statistics. It lasted over 15 minutes (long for a singles match, and had 4 possible game points, 3 of which were stifled by winners from the challenger. 19 points were played and 71 balls in play were consumed, an extremely hard fought match in this form. Of the 19 points, 16 were claimed by winners, and there were only 3 errors. Just 1 of 84 every week at Dania, but one of the best. Zulaika, who had 2 of the game point saves 1 earned, won due to opponent's error, won).
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March 25-31, 2019
A. Remonte: Javier Urriza (Group A, delantero-front). Urriza led the way with +21 -2in a Sagardoaren Txapelketa League match on March 28 that his team not only had to win, but had to win by more than 4 points in order to remain in contention. For his team (Gaztanaga) and partner Ibon Zaldua it has been a long climb back to contention after beginning their quest with a 40-24 loss and -1 League points. Two major wins have given them a place in the Semi-final League. Urriza's +47 -5 in those two matches have been instrumental.
B. Pala Larga: Pablo Hernan "Fusto" (d-f). (1) (2). Fusto had a rocky beginning to 2019, losing his first 4 matches (though one was a "friendly"--Sylvain Brefel's farewell match). He started his quest for his 5th consecutive Mundo Parejas (doubles) championship with a final point 5th joko (set) loss. But since then he has won 4 in a row, and the scorelines are getting more ominous: 3-2, 3-2, 3-1, 3-1. He had a fairly quiet +8 -4 in an easy 3-1 win over Garate-Urrutia in the 5th Jornada (Day) of the League phase on March 29, but he picked up 80 points, (320 total points and a lead among front players), and has an excellent chance at yet another final. He is heating up at precisely the right time for another championship run.
Fusto-Ibargarai 3 Garate-Urrutia 1 (10-3,5-10, 10-4, 10-7)
Full match video (EITB--match begins at 0:00)
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Match of the week:
A. Remonte: Sagardoaren Txapelketa Group B:
March 30
Gurutzeta (Ezkurra II-Garces) 40
Oialume Zar (Goikoetxea V-Barrenetxea IV 37
E-G fought back from an 11-21 deficit with a 26-12 spurt and then held off a desperate O-Z comeback to win, thus punching their ticket to the Semi-final League.
B. Pala Larga: Jornada (Day) 5 of the Mundo Parejas (doubles) championship:
Necol-Ibai Perez 3 Gabeka-Gordon 2
(3-10, 9-10, 10-2, 10-8, 10-9)
In a brilliant comeback after losing the first two jokos (sets) by 12-20, N-IP won the last 2 jokos by 2 and the minimum. The win pretty much clinched IP's road to the Final. Necol's position is a bit more precarious, but he came through when he had to to stay alive with +20 -13. The match took 64:07 and consumed 525 balls in play.
Full match video (EITB--match begins at 55:06)
C. Mano: Parejas Promotion Final
March 30
Elordi-O. Etxeberria 22 Agirre-Salaverri 20
9 equal scores, 7 lead changes, 676 balls in play, 71:28, a final point that consumed 40 balls in play. A nail biter with a fabulous finish.
Full match video (Fonton TV Youtube)
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March 18-24, 2019
Player of the week:
A. Mano: Danel Elizkano (Elizkano II). In the elimination Semi-final of the Binakako Txapelketako/Campionato Parejas Semi-final League competition, Elizkano had a masterpiece of a match. He was +13 -1 on offense. On defense he made 17 excellent saves on both sides of the court (ranging far or diving on the apron, on his knees or crashing his shoulder into the left wall) to help win 10 points. On one point (11-4--12-4) he made 3 spectacular saves, two diving on the apron and one on the left side. Elezkano-Rezusta won a 22-10 route over Altuna III-Martija and will meet Irribarria-Zabaleta in the Final at Bilbo (Bilbao) on April 7. It will be E-R's second consecutive appearance in the Final.
Full match video (EITB--match begins at 59:09)
B. Cesta Punta/Jai Alai: IBON (Aldazabal) returned to action playing Quiniela Jai Alai at Dania Beach, Florida on March 20, 2019 after being out since early February recovering from hernia surgery. He had a full workload (35 games in 7 performances). He a won 2 games in his first performance (March 20 Matinee), tying for leading winner. He lead the roster with4 wins on March 22 and tied for the lead with 2 wins on March 23 (M). For the week he won 11(35)--.314 winning % and 19(35)(11-5-3)--.543 ITM (in the money--wins, 2nd places,and 3rd places)%.
We have no video of Ibon in action at Dania, but he played in the Summer Partidos in the South Basque Country in 2018 and won (with Goikoetxea) the Hondarribia Tournament, beating Olharan-Irastorza (15-13; 15-6).
Full match video (EITB)
Match article (Jai Alai World Tour)
Ibon, in 2017, set a Guiness Book of World Records accepted record for fastest moving ball sport with a throw clocked at 190 mph (302 kph).
"The throw" In a semi-final round of a contest he threw the pelota 184, 187, and 190 mph.
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Match of the week:
A. Remonte: Both Sagardoaren Txapelketa (Cider Tournament) League matches last week (March 21, 23, 2019) were nail biters, 40-38. For details on both of them see the BLOG POST
B. Main Nue: FFPB Championnat de France Elite Pro par Equipes (Pairs) Group B Qualification Week 3 (March 23, 2019) match at Mauleon:
Bielle-Cubiat 40 Elgart-Palomes 37.
Condensed full match video (Pilota Ttiki Youtube)
BLOG POST Scroll to March 23, Mauleon. Keep scrolling past the Group A match to the Group B match.
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March 11-17, 2019
Player of the week:
A. Mano: Leire Garai and Leire Etxaniz, who won the Parejas (pairs) Championship of the Emakume (Women's) Master Cup at Zumarraga on March 10, over top ranked Patri Espinar and Mirian Arrillaga. It was a decisive 22-5 victory. Garai was +6 -0 and Etxaniz +5 -2. Their great defense helped keep the dominating Espinar at bay, and finally forced her into mistakes (+2 -8). If you watch the last few points of the match, you will see just how immaculate a defense the two winners played.
Selected linescore (winners always listed first:
12-0; 12-1; 13-1; 14-2; 15-3; 16-4; 17-4; 18-5; 22-5
Scoring: Garai +6 (including 1 service ace) -0 Etxaniz +5 -2
Espinar +2 (including 1 ace) -8 Arrillaga +1 -3 (linescore and statistics: Noticias de Gipuzkoa)
Selected linescore (winners always listed first:
12-0; 12-1; 13-1; 14-2; 15-3; 16-4; 17-4; 18-5; 22-5
Scoring: Garai +6 (including 1 service ace) -0 Etxaniz +5 -2
Espinar +2 (including 1 ace) -8 Arrillaga +1 -3 (linescore and statistics: Noticias de Gipuzkoa)
For more on Garai, see her Championship win in the Huarte 4 1/2 Tournament in December 2018
Full match video (Navarra TV Youtube, source came from manista.com)
And for Espinar at her best, see her Championship Emakume Master Cup 4 1/2 win over 2nd ranked Olatz Arrizabalaga, also in December 2018
Full match video (EITB--match begins at 54:26)
Match article (manista.com)
B. Remonte: .Javier Urriza (delantero--front). On March 14, in an elimination match in the League phase of the Sagardoaren Txapelketa (Cider Tournament), Urriza, playing for Gaztanaga with Zaldua, crushed Bereziartua's Uterga-Labaka 40-24. The win eliminated Bereziartua from Semi-final contention and also moved Gaztanaga from last place into contention. As for Urriza, he took over a match as only he can, with +26 -3. Great players shine when the pressure is on.
Match article (Oriamendi2010)
C. Mano: Iker Irribarria (d front). Irribarria-Zabaleta cruised into the final of the Mundo Parejas (pairs) competition by easily defeating League phase champions Elezkano II-Rezusta 22-12 on March 17 at Bilbo (Bilbao). Irribarria was unstoppable in the front, with +13 -2.
Full match video: (EITB--begins at 1:10:40)
Match article (21Iguales.com)
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Match of the week:
Pala Larga: March 15, 2019. Jornada (Day) 3, Mundo Parejas (World Pairs) Championship.
Fusto-Ibai Perez 3 Gaubeka-Urrutia 2
(10-8, 6-10, 10-3, 8-10, 10-7) (44-38).
This fabulous competition, a traditional long court tournament played at the "Cathedral" of long court Pala, Mungia, produced its 4th 5 joko (set) match of the 6 so far. With partners changing every week, the permutations of who will finish 1 and 2 in front and back are almost infinite. This knock down drag out 70 minute struggle consumed 510 balls in play. Fusto and Gaubeka, the old pros, the only players on the InnPala roster who have had extensive experience in the long court game, were +16 -8 and +21 -7 respectively.
Full match video (EITB--match begins at 54:52)
Match article (Mundo Deportivo)
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March 4-10, 2019
Player of the week:
Remonte: Benat Segurola (delantero-front) (Oriamendi2010 Group B). In the opening Group A League match of the Sagardoaren Txapelketa, Segurola-Endika (Petritegi) dominated Gaztanaga (Urriza-Zaldua) 40-24, not only gaining 4 team points, but leaving U-Z with -1. Defeating Urriza, the best front court man on the roster is one thing, but Segurola led the way with sparkling figures of +18 -0, a "perfect match". He outscored Urriza (+17 -5) by a net +6 and played a big role in leaving him "overwhelmed," according to the match report. Segurola is a powerful striker, who eschews, for the most part, touch shots. He is known for blasting the pelota all over the concha (court). When he is on his game, he can be unstoppable. This match was such an occasion. For more, see the BLOGPOST. By the way, the blogpost links to full match video of the Final of the 2016 ST, which he and his partner this year, won, the only contestants in this competition who have won as a team.
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Match of the week:
Remonte: Round 1 Group B Sagardoaren Txapelketa: March 7, 2019
Etxarri-Ion (Altzueta) 40
Ezkurra II-Garces (Gurutzeta) 39
This match was a play in three acts, the winners blasting off to a 28-18 lead, 12 points away from victory with a good chance of shutting their opponents out of team points by holding them to under 31 points. There was even the possibility of saddling them with -1 team points for under 26 points. However, E-G answered with a 21-10 run (something not easily achieved that late in a match) and were one point from a famous victory. E-I somehow pulled themselves together and scored the last two points to win. They ended up with 4 team points, their opponents 2, both still in strong contention for the Semi-final League phase. Everyone played well, but the two front court players, Etxarri (+19 -4) and Ezcurra II (+17 -2 and key to the comeback) had extraordinary matches. Only a hiccup by Garces, with some early errors (who later also played very well) kept this from being an even better played match than it was. For more on this match, see the BLOGPOST
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February 25-March 3, 2019
Player of the week
A. Main Nue: Baptiste Ducassou (Arriere - Back). Ducassou won his third consecutive singles Tournament, the FFPB (Federation Francais de Pelote Basque) Elite Pro Individuel, on March 3, easily defeating Mathieu Ospital 40-28 at Hasparren. After a very competitive first half of the match, Ducassou took over, outscoring his Ospital 21-9.
***Ducassou (#3) (front) 40 Ospital (#2) Front 28*** (Pilota Ttiki Youtube)
Selected linescore (winner always listed first) Sources: Naiz, Pilota Ttiki, and FFPB
1-6; 7-7; 9-9; 10-10; 12-12; 13-12; 14-12; 17-16; 18-16; 18-18; 19-19; 40-28
Match article (Naiz--Basque)
Match article (Pilota Ttiki)
Match article (FFPB)
35 photos (FFPB)
His other two Championships:
World Championship Gold Medal (Barcelona) in October)--Toute sur la Pelote Basque Youtube); Super Prestige in December (Pilota Ttiki Youtube)
B. Remonte: Aritz Juanenea (delantero-front). Juanenea doesn't have the best record on the Oriamendi2010 roster, but he has played many of his matches against unbalanced teams with more talent than he is supposed to have. Meaning he has (as a B group player) lost matches to many A group players. But many of those matches have been very competitive. On February 28, in his opening Sagardoaren Txapelketa match, he was +16 -2, outplaying the hottest (and one of the best) front court players, Xanti Uterga. His play was a big part of Larre Gain's (Juanenea-Azpiroz--B-B) emphatic 40-26 victory over Bereziartua's (Uterga-Labaka--A-B). U-L are respectively, winners of the Best A and B player awards for 2018 that Oriamendi2010 awarded on February 23. For more on the story, see the BLOGPOST.
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Match of the week
Pala Larga: Jornada (Day 1) of the Mundial Parejas (World doubles) Championship, at Mungia. Two matches for the ages, both decided by 1 point in the 5th Joko (set).
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Match of the week
Pala Larga: Jornada (Day 1) of the Mundial Parejas (World doubles) Championship, at Mungia. Two matches for the ages, both decided by 1 point in the 5th Joko (set).
Garate-Irrutia 3 (60) Gaubeka-Gordon 2 (40)
(10-9, 10-5; 9-10; 8-10; 10-9) (47-43)
Time of match: 80 minutes
Necol-Ibai Perez 3 (60) Fusto-Ibargarai 2 (40)
(10-9, 10-5, 9-10, 3-10, 10-9) (42-43)
Time of match: 85 minutes
Match articles (Mundo Deportivo)
Match articles +10 photos (Innpala Fronton Facebook)
For more on the story see the BLOGPOST
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February 18-24, 2019
Player of the week:
The theme this week is "perfect" matches.
A. Mano: Danel Elezkano (Elezkano II). (delantero-front). After 2 ordinary matches (+2 -8, +8 -3) and a late season 2 match losing streak that threatened Elezkano II-Reszusta's top of the ladder standing in the Campeonato de Parejas League phase, he played a "perfect match, (+16 -0), scoring all of his team's winners in a 22-14 win over Urrutikoetxea-Aretxabaleta to clinch the League phase.
***Fronton TV (Castilian)***
B. Remonte: Patxi Zeberio (Zeberio II) (Group A, d front). It is impossible to say how much Zeberio II's +16 -0 contributed to his team's (Zeberio II-Barrenetxea IV) 40-30 "Star Match" win that helped cool off the red hot Uterga-Azpiroz (Uterga came into the match with 13 wins in his last 14 doubles matches), because Zeberio II's score is the only one we have. But it was 40% of his team's score, in a sport where back court players usually score heavily. Zeberio II has been coming to work and doing his job for 25 years, and continues to be effective at age 44.
While there is no match video, I thought it might be interesting to go into the EITB vault for a couple of Zeberio II matches.
1.October 6, 2018 (Diario Vasco)
***Zeberio II-Ion 40 Ezkurra-Etxeberria III 35*** (EITB)
(Zeberio II +15 -3). This was the great Koteto Ezkurra's farewell match. 3 of the 4 players were over 40. Only Ion wasn't.
2. January 10, 2015
***Zeberio II-Barrenetxea IV 40 Juarasti-Ion 22*** (EITB--match begins at 1:06:56)
(Zeberio II +17 -3) Just another day at the office for the then 40 year old Zeberio II.
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Match of the week:
February 23, 2019
Labrit, Iruna (Pamplona)
Artola-Mareizkurrena II*** (#5) (7-7 +5) 21(EITB--match begins at 55:09)
Let the numbers speak for themselves in this desperate struggle. In the space of about 30 minutes, each team, as it tuned out, eliminated the other from contention for the last Semi-final League spot in the Campeonato de Parejas Competition. Not the most artistic, but one of the most intense and entertaining Mano matches I've seen. The climax was a 66 balls in play final point, won by an Ezkurdia cross-court kill shot.
Linescore (21Iguales Twitter) (winners always listed first)
1-0; 1-1; 2-1; 2-2; 3-2; 3-3; 3-4; 4-4; 4-6; 6-6; 6-7; 7-7; 9-7; 9-8; 10-8; 10-9; 13-9; 13-10; 15-10; 15-11; 16-11; 16-12 (E-R eliminated due to point diffential even if they win); 16-15; 17-15; 17-17; 18-17; 18-18 18-19; 19-19; 21-19; 21-21; 22-21
10 equal scores; 4 lead changes
Scoring (EITB)
Ezkurdia +7 -6; L. Galardis +1 -2
Artolola +10 -10; Mariezkurrena +3 -4
Balls in Play: 525. Time of match: 65:33
Match article (incl. linescore, scoring, balls in play)
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February 11-17, 2019
Player of the week
A. Pala/Pala Larga: Sylvain Brefel (z (back)) (1) (2). Brefel retired from InnPala after 5 years on the circuit, winning 3 championships, including the 2016 Mundo Parejas (World Doubles) (scroll to "Pala". The full match video is no longer available). He also ***won the 2019 Federacion Internacional de Pelota Vasca Pala Corta World Championship*** (FIPV) (Toute sur la Pelote Basque Youtube) with Dan Necol for France. He finished with a ***3-2 (8-10, 8-10, 10-5, 10-5, 10-5)*** (EITB--match begins at 1:48:32) win with Necol over Fusto-Ibai Perez in his farewell match at Bilbo (Bilbao) on February 15, 2019. Merci Sylvain!
B. Remonte: Xanti Uterga (Group A d (front)). Uterga is player of the week even though he lost his February 14 match with Larranaga to Ansa II-Barrenetxea IV 40-39. The loss ended a 12 match doubles winning streak during which he beat top front court starJabier Urriza 4 times, won the premier ORONA doubles championship with Xabier Azpiroz, and won 5 matches in 12 days. The streak was the capstone of a magnificent 4 months play for Uterga. For the whole story see the BLOGPOST.
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Match of the week
A. Main Nue:
***Ducassou (back) 40 Larralde (front) 37***(Pilota Ttiki Youtube)
This FFPB (Federation Francais de Pelota Basque) Championnat de France Pro Individuel Round 2 Liguilla match between the two best players in Main Nue did not disappoint. 24 direct points (by my count) were scored by the two players and Baptiste Ducassou came back from 6-14 and 21-33deficits. His 19-4 run at the end won the match. Unfortunately there will be no rematch, as Peio Larralde will miss the rest of the Tournament with a foot injury. For more on the match see the BLOGPOST.
B. Remonte:
Ansa II-Barrentxea IV 40 Uterga-Larranaga 39. The match that broke the streak. For more on the match see the BLOGPOST
C. Pala/Pala Larga:
***Ibargarai (z (back) 3 Gaubeka (d (front) 2*** (EITB) (8-10, 10-6, 9-10, 10-9, 10-8) (47-43)
This great match did have its share of errors (36), but it also had its share of great winners (54). It consumed 90 of a maximum possible 95 points in a professional Pala match, and had 540 balls in play. It took nearly 1 hour and 40 minutes, Xabier Ibargarai (1) (2) survived two match points in joko (set) 4 and then survived an Esteban Gaubeka (1) (2) rally in set 5 (5-0--9-8) to win his first Mundo Individuel Tournament in his 4th Final. Gaubeka had 7 beautiful two wall winners. Ibargarai used a "keep Esteban in the back" strategy that worked so well it yielded him 18 points. His match saving return of serve deep to the outside, inches from the foul line, that saved the 4th set (8-9--9-9), was the shot of the match, IMHO, one of the best Pala shots I've seen.
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February 4-10, 2019
Player of the week
Pala/Pala Larga: Esteban Gaubeka (d-front) (1) (2). February 9, 2019. Gaubeka, 41, won his Semi-Final in the Mundial Individual Tournament over the hottest player on the circuit, Dan Necol (d-front) (who had won 5 consecutive matches coming in). He did it by playing close to flawless Pala, winning 3-1 (10-4, 10-9, 5-10, 10-3). He won a 2nd joko (set) that included 8 lead changes. At 4-3 in the 4th joko, he closed the match out with 6 consecutive winners, including 2 service aces and a great 2 wall shot for the final 3 points. His statistics for the match (by my accounting): +24 (incl. 4 aces) -5 (incl. 2 faults).
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Match of the week
Match of the week
A. Main Nue: Championnat de France Main Nue Pro Individuel Group B Liguilla Round 2, February 9, 2019: ***Palomes (back) 40 L. Lambert (front) 39*** (Pilota Ttiki Youtube)
Partial linescore: (winners always listed first):
20-20; 35-35; 35-38; 39-39; 40-39
Match article (Pilota Ttiki) (2nd half of article).
Palomes, in dire straights after a tough loss last week, with elimination his fate if he lost another, staged a brilliant comeback (35-38--40-39) against top seed Lambert. Lambert led most of the first half. The second half was fiercely contested, with a nail biting ending.
B. Mano: February 9, 2010. Week 12, XVII Campeonato de Parejas:
Match article (21Iguales)
Last year's Champion in the front (E) v Champion in the back (Z). What more can be said than this:
15-19; 16-19; 16-20; 19-20; 19-21; 22-21
19-21--22-21: 74 balls in play. Final point: 27 bip. Ezkurdia, 3 great winners.
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January 28-February 3, 2019
Player of the week:
Pala/Pala Larga: Dan Necol (1)(2). This week Necol is player of the week on his merits. On February 1 he won a very hard fought 4 joko (set) Mundo Individual quarter-final match v Fusto 3-1 (10-7, 3-10, 10-7, 10-3). In the pivotal 3rd joko, after Necol took a 4-0 lead, Fusto clawed back to tie at 4,5,6, and 7. Each time Necol retook the lead, finally putting the set away with 3 consecutive points at the end. One of the most riveting Pala Larga jokos I've seen. He also recorded both quarterfinals on his Facebook page, (Necol-Fusto match begins at 1:03:46, opening match Ibargarai 3 Brefel 2 (10-9, 9-10, 2-10, 10-4, 10-4).
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Match of the week:
Main Nue: Championnat de France Main Nue Pro Individuel Group B Liguilla Round 1, February 2, 2019: ***de Ezcurra 40 Palomes 36*** (Pilota Ttiki Youtube)
Match article (Pilota Ttiki) (2nd half of article)
A great comeback by the veteran (37 years old) Pascal de Ezcurra as he overcomes a 29-22 deficit to equalize at 29. With the match equal at 36, he wins with 2 service aces a right wall winner and a 2 wall filet direct point. The match featured great direct point shot making by both players, xilos, and side and back filet shots.
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January 21-27, 2019
Player of the week:
1. Remonte: Javier Urriza. On January 26, 2019, Urriza won the Torneo Master-UTS Komunikasioa (singles) for the 3rd consecutive year, defeating Xanti Uterga 30-25, in another of a long line of matches between the 2 best front men in the game. It was Urriza's 5th Championship since 2013 in this tournamament
Match article (Noticias de Gipuzkoa) (No video at this time)
2. Pala/Pala Larga: Dan Necol (1)(2). Not for any great victory, but for the fact that he ***live streamed Round 2 of the Mundo Individual Tournament*** (2 matches, see below) on his Facebook page. Hopefully this will start a trend.
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Match of the week:
Mano: Round 10 match of the XVII Campeonato de Parejas de la LEP.M 2018-19 Tournament. ***Altuna III-Martija 22 Irribarria-Zabaleta 20*** (EITB, match begins at 44:40)
756 balls in play. Time of match 85:58: +21 -21 (EITB). Not the greatest artistically, but a titanic struggle with a controversial ending. Martija had 200 bip.
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January 13-20, 2019
Player of the week:
Main Nue: January 14: Agusti Waltary (Esku Pilota Group A-Front Court): Scored the final 17 points (9 service aces) in a FFPB Main Nue Individuel Tournament match to defeat Julien Etchegary 40-30 (***Condensed Full match video 1***) *** (Condensed Full match video 2***) (*23-30 to 40-30* (about 4 minutes))
Match of the week:
Remonte: Torneo de Individual de Navidad Final--January 12 (I didn't read about it until the 13th :) )
Urriza (front) 30 Urtasun (front) 28 (BLOG POST only, no video available) THE BEST FULL STOP v arguably the best short court specialist.
