Game 10 is of interest because it pits Dania's best Forwards against each other, 7 performances a week. In it you will see the best shot makers on the roster, indeed some of the best shot makers in the world. Each game (barring injury or ill health) includes three world class players (Diego Beaskoetxea, Jon Zulaika, and Erik Mendizabal). Occasionally a back court player gets into the game, and also occasionally an early game player. Games are short and easy to map and analyze. Unfortunately, I have no replay or recording capability, so I do them live. Occasionally also, because I also have a life beyond this blog, I will miss one. I will keep track of the basics on the Dania Jai Alai page (on the right side of the blog). For more in depth analysis and mapping of games, look to this page, which will also appear on the right side of the blog. Enjoy. Feedback and corrections are always welcome. We begin with May 11.
For more information about the Summer 2019 Summer season at Dania (weekly winners, daily winners, etc.) see the Dania Page on the right side of the blog (below current results.
These games are all Spectacular 7 Scoring games. First round is 1 point. Each subsequent round is 2points. 7 points wins the game. An up to date table (standings) for this game will accompany each day's report at the end of that report. (Added May 26, 2019)
A note about scoring. I consider any 1 ball in play point either a service ace or fault. There are "aces" that are botched by the returner, either dropped or thrown away. In these cases I note what happened and mark it with a ?. For those of you who would score these as errors, simply subtract the ? from the total winners and add to the errors. I also assign a ball in play to a service fault. EITB, the Basque TV network with vast experience in many modalities, does it this way. Though I don't understand why, I bow to their expertise. (Added May 26, 2019).
ERRATA: I made an error in the perfect game streak. The 5/11(E) was not a perfect game. That made the 7 game perfect game streak a 5 game perfect streak and through the first 14 games I analyzed, the number of perfect games was 11 and not 12. I have corrected all the errors in tracking the perfect games from 5/11(M)-5/24(E). I think I now have it correct. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.
Offensive key: chula--throw that hits the back wall on the fly and rebounds out too low to be reboted (rebound shot of the wall); chic-chac--same as a chula only the ball bounces before hitting the back wall; dejada--slow drop shot that lands close to the front wall. Cortada is a hard low shot, usually, but not always thrown sidearm from the front court. It is very effective among power players.
For me, the game now slows down so I can really enjoy it. I hope you enjoy the improvements I will be making. Below you will see a primitive defensive key I put together. Hopefully, it will enrich the game for those of you who didn't see it. (Added June 1, 2019)
SAVES KEY: A=APRON; R=REBOTE; AR=APRON REBOTE; BR=BACK PEDALING REBOTE; FR=FALLING REBOTE; KR=REBOTE (USUALLY KNEE HIGH); RR=RUNNING REBOTE; J=JUMPING; WC(1 OR 2)=WALL CLIMB--(1 STEP OR 2); S=SHORT HOP; OS=OFF SIDE WALL OSB=OFF SIDE WALL IN BACK CORNER; OV=OVER THE SHOULDER; LW=LEFT WALL; M=MISCELLANEOUS
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GAMES OF 6/12-6/16
G10 6/16(M)--DIEGO ENDS THIS WEEK AS HE DID LAST--PULLS INTO A 3 WAY TIE FOR SECOND--ERIK FALTERS AGAIN (DIEGO 8 WINS)
For the 2nd game in the last 3, Erik got off to a quick start and then made an un-characteristic error. This time Diego was the recipient of the gift and he made no mistake. The error by "the man in charge" continued a leitmotif for the week. Earlier, Barandika had, twice in two games, done the same thing, to open the door for Erik to take over the competition. But he has been unable to capitalize (with the exception last night). While he still leads, his three closest competitors are within 2 games. With 14 to play, that is a considerable lead, but not insurmountable. Had he won today, a 3 game lead, with 4 between him and Diego, might have been. Today's error was a whiff on a straightforward rebote. Just as with Barandika earlier, it was unexpected, but not particularly surprising. These players grind out so many games and routinely make great plays that errors are unexpected. And when they happen, especially in a singles game, they are cruelly punished by the format. Quiniela Jai Alai must be one of the most unforgiving sports there is. Where else does a player get banished for making an error, lose complete control over his chances, and have to sit and watch helplessly as the game drifts away? To have it happen to two players in a week, two of the best players on the roster...what can be said? For Diego,the nightmare that has been this week is finally over. That one of the best players in the world could lose 10 points in a row while playing pretty good Jai Alai, again, speaks volumes about these players and this format. It took him into the 6th game of the week before he won a point.
The basics:
Perfect from the 5 post. Diego played 6 points, won 6 points (+5 -0). He played 21 balls in play, of which he caught and threw 13. He had 1 save, which turned into an immediate winner.
For the team: 15 points; +13 (1 questionable) -2; 60 balls in play; 12 saves. Time of the game: 11:55. Erik's error against Diego stopped ended a 9 point winning streak.
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Erik opened with 3 chic-chacs and forced 3 saves against Ithurria (who gave him a terrific 8 ball battle, including 2 of the saves) Goitia, and Beitia before his error. Diego immediately played the most difficult and best point of the run against Arrieta. Each had an acrobatic save before Diego won the 7 ball point. From there immediate kills against Barandika and Goitia were sandwiched around a questionable ace against Zulaika and a 5 point battle with Ithurria.
Game map
Round 1
*Possible Game Point
1 Ithurria; 2 Erik; 3 Goitia; 4 Beitia; 5 Diego; 6 Arrieta; 7 Barandika 8; Zulaika
1(0)-2(0) 8 (balls in play); Erik + (+=winner -=error); 1-0 (points won and lost), +1 -0, 4 (individual balls in play) 1 save J (leaping at the 8 on the 7th ball); FOREHAND CHIC-CHAC FROM THE 7; Ithurria (0-1, +0 -0, 4, 2 saves BPR (back pedaling rebote from the 8 on the 4th ball); R (difficult rebote from the 12 on the 6th ball)
2(1)-3(0) 3; Erik + (2-0 +2 -0, 2); INSIDE FOREHAND CHIC-CHAC FROM THE 10; Goitia (0-1,+0 -0, 1)
2(2)-4(0) 5; Erik + (3-0, +3 -0, 3); FOREHAND TWO WALL (FRONT-LEFT) CHIC-CHAC FROM THE 7; Beitia (0-1, +0 -0, 2, 1 save R (difficult rebote from the 11 on the 3rd ball)
2(3)-5(0) 2; Erik - (3-1,+3 -1, 1); WHIFFS ON A STRAIGHTFORWARD REBOTE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CONCHA AT THE 8 (ends 9 point winning streak); Diego (1-0, +0 -0), 1)
5(1)-6(0) 7; Diego + (2-0, +1-0, 4, 1 save WC1 (1 foot wall climb at the 5-6 on the 6th ball)(CO-PLAY OF THE GAME); BACKHAND TWO WALL (LEFT-FRONT) FROM THE 5; Arrieta (0-1,+0 -0, 3, 1 save FR (falling rebote at the 10) (POINT OF THE GAME)
5(2)-7(0) 3; Diego + (3-0, +2 -0, 2); INSIDE REBOTE TWO WALL (LEFT-FRONT) FROM THE 8; Barandika (0-1, +0 -0, 1)
5(3)-8(0) 1; Diego + (4-0,+3 -0, 1); ACE(?) ZULAIKA CATCHES THE SERVE AND THROWS TOO HIGH; Zulaika (0-1, +0 -0(?), 0)
Game map
Round 2
*Possible Game Point
1 Ithurria; 2 Erik; 3 Goitia; 4 Beitia; 5 Diego; 6 Arrieta; 7 Barandika 8; Zulaika
5(4)-1(0) 5; Diego + (5-0, +4 -0, 3); FOREHAND INSIDE CHIC-CHAC FROM THE 7; Ithurria (0-2, +0 -0, 2)
*5(6)-3(0) 3; Diego + (6-0, +5 -0, 2); FOREHAND REBOTE LEFT PASS FROM THE 8; Goitia (0-2, +0 -0, 2)
Diego wins, Erik finishes 2nd
Playoff for 3rd place:
4(Beitia)(0)-6(Arrieta)(0) 2; Arrieta + (1-1, +1 -0, 1); BACKHAND OUTSIDE PASS ON RETURN OF SERVE FROM THE 12-13; Beitia (0-2, +0 -0, 1)
7(Barandika)(0)-8(Zulaika)(0) 5; Barandika + (1-1, +1 -0, 3); FOREHAND CHIC-CHAC FROM THE 4-5; Zulaika (0-2, +0 -0(?), 2, 2 saves M (retrieves serve after late carom off the left wall); R (difficult rebote from the 12 on the 3rd ball)
1(Ithurria)(0)-3(Goitia)(0) 3; Ithurria + (1-2, +1 -0, 2, 1 save BPR (back pedaling rebote at the 8 on the 2nd ball); BACKHAND REBOTE OUTSIDE PASS FROM THE 7-8; Goitia (0-3, +0 -0, 1, 1)
6(Arrieta)(2)-7(Barandika)(2) 7; Arrieta + (2-1, +2 -0, 4, 1 save FR (falling rebote from the 9-10); FALLING REBOTE TWO WALL (LEFT-FRONT) FROM THE 9-10 (CO-PLAY OF THE GAME) Barandika (1-2, +1 -0, 3, 1 save WC1 (1 foot wall climb at the 8-9 on the 5th ball)
6(Arrieta)(4)-1(Ithurria)(2) 4; Ithurria + (2-2, +2 -0, 2, 1 save A (on the apron at the 4 on the 3rd ball); TWO WALL (DIRECTION UNCLEAR) from the 4; Arrieta (2-2, +2 -0, 2)
1(Ithurria (4)-6(Arrieta(4) 2; Ithurria - (2-3, +2 -1, 1); WHIFFS ON A REBOTE AT THE 7; Arrieta (3-2, +2 -0, 1)
Arrieta finishes 3rd
(#5) Diego (8 Spectacular Seven points----6 actual points)
(#3) Erik (3----3)
(#6) Arieta (6----3) won playoff for 3rd
Standings (June 15(E)) * = Known Perfect Games)
Erik.........10 (5*)
Barandika.....8 (5*)
Ithurria......8 (3*)
Diego.........8 (6*)
Zulaika.......6 (2*)
Goitia........4 (3*)
Arrieta ......4 (2*)
Salegi(back)..1
G10 6/15(E) ERIK GETS HIS PERFECT GAME; RE-ESTABLISHES 2 GAME LEAD WITH 14 TO PLAY (ERIK 10 WINS)
Erik won for the first time this week after his 3 win haul last week. It was a crucial win, as Barandika and Ithurria were only 1 game behind, with Diego 2 back. After today's game, there are only 14 left. Erik was throwing the ball hard today, going a bit away from his usual touch (chic-chac/chula) game. His faceoff with Barandika, after the latter had opened strongly with 3 consecutive points, was serious business. He threw a cortada/left pass that basically went right through Barandika's cesta. The first challenger dispatched, he next faced Ithurria. Ithurria threw the kitchen sink at him, with a great rebote apron save immediately followed by two wall winner which Erik caught on the apron and immediately followed with another hard two wall cortada that nobody was going to catch. It was an emphatic way to tell his pursuers "not tonight." And was the mark of a true champion defending his crown. After that, three 3 ball wins (immediate kills) and 1 ace. One of the victims was Diego. All three of his major pursuers flicked away... for one night at least.
The basics
Alpha from the 5 post. Erik played 6 points, won 6 points (+6 (1 questionable as Goitia caught and then threw the serve too high) -0). His points had 17 balls in play. He caught and threw 11. He had 1 save. It came on the only point he was challenged on.
For the team. Also a perfect game, with one point questionable. 14 points. +14 -0. 45 balls in play. 9 saves. Time of the game 9:40.
Interestingly, in tonight's game the best point was the one that ended the 3rd place playoff. Beitia and Diego locked horns in an 11 ball struggle, punctuated by 4 consecutive Diego saves before Beitia won the point. Earlier, Diego had lost 2 points to stretch his losing streak to 10 before winning a preliminary playoff point. It was obvious that the point v Beitia meant a lot to him. It just didn't work out (nothing has worked out for him all week), and it isn't like he has been playing badly (+0 -0, 1 questionable--drop of a serve, 3 saves). More like a baseball hitter who keeps hitting "at em" balls. After watching the final playoff point, I have the feeling we haven't seen the end of Diego in this competition. (Note of full disclosure: this is being written on the morning of June 20, so I know what has happened since. But I did feel very strongly about this at the time. :) )
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Barandika roared out of the chute with three straight points. During these he ran miles in to gather two shots he shouldn't have gotten to. One of the victims was Diego, who lost his 9th consecutive point. Then came the showdown with Erik,which ended in an eye blink. Erik then took the game by the scruff of the neck, showing surprising power as he steamrolled the field. Ithurria couldn't have done more to beat him, but he wasn't going to be beaten tonight. One of those under the steamroller was Diego, losing his 10th consecutive point. The streak finally ended in the first round of the playoff, with a great serve leaving Goitia in no position to return the big bounce that followed. And then the losing struggle with Beitia. Diego is now 1-1 in his last 2, and that is all that matters.
Game map
Round 1
*Possible Game Point
1 Barandika; 2 Diego; 3 Goitia; 4 Beitia; 5 Erik; 6 Ithurria; 7 Arrieta; 8 Zulaika
1(0)-2(0) 5 (balls in play); Barandika + (+=winner -=error) (1-0 (points won and lost (+1 -0) 3 (individual balls in play), 1 save M (runs in from the 9 to the 4 on the 4th ball to catch a Diego dejada); BACKHAND DEJADA FROM THE 4; Diego (0-1, +0 -0, 2) (9th consecutive lost point)
2(1)-3(0) 1; Barandika + (2-0, +2 -0, 1) ACE ON A LATE CAROM DEEP OFF THE LEFT WALL); Goitia (0-1, +0 -0, 0)
2(2)-4(0) 3: Barandika + (3-0, +3 -0, 2, 1 save M (running in from the 11 to the 6 for a catch on the 2nd ball); FOREHAND CHIC-CHAC FROM THE 5; Beitia (0-1, +0 -0, 1)
2(3)-5(0) 2: Erik + (1-0, +1 -0, 1); FOREHAND HARD LEFT PASS FROM THE 13 ON THE RETURN OF SERVE); Barandika (3-1,. +3 -0, 1)
5(1)-6(0); 5; Erik + (2-0, +2 -0, 3, 1 save A (on the apron at the 5 to retrieve a two wall on the 4th ball); CORTADA TWO WALL (FRONT-LEFT) LEFT PASS FROM THE APRON AT THE 5; Ithurria (0-1, +0 -0, 2, 1 save RA (running backhand rebote on the apron at the 9 on the 3rd ball) (PLAY OF THE GAME)
5(2)-7(0); 3: Erik + (3-0, +3 -0, 2); FOREHAND CHIC-CHAC FROM THE 10; Arrieta (0-1, +0 -0, 1)
5(3)-8(0); 3; Erik + (4-0, +4 -0, 2); BACKHAND REBOTE TWO WALL (F-L) LEFT PASS FROM THE 8; Zulaika (0-1, +0 -0, 1)
Game map
Round 2
*Possible Game Point
5(4)-2(0) 3; Erik + (5-0, +5 -0, 2); BACKHAND REBOTE OVERHEAD PASS FROM THE 9; Diego (0-2, +0 -0, 1) (10th consecutive lost point)
*5(6)-3(0) 1; Erik + (6-0, +6 -0, 1); (?)GOITIA THROWS THE SERVE TOO HIGH); Goitia (0-2), +0 -0(?), 0)
Erik wins, Barandika finishes 2nd.
Playoff for 3rd place
4(Betia)(0)-6(Ithurria)(0) 3; Beitia (1-2, +1 -0, 2); FOREHAND LEFT PASS FROM THE 9; Ithurria (0-2, +0 -0, 1)
7(Arrieta)(0)-8(Zulaika)(0) 1; Arrieta + (1-1, +1 -0, 1); ACE--HIGH AND LATE CAROM OFF THE LEFT WALL); Zulaika (0-2, +0 -0, 0)
2(Diego)(0)-3(Goitia)(0) 3; Diego + (1-2, +1 -0, 2); FOREHAND BIG BOUNCE FROM THE OUTSIDE AT THE 9; Goitia (1-3, +0 -0(?), 1, 1 save J (leaping at the 14 to catch the serve)
4(Beitia)(2)-7(Arrieta)(2) 1; Beitia + (2-2, +2 -0 1); ACE--BIG BOUNCE; Arrieta (+1 -2, +1 -0, 0)
4(Beitia)(4)-2(Diego)(2) 11; Beitia + (3-2, +3 -0, 6); UNDERHAND DEJADA FROM THE 4; Diego (1-3, +1 -0, 5, 4 saves J (leaping and reaching at the 9 on the 3rd ball); OVH R (overhead rebote at the 11 on the 5th ball); OVH R (overhead rebote at the 11 on the 7th ball); R (rebote from the 13 on the 9th ball) (POINT OF THE GAME)
Betia finishes 3rd
(#5) Erik (8 Spectacular Seven points----6 actual points)
(#1) Barandika (3----3)
(#4) Beitia (6----3) all in the third place playoff
Standings (June 15(E)) * = Known Perfect Games)
Erik.........10 (5*)
Barandika.....8 (5*)
Ithurria......8 (3*)
Diego.........7 (6*)
Zulaika.......6 (2*)
Goitia........4 (3*)
Arrieta ......4 (2*)
Salegi(back)..1
G10 6/15(M) TAKING A GIFT AND RUNNING WITH IT (ITHURRIA 8 WINS)
Erik looked to be well on his way to his 10th win, one step closer to the championship, scoring 3 points in a row, including a hard fought 7 ball point against Barandika, his closest pursuer, during which Barandika made a terrific save, only to be beaten by Erik's next shot. With Diego looking to be his only real challenger on the way to a perfect game, Erik stumbled against Ithurria (tied for 3rd with Diego, 2 games behind) and threw away a backhand, and the match. Because Ithurria took the gift and quickly ran out a perfect game of his own, with 2 immediate kills and a service ace. A great short hop save by Arrieta kept it from being 3 immediate kills, but Ithurria retrieved Arrieta's save and immediately finished him with a backhand pass. Shortly after, the game belonged to Ithurria and moved him into a tie for 2nd with Barandika, 1 game behind Erik
The basics:
Perfect from the 6 post. Ithurria played 5 points and won 5 points (+4 -0). He played 14 balls in play, catching and throwing 9 of them. He was dominant, and had no saves..
.
For the team: 9 points, +8 -1; 28 balls in play. 2 saves. Time of the game: 7:07
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Goitia sent Arrieta back with an outside pass off the serve. Erik sent Goitia packing with a big bounce off the back wall, and then quickly disposed of Zulaika, to bring up Barandika and the longest point of the game. It was an intense point, as both players knew the stakes. Barandika's save looked awkward, but was the only way to get the job done. Then came the fateful error, going against the grain of play. Ithurria then sent back Beitia and Diego quickly (his winner against Diego might be seen as questionable, as it went off his cesta, but it was a difficult short hop, and in cases like these I apply the rule to judge a winner on a tough call. It makes two players happy, rather than a harsh judgment that makes 2 players angry :) A perfect serve to remove Goitia was the icing on the cake.
Game map
Round 1
*Possible Game Point
1 Arrieta; 2 Goitia; 3 Erik; 4 Zulaika; 5 Barandika; 6 Ithurria 7 Beitia; 8 Diego
1(0)-2(0) 2 (balls in play); Goitia + (+=winner -=error) (1-0 (points won and lost), +1 -0, 1 (individual balls in play); BACKHAND OUTSIDE PASS FROM THE 14 ON THE SERVICE RETURN; Arrieta (0-1, +0 -0, 1)
2(1)-3(0) 2; Erik + (1-0, +1 -0, 1); BACKHAND BIG BOUNCE RETURN OF SERVE FROM THE 13-14; Goitia (1-1, +1 -0, 1)
3(1)-4(0) 3; Erik + (2-0, +2 -0, 2); BACKHAND BIG BOUNCE LEFT FROM THE 9; Zulaika (0-1, +0 -0, 1)
3(2)-5(0) 7; Erik + (3-0, +3-0, 4); FOREHAND OUTSIDE CHIC-CHAC FROM THE 9; Barandika (0-1, +0 -0, 3, 1 save R (awkward looking but very effective low forehand flip rebote) (PLAY OF THE GAME) (POINT OF THE GAME)
3(3)-6(0) 2; Erik - (3-1, +3 -1, 1); THROWS AWAY A BACKHAND FROM THE 10; Ithurria (1-0, +0 -0, 1)
6(1)-7(1) 3; Ithurria + (2-0, +1 -0, 2); BACKHAND INSIDE TWO WALL (LEFT-FRONT) REBOTE FROM THE 8; Beitia (0-1, +0 -0, 1)
6(2)-8(0) 3; Ithurria + (3-0, +2 -0, 2); BACKHAND HIGH FRONT LEFT CORNER REBOTE BIG BOUNCE, DIEGO TRIES FOR DIFFICULT SHORT HOP, IN AND OUT OF CESTA; Diego 0-1 (his 8th consecutive point lost), +0 -0, 1)
Game map
Round 2
*Possible Game Point
6(3)-1(0) 5; Ithurria (4-0, +3-0, 3); BACKHAND PASS DOWN THE LEFT SIDE; Arrieta (0-2, +0 -0, 1, 1 save S (short hop at the 8 on the left side)
*6(5)-2(1) 1; Ithurria (5-0, +4-0, 1); ACE ON A DEEP CAROM OFF THE LEFT WALL; Goitia (1-2, +1-0, 0)
Ithurria wins
(#6) Ithurria (7 Spectular Seven points----5 actual points)
(#3) Erik (3----3)
(#2) Goitia (1----1)
Standings (June 15(M)) * = Known Perfect Games)
Erik..........9 (4*)
Barandika.....8 (5*)
Ithurria......8 (3*)
Diego.........7 (6*)
Zulaika.......6 (2*)
Goitia........4 (3*)
Arrieta ......4 (2*)
Salegi(back)..1
Game 10 6/14(E) ARRIETA WINS HIS 2ND IN THE LAST 3 MATCHES WITH AN ALMOST PERFECT PERFECT GAME (ARRIETA 4 WINS)
Arrieta picked up his 2nd win this week after going into the week with only 2 for the season. While he had to come back a 3rd time Wednesday night after throwing away a possible game point, there were no such difficulties tonight. He won by playing flawless and ruthless jai alai, and he helped his offense with his defense--2 great saves. He scored 5 points, all of them either on the serve or the 2nd time he touched the ball. He won with his backhand and his forehand, with a rebote, a two wall, an inside pass and an outside pass. His ace was a perfect big bounce to finish. He had it all tonight. No one had a chance. The win tied him with Goitia: 4 wins. With 17 games to play and 5 games out of the lead he has little chance of catching the leader, but more play like this could certainly make him a "spoiler", and might even get him into the "first division" (top 4). Though not the most athletic player on the roster, he has a good offensive repertoire and a surprisingly good defensive game. Hopefully he will continue to move up the ladder.
On another front Diego won a perfect game in the 6/9(M) performance. Earlier this season he won 12 consecutive points. Of his 7 wins, 6 have come on perfect games. Lately he has been in a terrible drought, almost none of it from poor play. In the 4 matches this week he has played 7 points and lost them all. He has made 3 terrific saves during the drought and only one questionable judgment on a serve he dropped in the amazing game 6/12(E) game (see below).
Here are the points,in chronological order
6/12(M)
2(2)-4(0) 3; Arrieta + (2-0, +2 -0, 2); TWO WALL (LEFT-FRONT) ON AN INSIDE REBOTE FROM THE 9; Diego (0-1 (point record), +0 -0 (winners-errors, 1 individual balls in play)
*8(5)-4(0) 7 Barandika + (4-0, +4 -0, 4, 1 save AR (apron rebote from the from the 10 on the 6th ball); REBOTE LEFT PASS ON THE APRON FROM THE 9; (CO-PLAY OF THE GAME); Diego (0-2, +0 -0, 3, 1 save M (twisting back from left to right at the 9-10 on the 3rd ball) (CO-PLAY OF THE GAME)
6/12(E)
1(1)-3(0) 1; Ithurria + (2-0, +1 -0, 1); ACE(?) DIEGO DROPS THE SERVE; Diego(0-1, +0 -0(?) 0)
2(2)-3(0) 3: Barandika + (2-1,+1 -1, 2); BACKHAND REBOTE TWO WALL FROM THE 8; Diego (0-2, +0 -0(?), 1)
8(3)-3(0) 3; Goitia + (3-1, +3 -1, 2); FOREHAND CHIC-CHAC FROM THE 9; Diego (0-3, +0 -0(?), 1, 1 save M (returns a late left wall carom from the 13 on the serve)
6/13(E)
5(3)-8(0) 3; Barandika + (4-0, +4 -0, 2, 1 save J (leaps to catch a big-bounce at the 5); DEJADA FROM THE 3; Diego (0-1, +0 -0, 1, 1 save J (leaping catch of the serve at the 14)
6/14 (E)
7(1)-8(0) 3; Arrieta + (1-0, +1 -0, 2); BACKHAND REBOTE TWO WALL (LEFT-FRONT) FROM THE 9); Deigo (0-1, +0 -0, 1)
He certainly isn't playing poorly. Such a drought is almost incomprehensible for a player of his caliber. But everyone has their ups and downs.
The basics.
Perfectly perfect from the 7 post. Arrieta 5 points +5 -0, 4 quick kills and an ace. He played 14 balls in play and caught and threw 9. 2 saves.
For the team: 12 points. +11 -1. 39 balls in play. Time of the game: 8:37
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Beitia won the longest point of the game to open: 6 balls in play. The baton was then turned over to Goitia, whose 2 points would eventually earn him 2nd place. Barandika then had it for one point before going out via the only error in the game, a rebote that was not the easiest of all time, but one he should have executed. His body language made the judgment call easy. Zulaika then faced Arrieta. Boom: 4 bip, 3 bip, 3 bip, 3 bip, Ace. All over. It was as devastating a period of play as you will see. The end summed up the game.
Game map
Round 1
*=Possible Game Point
1 Erik; 2 Beitia; 3 Goitia; 4 Ithurria; 5 Barandika; 6 Zulaika; 7 Arrieta; 8 Diego
1(0)-2(0) 6; Beitia + (+=winner -=error); (1-0 (points won and lost); +1 -0, 3, 1 save J (leaping at the 11 on the 5th ball); BACKHAND OVERHEAD PASS; Erik (0-1, +0 -0, 3) (POINT OF THE GAME)
2(1)-3(0) 4; Goitia + (1-0, +1 -0, 2, 1 save M (reaching at the 7 on the 3rd ball); FOREHAND CHIC-CHAC FROM THE 7; Beitia (1-1, +1 -0, 2)
3(1)-4(0) 5; Goitia + (2-0, +2 -0, 3); BACKHAND OUTSIDE CHULA FROM THE 5; Ithurria (0-1, +0 -0, 2)
3(2)-5(0) 4; Barandika + (1-0, +1 -0, 2); FOREHAND CHULA FROM THE 6; Goita (2-1, +2 -0, 2)
5(1)-6(0) 2; Barandika - (1-1, +1 -1, 1); WHIFFS ON REBOTE FROM THE 6; Zulaika (1-0, +0 -0, 1)
6(1)-7(0) 4; Arrieta + (1-0, +1 -0, 2, 1 save M (saves late left wall carom on the serve at the 14); BACKHAND CHULA FROM THE 10-11); Zulaika (1-1, +0 -0, 2)
7(1)-8(1) 3; Arrieta + (2-0, +2 -0, 2); BACKHAND REBOTE 2 WALL (LEFT-FRONT) FROM THE 9; Diego (0-1, +0 -0, 1)
Game map
Round 2
*=Possible Game Point
1 Erik; 2 Beitia; 3 Goitia; 4 Ithurria; 5 Barandika; 6 Zulaika; 7 Arrieta; 8 Diego
7(2)-1(0) 3; Arrieta + (3-0, +3 -0, 2); FOREHAND OVERHEAD LEFT PASS; Erik (0-2, +0 -0, 1)
7(4)-2(1) 3; Arrieta + (4-0, +4 -0, 2, 1 save M (catches big bounce on the up against the left wall at the 5 on the 2nd ball)(CO-PLAY OF THE GAME(; Beitia (1-2, +1 -0, 1)
*7(6)-4(0) 1: Arrieta + (5-0, +5 -0, 2); ACE-HIGH LATE CAROM OFF THE LEFT WALL (CO-PLAY OF THE GAME); Ithurria (0-2, +0 -0)
Arrieta wins, Goitia gets 2nd place
Playoff for 3rd place:
5(Barandika)(1)-6(Zulaika)(1) 1; Barandika + (2-1, +2 -1, 1); ACE-BIG BOUNCE; Zulaika (1-2, +1 -0, 0)
5(Barandika (3)- 2(Beitia)(1) 3; Barandika + (3-1, +3 -1, 2, 1 save J (leaping at the 7 on the 2nd ball); Beitia (1-3, +1 -0, 1, 1 save J (leaping to take the serve at the 14)
(#7) Arrieta (8 Spectacular 7 points----5 actual points)
(#3) Goitia (2----2)
(#5) Barandika (5----3) won playoff for 3rd place
Standings (June 14 (E)) * = Known Perfect Games)
Erik..........9 (4*)
Barandika.....8 (5*)
Ithurria......7 (2*)
Diego.........7 (6*)
Zulaika.......6 (2*)
Goitia........4 (3*)
Arrieta ......4 (2*)
Salegi(back)..1
When Barandika stopped Zulaika's attempt at a perfect game by intercepting a sure two wall winner on the apron at the 7 and immediately passing him on the left side, he looked full of confidence, the disappointment of last night left in the past, as these players must do after every game. After all, when a .200 winning percentage is all-star stuff and you grind out at least 5 games a day, yesterday is an eternity ago. And Barandika looked sharp as he carved up 4 opponents with with 3 rebote chic-chacs and an overhand chula. On only one of those points did he not kill the point immediately after the serve. Cruising to his own perfect game, he faced Ithurria at PPGP (possible perfect game point). A good serve and defensive return set him up at the 8, in the middle of the concha. He dropped a catch he should have made. For the second night in a row, a chance to catch Erik disappeared. Erik had been one of his victims in the 4 point streak, one of the 3 ball kill victims. It was Barandika's 2nd consecutive head to head win over Erik, after losing the previous 5. But in the end, he picked up no ground, and so instead of being up 10-9 with 19 to play, he is still down 9-8. An over serve and a dropped catch. This is how unforgiving Quiniela Jai Alai is. In the course of a partido, they would, in most cases, hardly be noticed. But here, you can almost feel one of the legs of the championship triad being kicked out from underneath him. Tomorrow can't come quickly enough.
The basics.
Near perfection from the 1 post. Zulaika played 5 points (+4 -0). He won his points decisively with one ace and one serve that forced a save, He had 2 immediate kills. When he got back in the game (as a receiver), he finished it off the second time he touched the pelota on the final 2 points. He played 18 balls in play. He caught and threw 11. And had it not been for a great save and immediate kill by Barandika, there is little doubt he would have had a perfect game.
For the team: 13 points. +10 -3. 41 balls in play. 9 saves. Time of the game: 9:50 (one playoff--for 3rd place--the best point of the game, by the way, until ruined by an error at the end).
-------------------------------
The game started with a save by each player before Zulaika sent Beitia to the bench. He then roared through Ithurria and Goitia before Barandika stopped him cold with one of the best save-kill one-two punches you will see. I thought there was no way he could get to the apron, but he anticipated perfectly and there he was. Barandika then took 14 balls to slice up 4 other opponents. The highlight was a great serve that made Diego leap with his back against the back wall to catch but then came back with a very good outside big bounce that Barandika leaped to catch at the 5, and finished with a dejada from the 3. Then came the fateful error. He backed up to take a ball that he might have moved in on and taken on the fly. But it was still a fairly straightforward catch. Ithurria, given the initiative, over served. That got Zulaika back in and he finished the game just has he began it, an easy kill and a difficult serve that forced his opponent (Arrieta) to make a terrific save, but left him out of position and helpless as he got there too late to stop the left pass from ending it.
Game map
Round 1
*=Possible Game Point
1 Zulaika; 2 Beitia; 3 Ithurria; 4 Goitia; 5 Barandika; 6 Arrieta; 7 Erik; 8 Diego
1(0)-2(0) 3 (balls in play); Zulaika + (+=winner -=error); (1-0 (points won and lost), +1 -0, 2 (individual balls in play, 1 save S (short hop at the 9 on the 2nd ball); FOREHAND CHIC-CHAC FROM THE 9; Beitia (0-1, +0 -0, 1, 1 save M (caught tricky carom off the left wall on the serve at the 14)
1(1)-3(0) 3; Zulaika + (2-0, +2 -0, 2); BACKHAND CHULA FROM THE 9; Ithurria (0-1, +0 -0, 1)
1(2)-4(0) 1; Zulaika + (3-0, +3 -0, 1); HIGH CAROM ACE DEEP OFF LEFT WALL; Goitia (0-1, +0 -0, 0)
1(3)-5(0) 4; Barandika + (1-0, +1 -0, 2, 1 save A (on the apron at the 7 on the 3rd ball (CO-PLAY OF THE GAME); OUTSIDE LEFT PASS FROM THE APRON AT THE 7 (CO-PLAY OF THE GAME) (POINT OF THE GAME); Zulaika (3-1, +3 -0, 2)
5(1)-6(0) 5; Barandika + (2-0, +2 -0, 3); FOREHAND REBOTE CHIC-CHAC FROM THE 8; Arrieta (0-1,+0 -0, 2, 2 saves J (leaping at the 13 on the serve); J (leaping near the left wall at the 10)
5(2)-7(0) 3; Barandika + (3-0, +3 -0, 2); OVERHAND CHULA FROM THE 6; Erik (0-1, +0 -0, 1)
5(3)-8(0) 3; Barandika + (4-0, +4 -0, 2, 1 save J (leaps to catch a big-bounce at the 5); DEJADA FROM THE 3; Diego (0-1, +0 -0, 1, 1 save J (leaping catch of the serve at the 14)
Game map
Round 2
*=Possible Game Point
1 Zulaika; 2 Beitia; 3 Ithurria; 4 Goitia; 5 Barandika; 6 Arrieta; 7 Erik; 8 Diego
5(4)-2(0) 3; Barandika + (5-0, +5 -0, 2); FOREHAND REBOTE CHIC-CHAC FROM THE 6; Beitia (0-2, +0 -0, 1)
*5(6)-3(0) 2; Barandika - (5-1, +5 -1, 1); DROPPED CATCH AT THE 8; Ithurria (1-1, +0 -0, 1)
3(2)-4(0) 1; Ithurria - (1-2, +0 -1, 1); FAULT (OVER SERVE); Goitia (1-1, +0 -0, 0)
4(2)-1(3) 4; Zulaika + (4 -1, +4 -0, 2); BACKHAND OVERHAND REBOTE BIG BOUNCE TO THE INSIDE FROM THE 11; Goitia (1-2, +0 -0, 2)
*1(5)-6(0) 3; Zulaika + (5-1, +5 -0, 2); BACKHAND REBOTE LEFT PASS; Arrieta (0-2, +0 -0, 1, 1 save J (leaping to catch the serve at the 12)
Zulaika wins, Barandika finishes 2nd
Playoff for 3rd
3(Ithurria)(2)-4(Goitia)(2) 6; Ithurria - (1-3, 0-2, 3, 2 saves R (rebote at the 12 on the 4th ball); A (on the apron at the 6 on the 6th ball); THROWS TWO WALL ON THE APRON FROM THE 6 BUT MISSES THE LINE IN THE DEEP AFTER MAKING A GREAT SAVE; Goitia (2-2, +0 -0, 3)
(#1) Zulaika (7 Spectacular Seven points----5 actual points)
(#5) Barandika (6----5)
(#4) Goitia (4----2)
Standings (June 13 (E)) * = Known Perfect Games)
Erik..........9 (4*)
Barandika.....8 (5*)
Ithurria......7 (2*)
Diego.........7 (6*)
Zulaika.......6 (2*)
Goitia........4 (3*)
Arrieta ......3 (1*)
Salegi(back)..1
With 3 weeks and 20 games to go each game takes on added significance. By winning this afternoon, Barandika moved to within one win of Erik. This game was different from most recent G10s in that it was a real grind. No perfect games here, even though it looked like Ithurria was going to pull one off the hard way (after a lot of help) to move himself into immediate contention. That didn't happen and the game ended up going 1 point short of 3 full rounds, 20 points, and 71 balls in play before Arrieta finally won it. Barandika had the game in his hands and literally threw it away, playing his worst shot immediately after he had played his best. It may come back to haunt him on July 1. The game began with an error (also ,ironically, by Barandika) and two questionable service aces, but then the whole team got into rhythm, with great winners and marvelous saves (Erik had 6 in this game--the most I've seen in one game since I've been doing these reports--including 4 in a row) keeping things moving along. But errors marred what might have been an even greater game, also helping to move things further along. Arrieta threw his possible game point away near the end of the second round. When Barandika blocked Goitia's path to game point with an amazing two foot wall climb to save the point, and won it with an immediate dejada, it looked like he was soon to tie Erik. But then came the saddest error of the game, which allowed Arrieta to have one more turn. He didn't miss this time.
The basics:
Perseverance from the 4 post. Arrieta got in the game 3 times, played 23 balls in play, 12 of which he caught and threw. He played 6 points and won 4 (+4 -1). His only save helped him stop a Barandika 2 point run in the second round that threatened to win the game at that point.
For the team: 20 points. +16 -4 (two questionable service aces).71 balls in play. 14 saves. Time of the game: 15:41
--------------------------
Barandika began by whiffing on a rebote. Ithurria took that gift and added 3 points (2 on questionable service aces) before Zulaika beat him with a chula off the serve. Erik and Goitia then held the lead before Goitia threw away an easy rebote to put Barandika back in the game. He stayed 1 more point before Arrieta, after a leaping save at the 11, beat him later with a chic-chac. An ace and a two wall got Arrieta to PGP, but he threw a rebote into the upper pad to give Betia the baton. Erik wrenched it from his hands on a point where he made 3 consecutive saves and turned the last one into a winner. Erik's 4th consecutive save couldn't save him from a great Goitia backhand rebote pass/chula from the 11. Goitia then won 2 more points before Barandika's great wall climb save denied him game point. Then Barandika, almost unbelievably, faulted with an over serve. Betia then won one more point before Arrieta, amazed at getting a third chance, put the game away with game point from the receiving end; a very efficient forehand chic-chac from the 8.
Game map
Round 1
*=Possible Game Point
1 Ithurria; 2 Barandika; 3 Diego; 4 Arrieta; 5 Beitia; 6 Zulaika; 7 Erik; 8 Goitia
1(0)-2(0) 4 (balls in play); Barandika - (+=winner -=error) (0-1 (points won and lost, +0 -1, 2 (individual balls in play); WHIFFS ON A REBOTE FROM THE 9; Ithurria (1-0, +0 -0, 2)
1(1)-3(0) 1; Ithurria + (2-0, +1 -0, 1); ACE(?) DIEGO DROPS THE SERVE; Diego (0-1, +0 -0(?) 0)
1(2)-4(0) 5; Ithurria + (3-0, +2 -0, 3, 1 save A (apron at the 5 on the 4th ball); TWO WALL (FRONT-LEFT) FROM THE APRON; Arrieta (0-1, +0 -0, 2)
1(3)-5(0) 1; Ithurria + (4-0, +3 -0, 1); ACE(?) BEITIA TAKES THE SERVE AND THROWS BACKHAND TOO HIGH; Beitia (0-1,+0 -0(?) 0)
1(4)-6(0) 2: Zulaika + (1-0, +1-0, 1); CHULA ON RETURN OF SERVE FROM THE 12; Ithurria (4-1, +3 -0, 1)
6(1)-7(0) 4; Erik + (1-0, +1 -0, 2, 1 save M (returns a late left wall carom from the 13 on the serve); OUTSIDE CORTADA FROM THE 9; Zulaika (1-1, +1 -0, 2)
7(1)-8(0) 4; Goitia + (1-0, +1 -0, 2); BACKHAND CHULA FROM THE 9; Erik (1-1,+1 -1, 2, 1 save J (leaping at the 10 on the 2nd ball)
Game map
Round 2
*=Possible Game Point
1 Ithurria; 2 Barandika; 3 Diego; 4 Arrieta; 5 Beitia; 6 Zulaika; 7 Erik; 8 Goitia
8(1)-2(0) 2; Goitia - (1-1, +1-1, 1); THROWS AWAY AN EASY REBOTE; Barandika (1-1, +0 -1, 1)
2(2)-3(0) 3: Barandika + (2-1,+1 -1, 2); BACKHAND REBOTE TWO WALL FROM THE 8; Diego (0-2, +0 -0(?), 1)
2(4)-4(0) 8; Arrieta + (1-1, +1 -0, 4, 1 save J (leaping at the 11 on the 3rd ball); FOREHAND CHIC-CHAC FROM THE 7; Barandika (2-2, +1 -1, 4, 1 save R (difficult rebote at the 11 on the 6th ball)
4(2)-5(0) 1; Arrieta + (2-1, +2-0, 1); HIGH BOUNCE ACE; Beitia (0-2, +0 -0(?) 0)
4(4)-1(4) 3; Arrieta + (3-1, +3-0, 2); BACKHAND INSIDE 2 WALL (LEFT-FRONT) REBOTE (REMATE?) FROM THE 8; Ithurria (4-2, +3 -0, 1)
*4(6)-6(1) 2; Arrieta - (3-2, +3 -1, 1); THROWS REBOTE FROM THE 9 TOO HIGH); Zulaika (2-1, +1 -0,1)
6(3)-7(1); 8 Erik + (2-1, +2 -0, 4, 3 saves R (difficult rebote from the 11 on the 3rd ball); OR (overhead rebote from the 10 on the 5th ball); J (leaping at the 9 on the 7th ball); OVERHAND PASS FROM THE 9; Zulaika (2-2, +1 -1, 4)
Round 3
*=Possible Game Point
1 Ithurria; 2 Barandika; 3 Diego; 4 Arrieta; 5 Beitia; 6 Zulaika; 7 Erik; 8 Goitia
7(3)-8(1) 4; Goitia + (2-1, +2 -1, 2); BACKHAND REBOTE CHULA FROM THE 11; Erik (2-2, +2 -0, 2, 1 save J (leaping back from the 11 on the 2nd ball (his fourth consecutive save)
8(3)-3(0) 3; Goitia + (3-1, +3 -1, 2); FOREHAND CHIC-CHAC FROM THE 9; Deigo (0-3, +0 -0(?), 1, 1 save M (returns a late left wall carom from the 13 on the serve)
*8(5)-2(4) 6; Barandika + (3-2, +2 -1, 3, 2 saves J (leaping from the 7 on the 3rd ball); WC2 (two foot wall climb from the 6 on the 5th ball) (PLAY OF THE GAME); DEJADA FROM THE 5-6; (POINT OF THE GAME); Goitia (3-2, +3 -1, 3, 1 save FR (falling rebote at the 9 on the 4th ball)
*2(6)-5(0) 1; Barandika - (3-3, +2 -2, 1); FAULT (OVERSERVE); Beitia (1-2, +0 -0(?) 0)
5(2)-1(4) 5; Beitia + (2-2, +1 -0(?), 3); OUTSIDE REBOTE OVERHEAD PASS FROM THE 5; Ithurria (4-3, +3 -0, 2, 1 save M (running in from the 13 to the 4 to catch a dejada on the 3rd ball)
5(4)-*4(6) 5; Arrieta + (4-2, +4 -1, 3); FOREHAND CHIC-CHAC FROM THE 8; Beitia (2-3, +1 -0(?), 2)
Arrieta wins
(#4) Arrieta (8 Spectacular Seven points----4 actual points)
(#2) Barandika (6----3)
(#5) Goitia (5----3)
Standings (June 12 (E)) * = Known Perfect Games)
Erik..........9 (4*)
Barandika.....8 (5*)
Ithurria......7 (2*)
Diego.........7 (6*)
Zulaika.......5 (2*)
Goitia........4 (3*)
Arrieta ......3 (1*)
Salegi(back)..1
G10 6/12(M) BARANDIKA FINALLY WINS A POINT FROM ERIK--AND A PERFECT GAME (BARANDIKA 8 WINS)
Today's matinee game was interesting on several levels. First, it maintained the recent pattern of 1st games back after two days off. Poor, excellent, poor, excellent. The team was in synch from the beginning to (almost) the end. It showed the team at its best, with numerous excellent winners and 14 saves. Second, it was a "soft" perfect game for Barandika, but certainly not an easy one. To get his 3rd and 4th points, he had to take down Erik and Diego. These points were kept alive by 4 saves, 2 by Barandika and 1 each by his opponents. He won on an "outstanding" (as called by the announcer) rebote from the apron at the 9. Third. Erik. Erik has been a thorn in the side of Barandika, beating him in 5 consecutive head to head points since May 30. Some of those were instrumental in Erik's big surge last week, when 3 wins moved him past Barandika and into a 2 game lead. With only 21 to play, Barandika needed to make a move, and he did by beating Erik today with a short hop catch at the 8, followed immediately by a forehand left pass from the 5. The play put him in position to win and the win moved him to within one of Erik.
The basics:
Perfect from the 8 post. Barandika played 4 points, won 4 points (+4 -0) His points took 23 balls in play, of which he caught and threw 13. His points were difficult struggles, with only one coming on an immediate kill. He had 2 saves.
For the team: 12 points (including 2 playoff points), +11 -1; 57 balls in play. 14 saves. Time of the game: 11:37.
--------------------------------
Erik started things off with an inside rebote left pass to send Goitia to the bench.
Arrieta then made a leaping save at the 8 and an immediate chic-chac to send Erik back. He followed that up with two more excellent points and looked unbeatable. Beitia then took over after a saving a dejada running in from the 9 to the 4, and immediately passing Arrieta. Ithurria then removed Betia with a chic-chac off the serve. Barandika then took the baton on the longest point of the game, an 8 ball point which he saved from the apron on the 7th ball and then fired inside to pass Ithurria on the left. He beat Goitia on a high left pass and then won the two toughest points of the game, with a forehand left pass to beat Erik and the save and apron rebote left pass to win against Diego.
Game map
Round 1
*=Possible Game Point
1 Goitia; 2 Erik; 3 Arrieta 4: Diego; 5 Zulaika; 6 Beitia 7 Ithurria 8 Barandika
1(0)-2(0) 6 (balls in play); Erik + (+=winner -=error) (1-0 (points for and against), +1 -0, 3 (individual balls in play); INSIDE REBOTE LEFT PASS FROM THE 8; Goitia (0-1, +0 -0), 3
2(1)-3(0) 4; Arrieta + (1-0, +1 -0, 2, 1 save J (leaping catch at the 8 on the third ball); FOREHAND CHIC-CHAC FROM THE 7; Erik (1-1, +1 -0, 2)
2(2)-4(0) 3; Arrieta + (2-0, +2 -0, 2); TWO WALL (LEFT-FRONT) ON AN INSIDE REBOTE FROM THE 9; Diego (0-1, +0 -0, 1)
2(3)-5(0) 5; Arrieta + (3-0, +3 -0, 3, 1 save J (leaping at the 6 on the 2nd ball); BACKHAND 2 WALL (LEFT-FRONT) CHIC-CHAC FROM THE 6; Zulaika (0-1, +0 -0, 2 saves J (leaping save of the serve); FR (falling rebote from the 9 on the 3rd ball)
2(4)-6(0) 6; Beitia + (1-0, +1 -0, 3, 2 saves R (spinning rebote from the 11 on the 3rd ball); M (chases from the 9 to the 4 and catches Arrieta dejada on the 5th ball); OVERHEAD PASS FROM THE 4; Arrieta (3-1, +3 -0, 3)
6(1)-7(0) 2; Ithurria + (1-0, +1 -0, 1); BACKHAND CHIC-CHAC OFF THE SERVE; Beitia (1-1, +1 -0, 1)
7(1)-8(0) 8; Barandika + (1-0, +1 -0, 4, 1 save A (apron at the 7 on the 7th ball); FOREHAND LEFT PASS FROM THE APRON AT THE 6; Ithurria (1-1, +1 -0, 4, 1 save BR (back pedaling rebote from the 6 on the 4th ball) (POINT OF THE GAME)
Game map
Round 2
*=Possible Game Point
1 Goitia; 2 Erik; 3 Arrieta 4: Diego; 5 Zulaika; 6 Beitia 7 Ithurria 8 Barandika
8(1)-1(0) 3; Barandika + (2-0, +2 -0, 2); FOREHAND HIGH LEFT PASS FROM THE APRON AT THE 6; Goitia (0-2, +0 -0), 1
8(3)-2(1) 5; Barandika + (3-0, +3 -0, 3 1 save S (short hop at the 8 on the 2nd ball); FOREHAND LEFT PASS FROM THE 5; Erik (1-2, +1 -0, 2, 1 save FR (falling rebote from the 12 on the 3rd ball (CO-PLAY OF THE GAME)
*8(5)-4(0) 7 Barandika + (4-0, +4 -0, 4, 1 save AR (apron rebote from the from the 10 on the 6th ball); REBOTE LEFT PASS ON THE APRON FROM THE 9; (CO-PLAY OF THE GAME); Diego (0-2, +0 -0, 3, 1 save M (twisting back from left to right at the 9-10 on the 3rd ball) (CO-PLAY OF THE GAME)
Barandika wins, Arrieta finishes 2nd
Playoff for 3rd place
6 (Beitia) (1)-7 (Ithurria) (1) 5; Ithurria - (1-2, +1 -1, 3, 1 save WC1 (one foot wall climb at the on the third ball); DROPPED CATCH AT THE 7; Beitia (2-1 +1 -0, 2, 1 save S (short hop at the 6 on the 2nd ball)
6 (Beitia) (3)-2 (Erik) (1) 3; Beitia + (3-1, +2 -0, 2); BACKHAND CHIC-CHAC FROM THE 9; Erik (1-3, +1 -0, 1)
(#8) Barrandika (7 Spectacular Seven points----4 actual points)
(#3) Arrieta (4----4)
(#6) Beitia (5----3) Won two point playoff for 3rd place
Standings (June 12 (M)) * = Known Perfect Games)
Erik..........9 (4*)
Barandika.....8 (5*)
Ithurria......7 (2*)
Diego.........7 (6*)
Zulaika.......5 (2*)
Goitia........4 (3*)
Arrieta ......2 (1*)
Salegi(back)..1
=================================
GAMES OF 6/5-6/9
For the week, Erik won 3, Ithurria 2, Zulaika 1, and Diego 1. Erik took a two game lead into the final 21 games of the season. If he wins the Florida Singles Championship, many will look to this week as the week that made the difference. (Note, scroll to 6/5(M) and read up to see the chronology).
G10 6/9(M) ANOTHER BRILLIANT PERFECT GAME--FOLLOWED BY AN AWFUL 5 POINT 0'S GAME FOR 3RD PLACE (DIEGO 7 WINS)
For the second performance in a row a sublime perfect game was ruined by a pathetic race to 3rd place by the 5 0s left standing. It is really a terrible way to determine exotic wagers. Diego, after receiving a gift from Erik, used 4 consecutive brilliant chic-chacs, a two wall carom, and a beautiful two wall carom ace to move into a 3 way tie for second with Ithurria and Barandika, 2 wins behind Erik. What happened after was about as memorable as the 18th Facebook posting that streamed past the last time you looked. Maybe less memorable. By the time it was over, Diego's performance was long forgotten. Beitia threw away and then dropped the coveted show point, allowing Barandika to get the prize. In actuality, Betia should have won show point for giving Diego his most difficult point, a 7 ball battle that Betia saved brilliantly 3 times before finally succumbing. It would have given the wagerers a much quicker answer and saved us all from the battle of the 0's.
The basics:
Perfect from the 3 post. Diego played 7 points, won 7 points (+6 -0). His points took 24 balls in play. He caught and threw 15. In addition to the ace, he finished 3 other points with kill shots the second time he touched the pelota. He also forced 4 saves (3 in one point).
For the team in the real game. +7 -1. 30 balls in play. 5 saves. Time: 6:24
Third place playoff: +3 -3, 23 bip, 3 saves. Time: 4:05
--------------------------------
Erik opened by beating Zulaika with a chic-chac. He then threw a two wall rebote off the court, the only error of the game. It was Diego's first point. Diego then threw 4 great chic-chacs (2 outside rebotes and 2 forehands), to send Arrieta, Goitia, Ithurria, and Beitia to the end of the line. He dominated everyone but Beitia. Their point was the best of the game. Beitia was on the back foot throughout, but made 3 saves (including one over his his head and one on a falling rebote from the 11) to stay in. After that Diego dispatched Barandika with a two wall and finished things with a beautiful serve that caromed off the left wall on its way to the back, defeating Zulaika.
Dania runs a 3 pair "semi-final" when there are 6 0s left after a perfect game. The 3 survivors enter a round robin with a possible (oh joy!) 2 point final. The game map will be split into two games, the real one and the playoff showdown.
Game map
Round 1
*=Possible Game Point
1 Zulaika; 2 Erik; 3 Diego; 4 Arrieta; 5 Goitia; 6 Ithurria; 7 Beitia; 8 Barandika
1(0)-2(0) 6 (balls in play); Erik + (+=winner -=error) (1-0 (points won and lost) +1 -0, 3 (individual bip); CHIC-CHAC FROM THE 7; Zulaika (0-1, +0 -0, 3, 1 save JR (jumping rebote from the 10 on the 4th ball)
2(1)-3(0) 2; Erik - (1-1, +1 -1, 1); TWO WALL REBOTE FROM THE 8 GOES OFF THE CONCHA; Diego (1-0, +0 -0, 1)
3(1)-4(0) 3; Diego + (2-0, +1-0, 2); OUTSIDE REBOTE CHIC-CHAC FROM THE 8; Arrieta (0-1, +0 -0, 1)
3(2)-5(0) 5; Diego + (3-0, +2-0, 3); OUTSIDE REBOTE CHIC-CHAC FROM THE 9; Goitia (0-1, +0 -0, 2)
3(3)-6(0) 3; Diego + (4-0, +3-0, 2); FOREHAND CHIC-CHAC FROM THE 7; Ithurria (0-1, +0 -0, 1, 1 save J (leaping save of the serve at the 14)
3(4)-7(0) 7; Diego + (5-0, +4 -0, 4); FOREHAND CHIC-CHAC FROM THE 6; Beitia (0-1, +0 -0, 3, 3 saves LW (saves left wall carom serve at the 13); OVR (Overhead rebote from the 9 on the 3rd ball); FR (falling rebote from the 11 on the 5th ball) (PLAY OF THE GAME) (POINT OF THE GAME)
3(5)-8(0) 3; Diego + (6-0, +5 -0, 2); TWO WALL (LEFT-FRONT) FROM THE 6 Barandika (0-1, +0 -0, 1)
--------------------------------
Game map
Round 1
*=Possible Game Point
1 Zulaika; 2 Erik; 3 Diego; 4 Arrieta; 5 Goitia; 6 Ithurria; 7 Beitia; 8 Barandika
*3(6)-1(0) 1 Diego + (7-0, +6-0, 1); 1 HOP TWO WALL CAROM ACE; Zulaika (0-2, +0 -0, 0)
Diego wins, Erik finishes second
--------------------------------
Playoff for third place.
4 (Arrieta) (0)- 5 (Goitia) (0) 2; Arrieta - (0-1, +0 -1, 1); REBOTE 2 WALL FROM THE 9 HITS TOO LOW; Goitia (1-0, 0 -0, 1)
6 (Ithurria) (0)- 7 (Beitia) (0) 4; Beitia + (1-0, +1 -0, 2, 1 save SH (short hop at the 3 on the 3rd ball); CHIC-CHAC FROM THE 4; Ithurria 0-1, +0 -0, 2, 2)
8 (Barandika) (0)-1 (Zulaika) (0) 7; Barandika + (1-0, +1 -0, 4); DEJADA FROM THE 7; Zulaika (0-1,+0 -0, 3)
5 (Goitia) (2)-7 (Beitia) (2) 4; Beitia + (2-0, +2 -0, 2 1 save KR (knee rebote from the 11 on the 3rd ball); TWO WALL REBOTE FROM THE 11; Goitia (1-1, +1 -0, 2)
*7 (Beitia) (4)-8 (Barandika (2) 1; Beitia - (2-1, +2 -1, 1); FAULT (OVER SERVE) Barandika) (2-0, +1 -0, 0)
*8 (Barandika) (4)- 7* (Beitia) (4) 5; Beitia - (2-2, +2 -2, 2); DROPPED CATCH AT THE 4-5; Barandika (3-0), +1 -0, 4)
Barandika wins 3rd place playoff
(#3) Diego (8 Spectacular 7 points----7 actual points
(#2) Erik (1----1)
(#8) Barandika (6----3) won 3rd place playoff
Standings (June 9 (M)) * = Known Perfect Games)
Erik..........9 (4*)
Barandika.....7 (4*)
Ithurria......7 (2*)
Diego.........7 (6*)
Zulaika.......5 (2*)
Goitia........4 (3*)
Arrieta ......2 (1*)
Salegi(back)..1
G10 6/8(E) SPECTACULAR 7 YES! SPECTACULAR 6...NOT SO MUCH (ITHURRIA 7 WINS)
For the first time since the 5/15(E) performance a perfect game was won from the 1 or 2 post. Ithurria took care of business with a left pass, 3 two walls, a dejada, and a chula. He had help with only one point. He also had 3 saves. He took care of the field in a little over 6 minutes, an efficient demolition of the entire team, the most difficult feat there is in Quiniela singles, a "hard" perfect game. It was a game to savor and remember. The over the shoulder catch that saved his point against Diego. The apron catch during the same point that led to a high cross-court two wall to the outside that won that point. His cat and mouse game with Erik (beating Erik twice in the same day--after forcing him back over and over this afternoon, he forced 4 consecutive rebote saves and won with a sweet little dejada from the 4. The 4 immediate kills, and the chula that finished it off. It was Ithurria's 7th win, putting him in a 2nd place tie with Barandika, 2 behind Erik, and 1 ahead of Diego.
Yes, if only we could remember. The problem (see the very first analysis in this series at the bottom of the page) is that winning this way left only a very sour aftertaste from an endless playoff. A playoff that took 13 balls and almost a minute longer than the win. Dania runs a Spectacular 6 contest among the losers in order to fill out the "place" and "show" numbers for the exotic wagers. Nothing wrong with that, it's what pays the bills. Its the way they do it I find so annoying, and I don't think the players appreciate it too much either. 7 players who have just been annihilated by the man whose day it was, could care less about who comes in second and third (except for two of them--see below--who had a couple of very interesting battles today). They are put in a position where they are supposed to play their hardest... and for what? Erik nearly suffered a serious injury in the playoff today, slightly mis-timing his fall on a rebote. The thud was frightening. Two of four possible playoff points were lost via errors. Players occasionally ease off in these contests. Why shouldn't they? After the idiotic Spectacular playoff ended, there was yet another playoff for third place. The whole thing was ludicrous. So I have a solution to this problem. On a perfect game that is won with 7 points, where everyone else has 0 points, award 2nd place to the one who gave the winner the toughest point, who stayed in the ring with the champ the longest. Today that would have been Erik, who stayed with Ithurria for 13 balls. Award 3rd place to the next longest survivor (in today's case, Diego and Goitia, who stayed with him for 5). Since Goitia dropped his point, Diego gets 2nd and Goitia gets 3rd. Problem solved. Fans have a little time to enjoy what they have just seen (and wagerers will have their answers more quickly). And players can all begin to prepare for the next game at the same time. I think the way they do it now is more than a bit disrespectful to the winner.
The basics:
Ithurria: Perfect from the 2. Ithurria played 7 points and won 7 points. +6 -0. His points took 34 balls. He caught and threw 20. He also had 3 saves.
For the team. Since there were actually two games, let's split them up. It might be illustrative.
Game 1: The real game. The one somebody won.
7 points; +6 -1; 9 saves; 34 balls in play. Time of the game: 6:16.
Game 2; The other game.
9 points; +7 -2 (one questionable); 5 saves; 30 balls in play. 4 possible "game" points. 2 lost by errors. 1 stopped by a winner.
Playoff for 3rd place
1 point; +1 -0; 3 saves; 7 balls in play. All of G2 took 7:11
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Ithurria's first point was a beautiful return of serve to dispatch Zulaika. He followed that with 2 saves, the second converted from the apron with a high two wall to the outside. Diego also had a great save on this point. Ithurria's 3rd point was gifted by Goitia, who, after making a very nice save, dropped an easy catch. Two wall rebotes took care of Arrieta and Betia in the minimum (3 balls--on the Betia point there was possible interference, but it wasn't called). Then came the point of the match. Ithurria and Erik battled it out for 13 balls. In those 13 balls there were 5 saves (4 by Erik). Ithurria did what he did this afternoon, force Erik back. He forced excellent rebotes on the 3rd,7th, 9th, and 11th balls. On the 13th, with Erik back, Ithurria finished him off with a dejada from the 4. The end came on an immediate chula kill against Barandika.
Game map
Round 1
*=Possible Game Point
1. Zulaika; 2 Ithurria; 3 Diego; 4 Goitia; 5 Arrieta; 6 Beitia; 7 Erik; 8 Barandika
1(0)-2(0) 2 (balls in play); Ithurria + (+=winner -=error) (1-0 (points won and lost) +1 -0, 1 (individual balls in play); LEFT PASS FROM THE 13; Zulaika (0-1, +0 -0, 1)
2(1)-3(0) 5; Ithurria + (2-0, +2 -0, 3, 2 saves OV-LW (over the shoulder-left wall at the 11 on the 2nd ball); A (on the apron at the 7 on the 4th ball); HIGH TWO WALL (LEFT-FRONT) FROM THE APRON AT THE 5; Diego (0-1, +0 -0, 2, 1 save KR (knee rebote from the 9 on the 3rd ball)
2(2)-4(0) 5; Goitia - (0-1, +0 -1, 2, 1 save R (difficult left wall rebote from the 8); DROPPED CATCH AT THE 8-9 Ithurria (3-0, +2 -0, 3)
2(3)-5(0) 3; Ithurria + (4-0, +3 -0, 2); REBOTE TWO WALL (LEFT-FRONT) FROM THE 8; Arrieta (0-1, +0 -0, 1)
2(4)-6(0) 3; Ithurria + (5-0, +4-0, 2); REBOTE TWO WALL FROM THE APRON LINE AT THE 8. NOTE: BETIA TRIED TO CHASE THIS DOWN AND BUMPED INTO ITHURRIA. THERE WAS NO CALL; Betia (0-1, +0 -0, 1)
2(5)-7(0) 13; Ithurria + (6-0, +5 -0, 7, 1 save OV-LW (Left wall over the shoulder at the 10 on the 6th ball); DEJADA FROM THE 4 (CO-PLAY OF THE GAME); Erik (0-1, +0 -0, 6, 4 saves KR (knee rebote from the 9 on the 3rd ball; KR from the 9 on the 7th ball; KR from the 9 on the 9th ball; OVR (over the shoulder rebote from the 9 at the left wall on the 11th ball) (CO-PLAY OF THE GAME) (POINT OF THE GAME)
*2(6)-8(0) 3; Ithurria + (7-0, +6 -0, 2); CHULA FROM THE 9; Barandika (0-1, +0 -0. 1)
Ithurria wins a perfect game
Spectacular 6 (each point is doubled) Playoff for 2nd
Round 1
*=Possible 2nd place point
1 Zulaika; 3 Diego; 4 Goitia; 5 Arrieta; 6 Betia; 7 Erik; 8 Barandika
1(0)-3(0) 1; Zulaika + (1-0, +1 -0, 1); ACE(?) DIEGO TAKES THE SERVE AND CASUALLY THROWS IT INTO THE UPPER PAD; Diego (0-1, +0 -0(?), 0)
1(2)-4(0); 4 Goitia + (1-0, +1 -0, 2, 1 save SH (short hop at the 7 on the third ball); CHIC-CHAC FROM THE 6-7; Zulaika (1-1, +1 -0, 2)
4(2)-5(0); 1 Goitia + (2-0, +2 -0, 1); ACE; Arrieta (0-1, +0 -0, 0)
*4(4)-6(0) 4 Goitia - (2-1, +2 -1, 2); DROPPED CATCH AT THE 4; Beitia (1-0, +0 -0, 2, 1 save R (difficult rebote at the 12 on the third ball)
6(2)-7(0) 3; Beitia + (2-0, +1 -0, 1 save J (leaping at the 6 on the second ball); CHIC-CHAC FROM THE 6--ERIK MIS-TIMED HIS FALLING REBOTE FROM THE 12 AND CRASHED HARD ON HIS SIDE-HE GOT UP SEEMINGLY UNINJURED); ERIK (0-1, +0 -1, 1)
*6(4)-8(0) 2; Beitia - (2-1, +1 -1; 1); REBOTE WHIFF AT THE 9; Barandika (1-0, +0 -0, 1)
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Spectacular 6 playoff for second place
Round 2
*=Possible 2nd place point
1 Zulaika; 3 Diego; 4 Goitia; 5 Arrieta; 6 Betia; 7 Erik; 8 Barandika
8(2)-3(0) 1; Barandika + (2-0, +1 -0, 1); ACE; Diego (0-2, +0 0(?), 0)
*8(4)-1(2) 6; Zulaika + (2-1, +1 -1, 3, 1 save A (on the apron at the 7 on the 3rd ball); TWO WALL (LEFT-FRONT) FROM THE 5; Barandika (2-1, +1 -0, 3, 1 save FR (falling rebote on the apron at the 9-10 on the 4th ball)
*1(4)-5(0) 1; Zulaika + (3-1, +2 -1, 1); ACE; Arrieta (0-2, +0 -0, 0)
Zulaika finishes 2nd
Playoff for 3rd
4 (Goitia) (4)- 6 (Beitia) (4) 7; (Goitia 3-1, +3 -1, 4 1 save OV (over the shoulder at the 9 on the 4th ball); CHULA FROM THE 7; Beitia (2-2, +1 -1, 3, 2 saves R (left wall rebote from the 9 on ball 3); KR (knee rebote from the 11 on ball 5) NOTE: AFTER ALL THIS, THESE TWO PLAYED THIS POINT LIKE A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WAS ON THE LINE. THEY PLAYED 4 POINTS AGAINST EACH OTHER IN THE TWO GAMES TODAY. GOITIA WON 3.
(#2) Ithurria (7 Spectacular 7 points----7 actual points
(#1) Zulaika (6----3)
(#4) Goitia (6----3) (won 3rd place playoff v Beitia)
Standings (June 8 (E)) * = Known Perfect Games)
Erik..........9 (4*)
Barandika.....7 (4*)
Ithurria......7 (2*)
Diego.........6 (5*)
Zulaika.......5 (2*)
Goitia........4 (3*)
Arrieta ......2 (1*)
Salegi(back)..1
G10 6/8(M) SOMETIMES A WIN CAN BE LIKE A HOT POTATO (ZULAIKA 5 WINS)
Today's win was passed among 4 candidates before Zulaika finally took charge. From Ithurria to Goitia to Erik to Ithurria to Betia to Goitia to Zulaika. Each turnover, except Erik's, was caused by an error. The first round started with 3 errors in the first 4 points, but then settled once Erik got in. The second round had 2 immediate lead turnovers caused by errors, one by a pretty silly error on the throw following the best play (and point) of the game. Start-stop and frustration was the name of the game today. Still, there were 8 fine saves and almost a repeat of Erik's heroics yesterday, but even he can't get them all. He accounted for half of the saves. He also had a streak in the first round that had perfect game written all over it, until he was stopped by a superior save that put him on the back foot (we haven't seen Erik on the back foot much this week) and finally beat him. Erik kept his two game lead, and Zulaika got a desparately needed win to move him to within 4 games of the lead.
The basics:
Winning from the 5 post. Zulaika was 4-1 (+2 -0). The points he played had 14 balls in play. He caught and threw 8 of them.
Interesting match ups. Erik beat Barandika head to head for the 5th consecutive time since June 1.
For the team: More errors in a week that has had more errors than most. It took 2 full rounds to decide a winner. +9 -5. 47 balls in play. Time of the game (no playoffs). 10:48.
--------------------------------
The team stumbled out of the gate with a Barandika over serve, a misguided Ithurria two wall, and a Goitia dropped catch. Goitia's error gave Erik his first point and for the next 3 he looked unbeatable both on offense (4 winners on 4 different throws) and defense (a late deep save of a serve that caromed off the side wall at the last instant, and an intercept of an attempted big bounce). Then he and Ithurria played the best point of the game, a point that had 3 saves and was won when Erik couldn't quite complete another miraculous one. Ithurria's leaping interception of a big bounce attempt put Erik into the back court and he was chasing for the rest of the point. Ithurria took the momentum from that point into the second round and immediately threw it away with an over serve. Beitia took the gift and, in spite of a great over the head rebote save, lost the next point to Goitia, who then threw a two wall from the 5 off the court, giving Zulaika his opening. He shut the door decisively with an immediate kill and a velocitanious :) ace that Diego "saved" with a beautiful leaping catch. But he couldn't hold on as the force of the serve almost knocked his cesta through the back wall.
Game map
Round 1
*=Possible Game Point
1 Barandika; 2 Ithurria; 3 Goitia; 4 Beitia; 5 Zulaika; 6 Erik; 7 Arrieta; 8 Diego
1(0)-2(0) 1 (balls in play); Barrandika - (+=winner -=error) (0-1 (points won and lost) +0 -1; 1 (player balls in play); FAULT (OVER SERVE); Ithurria (1-0, +0 -0, 0)
2(1)-3(0) 4; Ithurria - (1-1, +0 -1, 2); THROWS 2 WALL FROM THE 8 ON TO THE APRON; Goitia (1-0, +0 -0, 2)
3(1)-4(0) 5; Goitia + (+2 -0, +1 -0, 3, 1 save A (running on the apron at the 5 on the 4th ball); OVERHEAD PASS FROM THE APRON AT THE 5; Betia (0-1, +0 -0, 2, 1 save R (rebote at the 11 on the 3rd ball)
3(2)-5(0) 4; Goitia - (2-1, +1 -1, 2); DROPPED CATCH AT THE 12; Zulaika (1-0, +0 -0 2)
5(1)-6(0) 4; Erik + (1-0, +1 -0, 2, 2 saves OSB (off the side wall on a serve that caromed very late at the 14); M (runs in and to the outside to intercept an attempted big bounce at the 6 on the 3rd ball); 2 WALL (FRONT-LEFT) PASS FROM THE APRON AT THE FIVE; Zulaika (1-1, +0 -0, 2)
6(1)-7(0) 3; Erik + (2-0, +2 -0, 2); TWO WALL (LEFT-FRONT) REBOTE FROM THE 7; Arrieta (0-1, +0 -0, 1)
6(2)-8(0) 3; Erik + (3-0, +3 -0, 2); BIG BOUNCE LEFT FROM THE 10); Diego (0-1, +0 -0, 1)
--------------------------------
Game Map Round 2
*=Possible Game Point
1 Barandika; 2 Ithurria; 3 Goitia; 4 Beitia; 5 Zulaika; 6 Erik; 7 Arrieta; 8 Diego
6(3)-1(0) 3; Erik + (4-0, +4 -0, 2); REBOTE BIG BOUNCE FROM THE 6 THAT BARANDIKA COULDN'T QUITE REACH ON THE FLY TO INTERCEPT, MISSED ON THE SHORT HOP; Barandika (0-2, +0 -1, 1)
*6(5)-2(1) 8; Ithurria + (2-1, +1 -1, 4, 1 save M (running up to the 5 to make a leaping one bounce save on Erik's attempted big bounce pass on the 5th ball (PLAY OF THE GAME); CHIC-CHAC FROM THE 7; Erik (4-1, +4 -0, 2 saves RR (running rebote from the 12 on the 4th ball); RR (running inside rebote from the 11 on the 6th ball) (POINT OF THE GAME)
2(3)-4(0) 1; Ithurria - (2-2, +1 -2, 1); FAULT (OVER SERVE); Beitia (1-1, +0 -0, 0)
4(2)-3(2) 4; Goitia + (3-1, 2-1, 2); HIGH TWO WALL (FRONT-LEFT) FROM THE 6; Beitia (1-2, +0 -0, 2, 1 save BR (back pedaling over the head rebote from the 8 on the second ball)
3(4)-5(1) 2; Goitia - (3-2, 2-2, 1); THROWS REBOTE TWO WALL (LEFT-FRONT) FROM THE 5 OFF THE CONCHA; Zulaika (2-1, +0 -0, 1)
5(3)-7(0) 3; Zulaika + (3-1, +1 -0, 2); REBOTE BIG BOUNCE FROM THE 6; Arrieta (0-2, 0-0, 1)
*5(5)-8(0) 1; Zulaika + (4-1, +2 -0, 1); ACE; Diego (0-2, +0 -0, 0)
Zulaika wins
(#5) Zulaika (7 Spectacular Seven points----4 actual points)
(#6) Erik (4----4)
(#3) Goitia (3----3)
Standings (June 8 (M)) * = Known Perfect Games)
Erik..........9 (4*)
Barandika.....7 (4*)
Diego.........6 (5*)
Ithurria......6 (1*)
Zulaika.......5 (2*)
Goitia........4 (3*)
Arrieta ......2 (1*)
Salegi(back)..1
G10 6/7(E) A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING, AND A PLAY FOR THE AGES (ERIK 9 WINS)
Erik won tonight to give him a two game lead. It was his third win this week, but a very difficult one. He had to score in 3 rounds to get it. He made as good a play as you might ever see, certainly the play of this season, and he did it against his closest competitor, Barandika, whom he has now beaten head to head 4 consecutive times. Barandika suffered two excruciating lost points where he did everything right and still lost the points. Mixed in with the great was a bit of the not so great. Goitia shot himself in the foot with 2 overserves which, arguably cost him the game. Erik made things much tougher on himself than they needed to be when he had ages to line up a two wall from the apron and proceeded to throw it off the concha. After all the fireworks, Arrieta gifted Erik the winning points. A lot happened in this game.
--------------------------------
The basics:
Erik from the 5 post: Eric was 5-1 +3 -1. The points he played had 23 balls in play. He caught and threw 15. It has become noticeable in the last few weeks that there have been very few falling rebotes played in this game. Certain players seem to give up on chic-chacs that they might have been able to get to. Erik pulled off as good a falling rebote as you'll ever see, from the 13 on the outside no less, and converted it into a big bounce winner, which not only demoralized one of his closest competitors, but also won the game. A baseball broadcaster once famously said "I don't believe what I just saw." Tonight he could have said that about Erik twice in the space of about 3 seconds.
For the team. Decidedly mixed tonight. The good was amazing. The bad pretty stupifying. More good than bad overall. There were 16 points tonight. +11 -5 (no questionables). There were 56 balls in play. Time of the game (with one playoff) 12:15.
--------------------------------
Goitia opened with an over serve. Zulaika beat Diego with a precise two wall from the inside at the 12. A great throw that got lost in the fireworks later. Zulaika then threw away an easy rebote to give Erik a good start. He got his second point on a chic-chac after a leaping interception of a big bounce that Ithurria was so sure was a winner that he didn't bother to even try for the rebote on a ball that came out quite a distance. The first opponent demoralized. But Erik demoralized no one but himself when he had enough time to have a snack while setting up a two wall from the apron, which he proceeded to throw on the wood. Arrieta, whose running save at the 11 led to a weak throw that gave Erik all that time, ran with the gift. He then faced Barandika. The A-B point was the best of the game, Barandika made 3 consecutive rebotes (2 on the run and 1 on a knee) from the 11, 11, and 12 respectively. Arrieta then beat him with an overhead pass. Things would get worse for Barandika later. This was the first round. 4 winners, 3 errors, and 6 excellent saves.
Beginning the second round Goitia sent Arrieta to the bench with a throw similar to the one Arrieta used to dispose of Barandika. He then did the same thing to Diego. With 4 points in the bag and looking tremendous, he proceeded to over serve for the 2nd time in the game. That ended his chances. Beitia and Ithurria then each won a point. Ithurria looked up to see Erik back again. The save he made this time was better than the earlier one against Erik, but once again he got beaten, this time with an overhead left pass. Then Barandika stepped in to face Erik. On the third ball Barandika made a wonderful left to right rebote from the five and threw an outside chic-chac to win. Only he didn't. Erik chased it down to the outside and executed the falling rebote at the 13. Barandika was too close to the front after his great play and the big bounce defeated him. The play was like a thunder clap. Barandika simply walked off. A very difficult game for him. The final point, 1st of the 3rd round, was an anticlimax. with Arrieta gifting Erik the win with a bad high throw that kissed the side wall above the line.
Game map
Round 1
*=Possible Game Point
1 Goitia; 2 Diego; 3 Zulaika; 4 Beitia; 5 Erik; 6 Ithurria; 7 Arrieta; 8 Barandika
1(0)-2(0) 1 (ball in play) Goitia - (+=winner -=error) (0-1 (points won and lost) +0 -1 1 (ball in play); FAULT (OVER SERVE); Diego (1-0, +0 -0, 0)
2(1)-3(0) 2; Zulaika + (1-0, +1 -0, 1); RETURNS SERVE NEAR 12; TWO WALL (LEFT-FRONT); Diego (1-1, +0 -0, 1)
3(1)-4(0) 1; Zulaika + (2-0, +2 -0, 1); ACE; Beitia (0-1, +0 -0, 0)
3(2)-5(0) 2; Zulaika - (2-1, +2 -1, 1); THROWS REBOTE TWO WALL FROM THE 7 OFF THE CONCHA; Erik (1-0, +0 -0, 1)
5(1)-6(0) 3; Erik + (2-0, +1 -0, 2, 1 save J (jumping interception of a big bounce at the 5 on the 2nd ball)); CHIC-CHAC FROM THE 4-5; Ithurria (0-1, +0 -0, 1, 1 save J (leaping save of the serve))
5(2)-7(0) 4; Erik - (2-1, +1 -1, 2); THROWS TWO WALL FROM 7 ON THE WOOD; Arrieta (1-0, +0 -0, 2, 1 save R (rebote at the 11 on third ball))
7(1)-8(0) 9; Arrieta + (+2 -0, +1 -0, 5); OVERHEAD LEFT PASS FROM THE 7; Barandika (0-1, +0 -0, 4, 3 saves RR (running rebote at the 11 on 3rd ball), RR (running rebote at the 11 on the 5th ball), R (rebote at the 12 on the 7th ball)) (POINT OF THE GAME)
--------------------------------
Game Map Round 2
*=Possible Game Point
1 Goitia; 2 Diego; 3 Zulaika; 4 Beitia; 5 Erik; 6 Ithurria; 7 Arrieta; 8 Barandika
7(2)-1(0) 4; Goitia + (1-1, +1 -1, 2, 1 save KR (kneeling rebote from the 8 on the 3rd ball)); OVERHEAD PASS FROM THE 8; Arrieta +2 -1, +1 -0, 2)
1(2)-2(1) 3; Goitia + (2-1, +2 -1, 2); OVERHEAD PASS FROM THE 10; Diego (1-2, +1 -0, 1)
1(4)-4(0) 1; Goitia - (2-2, +2 -2, 1); FAULT (OVER SERVE); Beitia (1-1, +0 -0, 0)
4(2)-3(2) 3; Beitia + (2-1, +1 -0, 2); BIG BOUNCE OVERHAND CORTADA (PICADA?) LEFT WALL PASS FROM THE 10; Zulaika (2-2, +2 -1, 1)
4(4)-6(0) 4; Ithurria + (1-1, +1 -0, 2); INSIDE REBOTE TWO WALL (LEFT-FRONT) FROM THE 8; Beitia (2-2, +1 -0, 2)
6(2)-5(2) 4 Erik + (3-1, +2 -1, 2); OVERHEAD LEFT PASS FROM THE 9; Ithurria (1-2, +1 -0, 2, 1 save JOV (jumping over the shoulder at the 12 on the 3nd ball))
5(4)-8(0); 5; Erik + (4-1, +3 -1, 3 1 save FR (falling rebote from the 13 on the outside on the 4th ball (PLAY OF THE GAME)); BIG BOUNCE LEFT ON THE FALLING REBOTE FROM THE 13 (PLAY OF THE GAME); Barandika (0-2, +0 -0, 2, 1 save R (rebote left to right on the 3rd ball))
--------------------------------
Game Map Round 3
*=Possible Game Point
1 Goitia; 2 Diego; 3 Zulaika; 4 Beitia; 5 Erik; 6 Ithurria; 7 Arrieta; 8 Barandika
*5(6)-7(2) 5; Arrieta - (2-2, +1 -1, 2, 1 save WC1 (one foot wall climb at the 11 on 3rd ball); THROWS HIGH OFF FRONT WALL, KISSES SIDE WALL ABOVE THE LINE); Erik (5-1, +3 -1, 3)
Erik wins
Playoff for 2nd and 3rd
1 (Goitia) (4)- 4 (Beitia) (4) 5; Goitia + (3-2, +3 -2, 3); CHIC-CHAC FROM THE 4; Beitia (2-2, +1 -0, 2, 1 save J (leaping outside at the 5 on the 3rd ball))
(#5) Erik (8 Spectacular 7 points----5 actual points)
(#1) Goitia (6----3)
(#4) Beitia (4----2)
Standings (June 7 (E)) * = Known Perfect Games)
Erik..........9 (4*)
Barandika.....7 (4*)
Diego.........6 (5*)
Ithurria......6 (1*)
Goitia........4 (3*)
Zulaika.......4 (2*)
Arrieta ......2 (1*)
Salegi(back)..1
Erik..........9 (4*)
Barandika.....7 (4*)
Diego.........6 (5*)
Ithurria......6 (1*)
Goitia........4 (3*)
Zulaika.......4 (2*)
Arrieta ......2 (1*)
Salegi(back)..1
When Diego started Game 10 with a rank under serve, I thought to myself, "here we go again, another sloppy game." But I was as wrong as could be. Diego's error was one of only 2 (no questionables) in the 11 point (no playoff) game. And the next time he got in, it was against Erik, who had won 4 of his last 6 games and taken the lead in the competition. In this game he was on a 4 point roll (including beating Barandika for the 3rd straight time since he closed out Erik and won a perfect game on June 1. At the time it gave Barandika the lead in the standings). Erik was looking for yet another perfect game, his 3rd consecutive win, and a 2 game lead.
Diego realized Erik needed to be stopped. A Diego win would tie him for second place and move him to within 1 of the lead. What transpired was one of the best points I have seen, with Diego making 4 consecutive saves, including one on the dead run back and to the left, reaching his cesta straight out. He immediately followed that save with a roll out chula from the 11 line. Erik would not win tonight. But, ironically, neither would Diego. At possible game point he was derailed by 2 great saves by Ithurria, who then beat him with a dejada. At the end of it all, it was Ithurria who moved up to a tie for third with Diego, 2 games behind Erik. The team defense was magnificent, with 11 great saves. The save numbers may be going up because I am able to analyze the games much more closely, but after the first two games this week, this game was just the tonic.
The basics:
Ithurria from the 2 post. Played 6 points, won 5 (+5 -1, 2 saves). His points had 24 balls in play, of which h caught and threw 13.
For the team: 11 points, +9 -2 (no questionables), 11 saves. 53 balls in play. Time of the game: 9:58.
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After Diego's opening error, Ithurria won two more and looked like he might contend. But Erik put a stop to that with a rebote left wall pass, and followed that with 3 consecutive winners. Then came the Erik v Diego point. After that, Diego easily disposed of Goitia and Betia and looked like he had the game sewn up. But Ithurria came back and beat him with the inside dejada after intercepting Diego's attempted big bounce winner on the fly at the 4. After that he put away Zulaika with an immediate kill via a big bounce winner from the 10.
Game map
Round 1
*=Possible Game Point
1 Diego; 2 Ithurria; 3 Goitia; 4 Beitia; 5 Erik; 6 Zulaika; 7 Arrieta; 8 Barandika
1(0)-2(0) 1 (ball in play); Diego - (+=winner -=error) (0-1 (points won and lost); +0 -1, 1 (ball in play); FAULT (UNDER SERVE); Ithurria (1-0, +0 -0, 0)
2(1)-3(0) 5; Ithurria + (2-0, +1 -0, 3); HIGH BOUNCE CHULA FROM THE 7 THAT GOITIA CAN'T GET TO; Goitia (0-1, +0 -0, 2, 1 save K (kneeling rebote just short of the 11 on 3rd ball)
2(2)-4(0) 5; Ithurria + (3-0, +2 -0, 3): OVERHEAD PASS FROM THE 8; Betia (0-1, +0 -0, 2)
2(3)-5(0) 4; Erik + (1-0, +1 -0, 2); REBOTE LEFT PASS; Ithurria (3-1, +2 -0, 2)
5(1)-6(0) 7; Erik + (2-0, +2 -0, 4), 1 save S (short hop at the 10, 4th ball); ALMOST PERFECT CHIC-CHAC FROM THE 8, VERY CLOSE TO A CHULA ROLL OUT; Zulaika (0-1, +0 -0, 3, 1 save J (leaping at the 11, 3rd ball)
5(2)-7(0) 5; Erik + (3-0, +3 -0, 3); REBOTE BIG BOUNCE FROM BEHIND THE 7; Arrieta (0-1, +0 -0, 2)
5(3)-8(0) 5; Erik + (4-0, +4 -0, 3); CHULA FROM THE 9; Barandika (0-1, +0 -0, 2)
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Game Map Round 2
*=Possible Game Point
1 Diego; 2 Ithurria; 3 Goitia; 4 Beitia; 5 Erik; 6 Zulaika; 7 Arrieta; 8 Barandika
5(4)-1(0) 8; Diego + (1-1, +1 -1, 4, 4 saves M (takes serve off the side wall at the last second, R (rebote back and outside near the left wall from the 11 on 3rd ball), R (rebote back and inside near the left wall from the 10 on 5th ball) M (running back and across and spearing with cesta fully extended near the wall just short of the 11 on 7th ball) (CO PLAY OF THE GAME); ROLL OUT CHULA (CO-PLAY OF THE GAME); Erik (4-1, +4 -0, 4) (POINT OF THE GAME)
1(2)-3(0) 1; Diego + (2-1, +2 -1, 1); ACE; Goitia (0-2, +0 -0, 0)
1(4)-4(0) 3; Beitia - (0-2, +0 -1, 1, 1 save J (leaping at the 13 on 3rd ball); GREAT SAVE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY THROWING THE BALL OFF THE CONCHA; Diego (3-1, +2 -1, 2)
*1(6)-2(3) 6; Ithurria + (4-1, +3 -0, 3, 2 saves J (leaping at the 10 on 3rd ball), M (running in and intercepting Diego's attempted big bounce left pass--on the fly on 5th ball); INSIDE DEJADA FROM THE 4; Diego (3-2, +2 -1, 3, 1 save KR (kneeling rebote from the 10 on 4th ball)
*2(5)-6(0) 3; Ithurria + (5-1, +4 -0, 2); BIG BOUNCE LEFT FROM THE 10; Zulaika (0-2, +0 -0, 1)
Ithurria wins.
(#2) Ithurria (7 spectacular seven points---5 actual points)
(#1) Diego (6----3)
(#5) Erik (4----4)
Standings (June 6 (E)) * = Known Perfect Games)
Erik..........8 (4*)
Barandika.....7 (4*)
Diego.........6 (5*)
Ithurria......6 (1*)
Goitia........4 (3*)
Zulaika.......4 (2*)
Arrieta ......2 (1*)
Salegi(back)..1
Erik..........8 (4*)
Barandika.....7 (4*)
Diego.........6 (5*)
Ithurria......6 (1*)
Goitia........4 (3*)
Zulaika.......4 (2*)
Arrieta ......2 (1*)
Salegi(back)..1
G10 6/5(E)--ERIK TAKES THE LEAD--AN IMPERFECT GAME (ERIK 8 WINS)
Tonight's game was again not technically the best, but the outcome was important because Erik, who was mired in a slump between May 5 and May 22 (without a win in this game in 14 performances), and who was two games behind of the leaders from May 25-30, has now taken the lead (8 wins to Barandika's 7). For most of May, there was a golden opportunity for someone to step up and establish a substantial lead. But nobody did, allowing Erik to hang in there. Since May 31 he has won 4 games out of the 6 he has played. In the last two, little things by one of his main competitors, Barandika, have opened the door a crack. A dropped catch against Ithurria in this afternoon's game stopped Barandika's 3 point streak and possible winning chances, and in this game he threw a two wall too hard and off the court, missing a chance to stop Erik on 3 points in the second round. Erik went on to close the game out (with some help) the next point. Does it mean anything? With about 25 games to go, anything can and will happen. But Erik is playing with confidence and, in this game anyway, his troubles (for the moment) seem to be in the rear view mirror. Note: Diego, the other major contender, was scratched from this game and replaced by late back Salegi.
The basics:
Erik from the 4 post, was perfect the second time around, after his errant two wall took him out of the first round. 6 points were played before he got back in. No one else got to possible game point. Eric played 6 points (5-1, +5 -1). He played in points that had 15 balls in play. He caught and threw 9.
For the team. Two relatively poor games in a row. In this one 14 points played. +10 -4. But that is a little misleading. Two serves were botched badly, so in reality, +8 -6. +16 -8 by my count in the last two games. But with 3 questionable service aces thrown in, it becomes +13 -11. For this game, 40 balls in play. 4 saves. Time of the game: 11:03.
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Salegi opened with a beautiful dejada. Betia removed him but fell to Erik, who picked his two wall winner on the apron and immediately turned it into a two wall chi-chac winner. Erik won two more points with precise throws but then lost the initiative when he completely miscalculated (or mis-hit) a two wall throw. Arrieta took the baton and added a point with a beautiful high serve that completely defeated Zulaika. The beginning of the second round marked the end of Arrieta as he went for a rebote and found only air. Ithurria got another point when Salegi threw a returnable serve off the court. Ithurria then threw his game away with a two wall that missed the concha. On the two most competitive and, arguably, best points of the game the lead then passed from Betia to Goitia to Barandika. And that is how Erik got back in. Barandika, in control of his own fate, put too much on a two wall after Erik made a terrific jumping save of the serve (Erik was 2-0 v Barandika in the game). After that, Erik got more help from Zulaika. who missed a serve I thought could have been caught. The 5 lead changes in 6 points that got Erik back in the game were decisive.
Game map
Round 1
*=Possible Game Point
1 Salegi (back) (substituting for Diego); 2 Ithurria; 3 Beitia; 4 Erik; 5 Goitia; 6 Barandika; 7 Arrieta; 8 Zulaika
1(0)-2(0) 3(balls in play); Salegi + (+=winner -=error) (1-0 (points won and lost) +1 -0, 2 (balls in play) 1 save J (jumping save to intercept big bounce); DEJADA FROM THE 3; Ithurria (0-1, +0 -0, 1)
1(1)-3(0) 4; Betia + (1-0, +1 -0, 2); BIG BOUNCE FROM THE 9; Salegi (1-1, +1 -0, 2)
3(1)-4(0) 4; Erik + (1-0, +1 -0, 2, 1 save A (on the apron to intercept the two wall behind the 7); TWO WALL CHIC-CHAC FROM THE APRON FROM BEHIND THE 7; Betia (1-1, +1 -0, 2)
4(1)-5(0) 3; Erik + (2-0, +2 -0, 2); TWO WALL (LEFT-FRONT) BIG BOUNCE FROM THE 10); Goitia (0-1, +0 -0, 1)
4(2)-6(0) 3; Erik + (+3 -0, +3 -0, 2); TWO WALL (LEFT-FRONT) FROM THE 6; Barandika (0-1, +0 -0, 1)
4(3)-7(0) 2; Erik - (3-1, +3 -1, 1); REBOTE TWO WALL EITHER MISCALCULATED OR MIS-HIT, OFF THE CONCHA; Arrieta (1-0, +0 -0, 1)
7(1)-8(0); 1 Arrieta + (2-0, +1 -0, 1); ACE--HIGH BOUNCE; Zulaika (0-1, +0 -0, 0)
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Game Map Round 2
*=Possible Game Point
1 Salegi (back) (substituting for Diego); 2 Ithurria; 3 Beitia; 4 Erik; 5 Goitia; 6 Barandika; 7 Arrieta; 8 Zulaika
7(2)-2(0) 2; Arrieta - (2-1, +1 -1, 1); WHIFFS AT A REBOTE; Ithurria (1-1, +0 -0, 1)
2(2)-1(1) 1; Ithurria + (2-1, +1 -0, 1); ACE(?) SALEGI CATCHES THE SERVE AND THROWS IT OFF THE COURT; Salegi (1-2, +1 -0(?), 0)
2(4)-3(1) 2; Ithurria - (+2 -2, +1 -1, 1); THROWS TWO WALL OFF THE CONCHA; Beitia (2-1, +1 -0, 1)
3(3)-5(0) 6; Goitia + (2-1, +2 -0, 3, 1 save A (on the apron behind the 6); TWO WALL (LEFT-FRONT) FROM THE APRON BEHIND THE 6); Betia (2-2, +1 -0, 3) (POINT OF THE GAME)
5(2)-6(0) 6; Barandika + (1-1, +1 -0, 3); REBOTE CHULA FROM THE 7 (PLAY OF THE GAME); Goitia (2-2,+2 -0, 3)
6(2)-4(3) 2; Barandika - (1-2, +1 -1, 1); THROWS TWO WALL OFF THE CONCHA; Erik (4-1, +3 -1, 1, 1 save J (leaping save of the serve at the 14)
*4(5)-8(0) 1; Eric (5-1, +4 -1, 1); ACE(?)--ZULAIKA DIDN'T CATCH A SERVE I THOUGHT HE COULD HAVE CAUGHT; Zulaika (0-2,+0 -0(?), 0)
(#4) Erik (7 spectacular seven points----5 actual points)
(#2) Ithurria (4----2)
(#3) Beitia (3----2)
Standings (June 5 (E)) * = Known Perfect Games)
Erik..........8 (4*)
Barandika.....7 (4*)
Diego.........6 (5*)
Ithurria......5 (1*)
Goitia........4 (3*)
Zulaika.......4 (2*)
Arrieta ......2 (1*)
Salegi(back)..1
G10 6/5(M) A POORLY PLAYED PERFECT GAME (ERIK 7 WINS)
Two weeks ago I speculated why the first performance of the week might be a poorly played game. Last week the team played an excellent first performance game. This week was, for the most part, played poorly and inconsistently. And yet it had one point for the ages, as good a point as I have seen. But the best point of the game was immediately followed by the worst, and the winner (Erik) was gifted two of his 4 perfect game points. He happily received the gifts and scored on two immediate kill shots for his other points. The win tied him with Barandika for first place in this game. They each have 7.
The basics:
Perfect from the 8: Erik; 4 points (+3 -0). Erik's 4 points took 8 balls in play. He played 5 of them.
For the team: one of the poorest performances since I have been mapping these games. 10 points +6 -4 (1 questionable +, as Erik's winning point came on a serve that Arrieta threw so high that it caromed off the protective mesh just below the ceiling). But in with the wreckage--a leaping save near the left wall by 38 year old Arrieta that Olharan would have been proud of, and an amazing save of a dejada that Zulaika made running in from the 9 to catch at the 4. There were 37 balls in play. Time of the match: 7:43.
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Diego opened by throwing his 1st non-serve into the upper pad. Barandika then scored 2 more points (1 of which came from an Arrieta dropped catch). Barandika then dropped a catch and Ithurria took the baton. He got one more point with a chic-chac rebote from the 8 (a point he earlier saved with a 1 foot wall climb at the 7). Then came the point of the match, Ithurria v Zulaika. It featured a backhand catch and the aforementioned dejada charge by Zulaika as well as a deep rebote save by Ithurria. Two balls after Zulaika saved the dejada, he won the 12 ball point with an inside soft dejada from the 2-3 as Ithurria was rushing to the apron. Surely a point that should have launched a perfect game. All it "launched" was an over serve, which underscored the lack of consistency throughout the game. Erik was the benefactor of Zulaika's largesse, and he followed it with 2 immediate kills (3 ball points) before Arrieta's moon shot finished the proceedings.
Game map
Round 1
*=Possible Game Point
1 Diego; 2 Barandika; 3 Beitia; 4 Arrieta; 5 Ithurria; 6 Goitia; 7 Zulaika; 8 Erik
1(0)-2(0) 2 (balls in play); Diego - (+=winner -=error), 0-1 (points won and lost), +0 -1; 1 (balls in play); THROWS TOO HIGH; Barandika (1-0, +0 -0, 1)
2(1)-3(0) 3; Barandika + (2-0, +1 -0, 2); REBOTE JUST SHORT OF THE 7--BIG BOUNCE LEFT; Beitia (0-1, +0 -0, 1)
2(2)-4(0) 5; Arrieta - (0-1, +0 -1, 2, 1 save J (jumping at the 7 line); DROPPED CATCH; Barandika (3-0, +1 -0, 3)
2(3)-5(0) 2; Barandika - (3-1, +1 -1, 1); DROPPED CATCH; Ithurria (1-0, +0 -0, 1)
5(1)-6(0) 5; Ithurria + (2-0, +1 -0, 3, 1 save WC1 (1 foot wall climb behind the 7); REBOTE CHIC CHAC FROM THE 8; Goitia (0-1, +0 -0, 2)
5(2)-7(0) 12; Zulaika + (1-0, +1 -0, 6, 2 saves M (backhand reaching across) M (running in from the 9 to the 4 to save a dejada--PLAY OF THE GAME); Ithurria (2-1, +1 -0, 6, 1 save R (rebote from the back) (POINT OF THE GAME
7(1)-8(1) 1; Zulaika - (1-1, +1 -1, 1); FAULT (OVER SERVE); Erik (1-0,+0 -0, 0)
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Game Map Round 2
*=Possible Game Point
1 Diego; 2 Barandika; 3 Beitia; 4 Arrieta; 5 Ithurria; 6 Goitia; 7 Zulaika; 8 Erik
8(1)-1(0) 3; Erik + (2-0, +1 -0, 2); REBOTE TWO WALL (LEFT-FRONT) FROM BEHIND THE 7; Diego (0-2, +0 -1, 1, 1 save OS (off side wall in back)
8(3)-3(0) 3; Erik + (3-0 +2 -0, 2); BIG BOUNCE LEFT FROM BEHIND THE 8; Beitia (0-2, +0 -0, 1)
*8(5)-4(0) 1; Erik + (4-0, +3 -0, 1); ARRIETA CATCHES THE SERVE AND THROWS A ROCKET INTO THE CEILING MESH(?) Arrieta (0-2, +0 -1(?), 0)
(#8) Erik wins a perfect game (4 Spectacular Seven points----4 actual points
(#2) Barandika (3----3)
(#5) Ithurria (2----2)
Standings (June 5 (M)) * = Known Perfect Games)
Barandika.....7 (4*)
Erik..........7 (4*)
Diego.........6 (5*)
Ithurria......5 (1*)
Goitia........4 (3*)
Zulaika.......4 (2*)
Arrieta ......2 (1*)
Salegi(back)..1
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GAMES OF 5/29-6/2
G10 6/2(M) ZULAIKA ENDS THE WEEK AS HE BEGAN IT--WITH A PERFECT GAME FROM A LATE POST (ZULAIKA 4 WINS 2 KNOWN PERFECT GAMES)
The overall pattern of the last three weeks continued in today's game--a late post seizing the game, either through a great play of his own or as a gift, and running it out. Today it was Zulaika's turn, and he started with a gift. But after that he combined 4 winners with 1 save to win from the 7 post. In addition he saved the point he was gifted with a "circus catch/throw" back pedaling over the shoulder rebote which seemed to defy the laws of physics :). He doubled his season's total wins in one week, and moved into a tie for fifth (of the 8 players who have wins) (see table below). He is one good week away from serious contention.
The basics.
Winning from the 7 post: Zulaika 5 points, +4 -1, 2 spectacular saves. He participated in points that took 18 balls in play. He caught and threw 11.
For the team. The usual! 11 points. +9 -2 (no questions). 8 excellent saves. 7 winners from the 7 line or deeper. 37 balls in play. 6 immediate kills (non-serve first touch--2 or 3 balls in play). Time of the game: 8:56
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Ithurria sent Barandika to the end of the line with a chic-chac from the 7. He then faulted, handing things over to Betia. He then added two more points with the help of a beautiful left wall save and an excellent two wall rebote from the 8. He was on his way to a 4th point when Arrieta intercepted his two wall winner on the apron and threw a marvelous two wall chic-chac that bounced out near the player's bench. Betia chased it all over the concha and attempted an impossible rebote on the apron, but was unsuccessful. Arrieta had Zulaika on the ropes, and only the circus play discussed above saved him. Arrieta had all day to set up the two wall kill but threw it on to the apron. Then came the point of the game. It featured a jumping save by Zulaika on the 3rd ball, and Diego's rebote at the knees, which saved it on the 4th. But he was unable to put anything on that save and Zulaika finished the point with a two wall from the 6. He then immediately put Barandika away with a chic-chac from the 9, and finished with 2 more immediate chi-chac kills (the 1st almost a roll out from the 8, the 2nd from behind the 9).
Game map
Round 1
1 Ithurria; 2 Barandika; 3 Beitia; 4 Goitia; 5 Erik; 6 Arrieta; 7 Zulaika; 8 Diego
1(0)-2(0) 3 (balls in play); Ithurria + (+=winner -=error) (1-0 (points won and lost) +1 -0 2(balls in play); CHIC CHAC FROM THE 7 LINE; Barandika (0-1, +0 -0)1
1(1)-3(0) 1; Ithurria - (1-1, +1 -1, 1); FAULT (OVER SERVE); Beitia (1-0, +0 -0, 0)
3(1)-4(0) 3; Beitia + (2-0, +1 -0, 2); TWO WALL (LEFT-FRONT) FROM THE 8; Goitia (0-1, +0 -0, 1, 1 save: WC1 (1 foot wall climb return of serve))
3(2)-5(0) 3; Beitia + (3-0, +2 -0, 2, 1 save: LW (left wall on 2nd ball); DEJADA FROM THE 7; Erik (0-1 +0 -0, 1)
1(0)-2(0) 3 (balls in play); Ithurria + (+=winner -=error) (1-0 (points won and lost) +1 -0 2(balls in play); CHIC CHAC FROM THE 7 LINE; Barandika (0-1, +0 -0)1
1(1)-3(0) 1; Ithurria - (1-1, +1 -1, 1); FAULT (OVER SERVE); Beitia (1-0, +0 -0, 0)
3(1)-4(0) 3; Beitia + (2-0, +1 -0, 2); TWO WALL (LEFT-FRONT) FROM THE 8; Goitia (0-1, +0 -0, 1, 1 save: WC1 (1 foot wall climb return of serve))
3(2)-5(0) 3; Beitia + (3-0, +2 -0, 2, 1 save: LW (left wall on 2nd ball); DEJADA FROM THE 7; Erik (0-1 +0 -0, 1)
3(3)-6(0) 4; Arrieta + (1-0, +1 -0, 2, 1 save: A (apron on the 3rd ball; TWO WALL (FRONT-LEFT) CHIC-CHAC (CO-PLAY OF THE GAME); Beitia (3-1, +2 -0, 2)
6(1)-7(0) 4; Arrieta - (1-1, +1 -1, 2,); THROWS 2 WALL WINNER OFF THE CONCHA; (Zulaika (1-0, +0 -0, 2, 1 save: BRO (back pedaling over the shoulder rebote on 3rd ball)
7(1)-8(0) 5; Zulaika + (2-0, +1 -0, 3, 1 save: J (jumping) on 3rd ball); 2 WALL (LEFT-BACK); Diego (0-1, +0 -0, 2, 1 save: KR (almost kneeling rebote on the 4th ball) (POINT OF THE GAME)
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Game map
Round 2
1 Ithurria; 2 Barandika; 3 Beitia; 4 Goitia; 5 Erik; 6 Arrieta; 7 Zulaika; 8 Diego
7(2)-2(0) 3; Zulaika + (3-0, +2-0, 2); CHIC-CHAC FROM THE 9; Barandika (0-2, +0 -0, 1)7(4)-1(1) 3; Zulaika + (4-0, +3 -0, 2); CHIC-CHAC (NEAR ROLL OUT) FROM THE 8 (CO-PLAY OF THE GAME); Ithurria (1-2, +1 -1, 1)
*7(6)-4(0) 3; Zulaika + (5-0, +4-0, 2); CHIC-CHAC FROM BEHIND THE 9; Goitia (0-2) +0 -0, 1)
Zulaika wins a perfect game
Playoff for 3rd place
(6) Arrieta (1)-(1) Ithurria(1) 5; Arrieta (2-1, +2 -1, 3); CHIC CHAC FROM THE 6; Ithurria (1-3, +1-1, 2, 1 save: J (jumping save of serve after running from left to right)
(#7) Zulaika (8 spectacular seven points----5 actual points)
(#3) Beitia (3----3)
(#6) Arrieta (3----3)
Standings (June 2 (M)) * = Known Perfect Games)
Barandika.....7 (4*)
Diego.........6 (5*)
Erik..........6 (3*)
Ithurria......5 (1*)
Goitia........4 (3*)
Zulaika.......4 (2*)
Arrieta ......2 (1*)
Salegi(back)..1
Barandika.....7 (4*)
Diego.........6 (5*)
Erik..........6 (3*)
Ithurria......5 (1*)
Goitia........4 (3*)
Zulaika.......4 (2*)
Arrieta ......2 (1*)
Salegi(back)..1
G10 6/1(E) A POINT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE LONG TO BE GREAT (BARANDIKA 7 WINS 4 KNOWN PERFECT GAMES)
After this afternoon's game, tonight marked the first time the three leaders (Erik, Barandika, and Diego) played for the lead. Barandika won this game with cool efficiency, great defense, and uncanny accuracy. It was all there in his first point, which started him on his short journey to perfection. A great save and the (immediate) audacity to even try, much less succeed on a two wall from very close to the left wall at just short of the 9 line. That was the beginning, one of the most beautiful points you'll see, but don't blink, because the whole thing happened in only 4 balls, and the 4th was a beauty. There wasn't a whole lot of great defense from the team, as the shot making was top notch. The defense on display (3 saves) was the kind that great players make look easy, so easy you might forget how good it is. And at the end of it all, Barandika had his lead back.
The basics:
Winning from the 8 post. Barandika played 4 points and threw 9 balls in the 15 balls played on his points. +4 -0 plus the save that started it all.
For the team, 11 points were played. +9 -2 with one questionable ace. There were 34 balls in play in the game. Time:8:18
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Diego started with a perfect ace that sent Zulaika to the bench. He then made a bad error on a two wall. Erik then played the longest point of the game against Ithurria, a 10 ball point which Ithurria saved with a fine rebote on the 6th ball. Ithurria showed a bit of his own audacity when he won the point 4 balls later with a big bounce winner to the outside thrown from the 11 line. After an ace, Ithurria was dispatched by an audacious (I like that word :) ) throw from Betia, a two wall from the deep. Risk was paying off tonight. But it was only the beginning. Betia won another point on an "ace" which was clearly dropped by Arrieta. Then came the point of the game. Betia back pedaled on ball 3, a hard bounce off the back wall, but got to it and reboted one right down the left wall. Barandika ran over and jumped into the wall to make the catch, bounced off the wall, and fired a 2 wall winner--from the 9 line. It was a wonderful little combination that you might have missed if you blinked, so quickly did it happen. From there he took out his next three opponents quickly, two on 3 ball points and the third on a 5 ball point (only because Zulaika saved the point on the 4th ball with a marvelous rebote save of a sure chic-chac winner). Just like that it was over. I wished it was a Spectacular 9 (or 11) game, to see what else Barandika might have pulled out of his bag of tricks.
Game map
Round 1
1 Diego; 2 Zulaika; 3 Erik; 4 Ithurria; 5 Goitia; 6; Beitia; 7 Arrieta; 8 Barandika
(1-0)-2(0) 1 (balls in play); Diego + (+=winner -=error) (1-0, +1 -0, 1 (balls in play); ACE; Zulaika (0-1, +0 -0, 0)
(1-1)-3(0) 2; Diego - (1-1, +1 -1, 1); THROWS TWO WALL OFF THE CONCHA); Erik (1-0, +0 -0), 1)
(3-1)-(4-0) 10; Ithurria + (1-0, +1 -0, 5, 1 save (R (rebote) on ball 6); BIG BOUNCE FROM THE OUTSIDE AT THE 11 LINE; Erik (1-1, +1 -0, 5)
(4-1)-(5-0) 1; Ithurria + (2-0, +2 -0, 1); ACE; Goitia (0-1, +0 -0, 0)
(4-2)-(6-0) 2; Beitia + (1-0, +1 -0, 1); TWO WALL (LEFT-FRONT) FROM THE DEEP; Ithurria (2-1, +2 -0, 1)
(6-1)-(7-0) 1; Beitia + (2-0, +2 -0, 1); ACE (?): QUESTIONABLE AS ARRIETA CLEARLY DROPPED A THROW THAT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUGHT; Arrieta (0-1, +0 -0(?), 0)
(6-2)-(8-0) 4; Barandika (1-0, +1 -0, 2, 1 save (J-Jumps into left wall); TWO WALL (LEFT-FRONT) FROM NEAR THE LEFT WALL JUST IN FRONT OF THE 9 LINE (PLAY OF THE GAME); Beitia (+2 -1 +2 -0, 2) (POINT OF THE GAME)
--------------------------------
Game map
Round 2
*=Possible Game Point
Round 2
1 Diego; 2 Zulaika; 3 Erik; 4 Ithurria; 5 Goitia; 6; Beitia; 7 Arrieta; 8 Barandika
(8-1)-(2-0) 5; Barandika + (2-0, +2 -0, 3); BIG BOUNCE LEFT WALL; Zulaika (0-2, +0 -0, 2, 1 save (R-rebote of a chic-chac winner on ball 3)
(8-3)-1(1) 3; Barandika + (3-0, +3 -0, 2); CHIC-CHAC; Diego (1-2; +1 -1, 1)
*(8-5)-3(1) 3; Barandika + (4-0, +4 -0, 2); CHIC CHAC; Erik (1-2, +1 -0, 1)
Barandika wins a perfect game
Playoff for 2nd and 3rd place
(4) Ithurria(2)-(6) Betia)(2) 2; Ithurria - (2-2, +2 -1, 1); THROWS WINNING DEJADA INTO THE LOWER PAD; Betia (3-1, +2 -0, 1)
(#8) Barandika (7 spectacular points----4 actual points)
(#6) Betia (4----3) (won playoff for second-third)
(#4) Ithurria (2----2) (lost playoff for second-third)
Standings (June 1 (E)) * = Known Perfect Games)
Barandika.....7 (4*)
Diego.........6 (5*)
Erik..........6 (3*)
Ithurria......5 (1*)
Goitia........4 (3*)
Zulaika.......3 (1*)
Arrieta ......2 (1*)
Salegi(back)..1
Barandika.....7 (4*)
Diego.........6 (5*)
Erik..........6 (3*)
Ithurria......5 (1*)
Goitia........4 (3*)
Zulaika.......3 (1*)
Arrieta ......2 (1*)
Salegi(back)..1
G10 6/1(M) A GRINDER OF A GAME (ERIK 6 WINS)
Lately, a lot of the games in this series have been quick and "soft" perfect games from late posts. Today's game was a sharp contrast from that pattern. 14 points which took 59 balls were played Erik got into the game on the longest point of the game, got beaten by a great throw, and then "lived to tell the tale" by getting second chance from the 4 post. He got some help the second time around, but took care of business to move into a first place tie with Diego and Barandika. The game had 3 points with over 8 balls, and that often happens when great defense is played. There were 6 great saves today, of which 2 (1 by Barandika and 1 by Ithurria) were spectacular. Erik won his second consecutive game this week.
The basics:
Winning from the 4 post, the second time around. Erik won the 4th point, lost the 5th, and then came back on the 11th point and closed it out from there. 4-1 (+3 -0). The points he played had 23 bip. He had 12.
The team played very well this afternoon, +13 -1 (1 questionable). They were slightly deceptive because the error and questionable point were at the heart of Erik's victory. A great player needs no help. With help, he is unstoppable.
Time of the game: 11:50
--------------------------------
Goitia opened with 2 winners before Erik stopped him with an outside overhead pass. Then came the longest point of the game (14 balls), which Barandika won after saving with a wall climb. Then it was Ithurria's turn to shine, with the play of the game (and one of the best of the season) in a point that featured three great saves), taking the baton from Barandika. But he couldn't convert the momentum. Arrieta sent Ithurria back to the bench. After another point, Goitia send him to the bench and faced Erik. An overserve then ended his day, followed by a terrible throw of the serve by Zulaika. After that, a great save of serve couldn't save Diego as Erik caught that and immediately killed the point and game with a two wall.
Game map
Round 1
*=Possible Game Point
1 Goitia; 2 Arrieta; 3 Beitia; 4 Erik; 5 Barandika 6; Zulaika 7; Diego 8 Ithurria
1(0)-2(0) 3 (balls in play); Goitia + (+=winner -=error) (1-0 (points won and lost) +1 -0) 2 (bip); TWO WALL (LEFT-FRONT); Arrieta (0-1, +0 -0, 1)
1(1)-3(0) 3; Goitia + (2-0, +2 -0, 2); CHULA; Beitia (0-1, +0 -0, 1)
1(2)-4(0) 4; Erik + (1-0, +1 -0, 2); OUTSIDE OVERHEAD PASS; Goitia (2-1, +2 -0, 2)
4(1)-5(0 14; Barandika + (1-0, +1 -0, 7, 1 save (1W (1 foot wall climb); CHIC CHAC); Erik (1-1, +1 -0, 7)
5(1)-6(0) 3; Barandika + (2-0, +2, -0, 2); CHIC CHAC; Zulaika (0-1, +0 -0, 1)
5(2)-7(0) 3 Barandika + (3-0, +3 -0, 2): HARD BOUNCE OFF BACK WALL PASSES ON THE WAY BACK; Diego (0-1, +0 -0, 1)
5(3)-8(0) 8; Ithurria + (1-0, +1 -0, 4, 3 saves (J-OV--jumping over the shoulder (PLAY OF THE GAME); KR--knee rebote; OS--off the side wall)); TWO WALL (LEFT-FRONT); Barandika (3-1, +3 -0, 4, 1 save--KR) (POINT OF THE GAME)
--------------------------------
Game map
Round 2
*=Possible Game Point
Game map
Round 2
*=Possible Game Point
1 Goitia; 2 Arrieta; 3 Beitia; 4 Erik; 5 Barandika 6; Zulaika 7; Diego 8 Ithurria
8(1)-2(0) 8; Arrieta + (1-1, +1 -0, 4); CHIC CHAC; Ithurria (1-1 +1 -0, 4, 1 save (R=rebote)
2(2)-3(0) 3; Arrieta + (2-1, +2 -0, 2); DEJADA; Betia (0-2, +0 -0, 1)
2(4)-1(2) 2; Goitia + (3-1, +3 -0, 1); HARD RETURN OF SERVE, BOUNCES SHORT AND HITS WALL HIGH, PASSES ON THE WAY BACK TO THE FRONT WALL; Arrieta (2-2, +2 -0, 1)
1(4)-4(1) 1; Goitia - (3-2, +3 -1, 1) FAULT (OVER SERVE); Erik (2-1 +1 -0, 0)
4(3)-6(0) 1; Erik + (3-1; +2 -0; 1); ACE(?); Zulaika catches the serve and throws it away; Zulaika (0-2; +0 -0(?) 0)
*4(5)-7(0) 3; Erik + (4-1 +3-0) 2); 2 WALL (LEFT-FRONT) Diego (0-2, +0 -0, 1, 1 Save (J-Leaping save of the serve)
Eric wins
Playoff for second and third
(2) Arrieta (4)-(1) Goitia (4); 3; Arrieta + (3-2, +3 -0, 2); CHULA; Goitia (3-3, +3 -1, 1)
Arrieta finishes 2nd; Goitia finishes 3rd
(#4) Eric (7 spectacular seven points----5 actual points)
(#2) Arrieta (6----3) won playoff for second-third
(#1) Goitia (4----3) lost playoff for second-third
Standings (June 1 (M)) * = Known Perfect Games)
Barandika.....6 (3*)
Diego.........6 (5*)
Erik..........6 (3*)
Ithurria......5 (1*)
Goitia........4 (3*)
Zulaika.......3 (1*)
Arrieta ......2 (1*)
Salegi(back)..1
This was one of the shortest, most efficient games I have seen. Erik won this perfect game with his defense, making the two (and only) great saves. In my opinion, he is the best defensive player on the team. He immediately turned both saves into points. He won with points of 2, 3, 1, 5, and 3 balls in play. This means, if I am not mistaken, that he killed each point that he didn't ace on his first or second throw. It was quite amazing.
The basics:
The perfect game streak is now 6 in a row, 9 of the last 11, 17 of the last 20.
Perfect from the 6 post. Erik needed 5 points for perfection: +5 -0. The points he played had 14 bip. He had 9 of them.
From the team standpoint. Again, excellent: 10 points. +9 -1; balls in play: 33; time of the game: 7:48 :)
--------------------------------
After Diego began his quest for a 3rd consecutive perfect game with a left wall big bounce that Ithurria was unable to short hop (11th consecutive point over 3 games for Diego), Goitia snapped the string. He followed that with a short win over Arrieta, but then made the only error of the game. Barandika then matched up with Erik on the point that changed the game. A great serve was handled with a leaping catch, immediately followed by a long, high two wall from the back of the court. He followed that with a chic-chac and an ace on a beautiful high serve that hit the front wall outside and angled back in. Zulaika had no chance. Erik then intercepted an Ithurria rocket on an attempted outside pass and immediately converted with another chic-chac. He then finished with a left pass. 2 big defensive plays gave him his opportunities.
(#6) Erik (8 spectacular 7 points----5 actual points)
(#3) Goitia (2----2)
(#5) Barandika (3----2) won playoff for 3rd place
Game map
Round 1
*=Possible Game Point
1 Diego; 2 Ithurria; 3 Goitia; 4 Arrieta; 5 Barandika; 6 Erik; 7 Beitia; 8 Zulaika
1(0)-2(0) 5 (balls
in play); Diego + (+=winner -=error) (1-0 (points won and lost) +1 -0, 3 (balls in play); LEFT WALL BIG BOUNCE; Ithurria (0-1, +0 -0, 2)
1(1)-3(0) 4; Goitia + (1-0, +1 -0, 2); CHULA; Diego (1-1; +1 -0, 2)
3(1)4(0) 3; Goitia + (2-0,+2 -0, 2); BIG BOUNCE LEFT WALL; Arrieta (0-1, +0 -0, 1)
3(2)-5(0) 2; Goitia - (2-1, +2 -1, 1); DROPPED CATCH; Barandika (1-0, +0 -0, 2)
5(1)-6(0) 2; Erik + (1-0, +1 -0, 1, 1 save-Jumping); HIGH AND DEEP 2 WALL (LEFT-FRONT); Barandika (1-1, +0 -0, 1) (POINT OF THE GAME; PLAY OF THE GAME)
6(1)-7(0) 3; Erik + (2-0, +2 -0, 2); CHIC-CHAC; Beitia (0-1, +0 -0, 1)
6(2)-8(0) 1; Erik + (3-0, +3 -0, 1); ACE; Zulaika (0-1, +0 -0, 0)
--------------------------------
Round 2
*=Possible Game Point
1 Diego; 2 Ithurria; 3 Goitia; 4 Arrieta; 5 Barandika; 6 Erik; 7 Beitia; 8 Zulaika
6(2)-2(0) 5; Erik + (4-0, +4 -0, 3, 1 save Miscellaneous); CHIC CHAC; Ithurria (0-2, +0 -0, 2)
*6(4)-1(0) 3; Erik + (5-0, +5 -0, 2) LEFT PASS; Diego (1-2, +1 -0, 1)
(#6) Erik (8 spectacular 7 points) wins; (#3) Goitia (2) finishes second
Playoff for 3rd
(5)Barandika) (1)- (1) Diego (1) 1; Barandika + (2-1, +1 -0, 1); ACE; Diego 1-3, +1 -0, 0)
Barandika (3) finishes 3rd.
6-3-5
Standings (May 31 (E)) * = Known Perfect Games)
Barandika.....6 (3*)
Diego.........6 (5*)
Ithurria......5 (1*)
Erik..........5 (3*)
Goitia........4 (3*)
Zulaika.......3 (1*)
Arrieta ......2 (1*)
Salegi(back)..1
G10 5/30(E)--SMOOTH AND IN A GROOVE (DIEGO 6 WINS, 5 PERFECT GAMES)
A great player in any sport makes it look easy. Nothing in Jai Alai is easy. But tonight, Diego played such an effortlessly perfect game that it is easy to forget how hard it is to make it look THAT easy. This was his second perfect game in a row and the first two game winning streak since Goitia won two in a row 5/12(M) and 5/15(M) (2 perfect games). Diego won 2 in a row (1 perfect game) in the two performances on 5/11. With this win he has caught Barandika to tie for the lead in the Florida Singles Championship. They both have 6 wins. The defense was great tonight. I am experimenting with ways to make a "system" to track it. For now, I'm just counting what I think are excellent saves, and not trying to assign the type of save during the point. I will say that I saw 13 noteworthy saves of the following varieties: knee high rebotes, on the apron, short hop (both back hand and forehand), and jumping. For context see the game map below. Diego and Erik were responsible for 10 between them. Erik had 3 on one magnificent point. Diego spread his out over the course of 4 of his 5 winning points. Oh, and by the way, he has now scored 10 points in a row in this game. He scored 12 in a row in his 5/11 efforts.
The basics:
The perfect game streak is now 5 in a row, 8 of the last 10, 16 of the last 20.
Perfect from the 6 post. After starting with the difficult posts (1 and 2) he is now walking back from the easier ones (8, 7, and 6). +5 -0 with 5 saves. Not a bad haul for about 5 minutes of work (tonight's game was delayed for 2-3 minutes, maybe more, when Barandika broke his cesta). The winning points were long by the standard of this game, 6, 7, 9, 7, 7. Diego played 20 of the 36.
From the team standpoint tonight's numbers were outstanding. Nothing questionable. A legitimate +9 -1. 13 saves.
Balls in play 61.
Time of the game: 13 minutes (including the delay)
--------------------------------
Arrieta started well with 2 opening points before Erik took over with a fine two wall. Then he dropped a catch for the only error (after he made made 3 superb saves during the point). Goitia took the point and faced Diego in a 6 ball point. Two saves preserved the point and Diego won it with a chic-chac. Next came two big bounce left wall winners (a nice save on each point), followed by a chic-chac and dejada to finish. Diego played very patiently and within himself, perfectly confident that he could move his opponents around the concha to right where he wanted them to be. There was one threat in 3 of the last 4 points, but he handled each one with ease. His short hop catching was very efficient.
(#6) Diego (8 spectacular seven points----5 actual points)
(#1) Arrieta (2----2)
(#4) Erik (3----2) Erik won a playoff for 3rd place.
Game map
Round 1
*=Possible Game Point
1 Arrieta; 2 Amigorena (back); 3 Ithurria; 4 Erik; 5 Goitia; 6 Diego; 7 Zulaika; 8 Barandika
1(0)-2(0) 3 (balls in play); Arrieta + (+=winner -=error), (1-0 (points won and lost) +1 -0, 2 (balls in play); BIG BOUNCE LEFT WALL; Amigorena (0-1, +0 -0), 1)
1(1)-3(0) 3; Arrieta + (2-0, +2 -0, 2); CHIC CHAC; Ithurria (0-1, +0 -0, 1)
1(2)-4(0) 6; Erik+ (1-0, +1 -0, 3, 2 saves); TWO WALL (LEFT-FRONT); Arrieta (+2 -1, +2 -0, 3, 1 save)
4(1)-5(0) 8; Erik - (1-1, +1 -1, 4, 3 saves); DROPPED CATCH; Goitia (1-0, +0 -0; 4)
5(1)-6(1) 6; Diego + (1-0, +1 -0, 3, 2 saves); CHIC-CHAC; Goitia (1-1, +0 -0, 3)
6(2)-7(0) 7; Diego + (2-0 +2 -0, 4, 1 save); BIG BOUNCE LEFT WALL; Zulaika (0-1, +0 -0, 4, 1 save)
6(3)-8(0) 9; Diego + (3-0, +3 -0, 5, 1 save); BIG BOUNCE LEFT WALL; Barandika (0-1, +0 -0, 4)
--------------------------
Round 2
*=Possible Game Point
1 Arrieta; 2 Amigorena (back); 3 Ithurria; 4 Erik; 5 Goitia; 6 Diego; 7 Zulaika; 8 Barandika
'
6(4)-2(0) 7; Diego + (4-0, +4 -0, 4, 1 save); CHIC-CHAC; Amigorena (0-2, +0 -0), 3, 1 save)
*6(6)-3(0) 7; Diego + (5-0, +5 -0, 4); DEJADA; Ithurria (0-1, +0 -0, 3)
Diego (8 spectacular seven points) wins; Arrieta (2) finishes 2nd
Playoff for third:
(4) Erik (1)-(5) Goitia (1) 7; Erik + (2-1; +2 -1, 4); BIG BOUNCE LEFT WALL; Goitia (1-2, +0 -0, 3)
Erik (3) finishes 3rd
6-1-4
Standings (May 30 (E)) * = Known Perfect Games)
Barandika.....6 (3*)
Diego.........6 (5*)
Ithurria......5 (1*)
Goitia........4 (3*)
Erik..........4 (2*)
Zulaika.......3 (1*)
Arrieta ......2 (1*)
Salegi(back)..1
G10 5/29(E)--DIEGO TAKES THE BATON, AND RUNS WITH IT (5 WINS, 4 PERFECT GAMES)
The perfect game trend continued in the evening performance, with another late post position winning. The game wasn't as exciting as the matinee, as a throwing error, a dropped catch, and a questionable "ace" played a major role in the outcome.
The basics. I was off a bit tonight and missed a couple of things. In trying to incorporate defensive statistics, I lost the plot with minor statistics a couple of times. Working out the glitches Sorry about that. I do feel strongly that defense is an overlooked part of all BP modalities. Also, at the conclusion of one point, my feed froze just in time to miss the winning (or losing) throw (or drop). So tonight's numbers are incomplete.
The perfect game streak is now 4 in a row, 7 of the last 9, and 15 of the last 19.
Perfect from the 7 post. Diego: 5 points (+4 -0). My feed froze on the 2nd point of the run, so there is no assignment of + or -, but Diego won the point and I'm fairly confident about the balls in play on that point. Balls in play on Diego's points: 20. Diego played 12 of them.
From the team standpoint +7 -2, 10 points played. One judgment is missing. 1 question mark "ace." It looks a little gaudier than it was.
Balls in play: 35
Time of the game: 8 minutes
Outstanding defense factored little in tonight's game. There was good, solid defense, but nothing eye-popping.
If I am correct in my accounting, 4 out of Diego's 5 wins in this competition have been perfect games. He has struck from the 1 and 2 posts, and now the 7 and 8. As a result of tonight's win, he moved into a 2nd place tie with Ithurria with 5 wins, one behind Barandika (see below).
--------------------------------
Barandika came out of the 2 post and opened a lead and with some help from his friends Betia and Zulaika, who threw a rebote into the upper pad and returned a serve too high, respectively. Barandika then dropped a catch (speed was the issue, but I've seen Barandika catch faster throws), and Erik took the baton. He won a point with a 3 bip 2 wall. Then came the pivotal point of the game. Diego made one excellent save and took the point with a winner (I didn't write down the shot because I was still trying to note the type of save (which, in the end, I didn't get either). Then came Diego's toughest point, a 7 ball struggle with Ithurria. Diego won the point, but the computer freeze denied me the winner (error). After that he sandwiched 2 two walls around an ace to finish things up. Diego works on a lot of things in these games (chulas, chic chacs, hard smashes into the back wall, long and deep outside passes). One forgets just how devastating his two wall carom shot is when he has it going like he did tonight. The opponent can't get anywhere near it. Many different arrows in the quiver. I hope to watch him in the Partidos in the Basque Country this summer. Watching him at Dania is great, but watching him get into a rhythm and playing 30-35 points--it doesn't get much better for a fan of the game.
(#7) Diego (5 points----5 actual points)
(#2) Barandika (3----3)
(#5) Erik (2----2)
Game map
Round 1
*=Possible Game Point
1 Beitia; 2 Barandika; 3 Goitia; 4 Zulaika; 5 Erik; 6 Arrieta; 7 Diego; 8 Ithurria
1(0)-2(0) 2 (balls in play); Beitia - (+=winner -=error) (0-1, (points record) +0 -1, 1 (ball in play); THROWS A REBOTE INTO THE UPPER PAD; Barandika (1-0, +0 -0, 1)
2(1)-3(0) 5; Barandika + (2-0, +1 -0, 3); A LONG, HARD SHOT THAT REBOTES PAST THE RETREATINNG GOITIA; Goitia (0-1, +0 -1, 2)
2(2)-4(0) 1; Barandika + (3-0, +2 -0, 1); Ace(?) Zulaika (0-1, +0 -0?; 0). ZULAIKA TAKES A GOOD SERVE AND THROWS IT INTO THE UPPER PAD.
2(3)-5(0) 4; Barandika - (3-1, +2 -1, 2); DROPPED CATCH; Erik (1-0, +0 -0, 2)
5(1)-6(0) 3 Erik + (2-0, +1-0, 2); TWO WALL (LEFT-FRONT); Arrieta (0-1, +0 -0, 1)
5(2)-7(0) 4 Diego + (1-0, +1 -0, 2, 1 save); DID NOT GET THE TYPE OF SHOT OR SAVE; Erik (2-1, +1 -0, 2)
7(1)-8(0) 7 Diego (2-0, +1 -0, 4); Ithurria (0-1 +0 -?, 3); MISSED THE BALL THAT DECIDED THE POINT DUE TO A BUFFERING ISSUE (POINT OF THE GAME)
--------------------------
--------------------------
Round 2
*=Possible Game Point
*=Possible Game Point
1 Beitia; 2 Barandika; 3 Goitia; 4 Zulaika; 5 Erik; 6 Arrieta; 7 Diego; 8 Ithurria
7(2)-1(0) 5; Diego + (3-0, +2 -0, 3); RIPPED A TWO WALL (LEFT-FRONT) (CO-PLAY OF THE GAME); Betia (0-2, +0 -1, 2)
7(4)-3(0) 1; Diego + (4-0, +3 -0, 1); ACE; Goitia (0-2, +0 -1, 0)
*7(6)-4(0) 3; Diego + (5-0, +4 -0, 2); RIPPED A TWO WALL (LEFT-FRONT) (CO-PLAY OF THE GAME); Zulaika (0-2, +0 -1?; 1)
Diego (8 spectacular 7 points) wins; Barandika (3) finishes 2nd; Erik (2) finishes 3rd.
7-2-5
Standings (May 29 (E)) * = Known Perfect Game)
Barandika.....6 (3*)
Diego.........5 (4*)
Ithurria......5 (1*)
Goitia........4 (3*)
Erik..........4 (2*)
Zulaika.......3 (1*)
Arrieta ......2 (1*)
Salegi(back)..1
G10 5/29(M)--ABOUT AS PERFECT AS CAN BE--ZULAIKA (3 WINS)
Last week began very sluggishly for the team (see below) and I was wondering if it might have had something to do with it being the first game after 2 days off. Well, that "trend" lasted one Wednesday Matinee. First, the basics of today's Matinee game.
Another perfect game. That's 3 in a row, 6 of the last 8, and 14 of the last 18.
Perfect from the 8 post. Zulaika: 4 points (+4 -0): balls in play 13; Zulaika 8
For the team (including a 6 point, 6 player playoff for show: +14 -2. One questonable "ace". 16 points
Excellent defensive saves: 12: Zulaika and Arrieta--3: Erik and Ithurria--2; Barandika and Diego--1. 3/4 of the team had at least one sparkling defensive play. Erik made one of his patented falling rebotes. Ithurria, Arrieta, and Diego had to leap to deny Erik aces. Zulaika executed a one step wall climb.
Balls in play: 56
Time of the game: 12 minutes.
--------------------------------
This was a wonderful game of quiniela Jai Alai, featuring a large number of excellent serves, the first time I've seen so many quality serves since I've been doing these reports. Erik was the server on most of them (4 or 5 out of the 7 points he played). The opening point was a great one, 13 bip, featuring 3 excellent saves. Erik was rolling when he opened with a chic-chac, 2 two walls, 2 aces, and a big bounce left pass. Then came the point of the game, Erik v Zulaika. There were only 6 balls, but there were 3 excellent saves (Erik's falling rebote AND Zulaika's wall climb came on this point). Zulaika finally won it with a chula. From there it took him 7 bip to win (he caught and threw 5 of them). Two aces sandwiched around a two wall after yet another excellent defensive play finished things very nicely. It may have been a "soft" perfect game, but it looked to me like he could have lapped the field twice if necessary. 41 balls had been played. It took another 15 to determine the third place finisher.
(#8) Zulaika (4 points----4 actual points)
(#1) Erik (5----5)
(#4) Arrieta (6----3)
Game map
Round 1
*=Possible Game Point
1 Erik; 2; Ithurria 3 Beitia; 4 Arrieta; 5 Goitia; 6 Barandika; 7 Diego; 8 Zulaika
1(0)-2(0) 13 ( balls in play); Erik + (+=winner -=error) (1-0 (points record) ,+1 -0, 0 2(balls in play), 1 save) CHIC-CHAC; Ithurria (0-1; +0 -0, 1; 2 saves (one a leaping save of the serve))
1(1)-3(0) 3; Erik + (2-0, +2 -0, 2) TWO WALL (LEFT-FRONT); Beitia (0-1, +0 -0, 1)
1(2)-4(0) 3; Arrieta - (0-1,+0 -1, 1, 2 saves); Eric (3-0, +2 -0, 2). Arrieta also makes a point saving catch of serve and then another great save. After the save he sets himself and throws the pelota into the upper pad
1(3)-5(0) 1; Erik + (4-0, +3 -0, 1) ACE; Goitia (0-1, +0 -0, 0)
1(4)-6(0) 5; Erik + (5-0, +4 -0, 3) TWO WALL (LEFT-FRONT); Barandika (0-1; +0 -0, 2, 1 save)
1(5)-7(0) 3; Erik + (6-0, +5-0, 2) BIG BOUNCE LEFT WALL PASS; Diego (0-1, +0 -0, 1, 1 leaping save of the serve)
1(6)-8(0) 6; Zulaika + (1-0, +1 -0, 3, 2 saves, including a 1 foot wall climb); CHULA; Erik (5-1; +4 -1, 3, 1 great falling rebote save in the deep) (2 PLAYS OF THE GAME; POINT OF THE GAME)
--------------------------
Round 2
*=Possible Game Point
1 Erik; 2; Ithurria 3 Beitia; 4 Arrieta; 5 Goitia; 6 Barandika; 7 Diego; 8 Zulaika
8(1)-2(0) 1; Zulaika + (2-0, +2 -0, 1) ACE; Ithurria (0-2, +0 -0, 0)
8(3)-3(0) 5; Zulaika + (3-0, +3 -0, 3, 1 save) 2 WALL (LEFT-FRONT); Beitia (0-2, +0 -0, 2)
*8(5)-4(0) 1; Zulaika + (4-0, +4 -0, 1) ACE; Arrieta (0-2, +0 -1, 0)
#8(7) Zulaika wins (#1)(5) Erik finishes 2nd
--------------------------
Playoff for show
*=Possible 3rd Place Point
1 Erik; 2; Ithurria 3 Beitia; 4 Arrieta; 5 Goitia; 6 Barandika; 7 Diego; 8 Zulaika
5(0)-6(0) 1; Barandika + (1-1, +1 -0, 1) ACE(?); Goitia (0-2, +0 -0(?), 0) Goitia makes an error on the return of save
7(0)-2(0) 1; Deigo + (1-1, +1 -0, 1) ACE; Ithurria (0-3, +0 -0, 0)
3(0)-4(0) 1; Beitia - (0-3, +0 -1, 1) SERVICE FAULT (OVER SERVE); Arrieta (1-2, +0 -1, 0)
6(2)-7(2) 5; Barandika + (2-1, +2 -0, 3) CHIC CHAC; Diego (1-2, +1 -0, 2)
*6(4)-4(2) 4; Arrieta + (2-2, +1 -1, 2) CHIC CHAC; Barandika (1-2, +1 -0, 2, 1 save)
*4(4)-*6(4) 3; Arrieta + (3-2, +2 -1, 2) LEFT WALL PASS; Barandika (1-3, +1 -0, 1)
Arrieta 6, finishes 3rd
8-1-4
Standings (May 29 (M)) * = Known Perfect Game)
Barandika.....6 (3*)
Ithurria......5 (1*)
Goitia........4 (3*)
Diego.........4 (3*)
Erik..........4 (2*)
Zulaika.......3 (1*)
Arrieta ......2 (1*)
Salegi(back)..1
GAMES OF 5/22-5/26
G10 (5/26(M) PERFECT GAMES--5 OUT OF 7 THIS WEEK--DIEGO (4 WINS)
Perfect games were abundant this week, and Diego achieved his quickly and efficiently today, 13 balls (of which he caught and threw 8), from the 8 post. It was a very sloppy game early with 2 of the first 4 points decided by errors, and the others by botched service returns. But then it quickly improved, the last 8 points being winners for a total of +10 -2. There were 41 balls in play. The game flew by in 8 minutes (with a playoff). Things seemed a bit rushed today, the game starting before the three hour mark of the performance (which seldom happens). The highlight was the Israel (back) v Zulaika point, which took 10 balls to decide. Both players made sparkling saves during this point, and Zulaika came out of it with a lot of momentum. That lasted 1 more point and then he faced Diego. This was the middle game of a 3 game winning streak today for Diego, and he looked completely locked in. When he plays like he did today, it's almost like watching a cat play with mice. He knows it, they know it. They have no chance. He did not have a good week, he made some errors, and there were times when his winners were returned. This was his first win since May 15(E). Today's perfect game was the 13th in the last 17.
Here is how Diego won.
1 Ithurria; 2 Barandika; 3 Arrieta; 4 Erik; 5 Israel (Back); 6 Zulaika; 7 Betia; 8 Diego
*Possible Game Point
Round 1
1(0)-2(0) 1; Ithurria + (+=winner -=error); (1-0(points record); +1 -0; 0); Ace (Barandika throws the return into the upper pad(?); Barandika (0-1; +0 -0(?); 0)
1(1)-3(0) 1; Ithurria + (2-0; +2 -0; 1); Arrieta completely missed the serve, as if he didn't see it, or perhaps was completely done in by movement(?). Arrieta (0-1; +0 -0 (?))
1(2)-4(0) 1; Ithurria - (2-1; +2-1; 1); Fault (overserve); Erik (1-0; +0 -0; 0)
4(1)-5(0) 2; Erik - (1-1; +0 -1; 1); dropped catch; Israel (1-0; +0 -0; 1)
5(1)-6(0) 10; Zulaika + (1-0; +1 -0; 5); both make fabulous saves, then Zulaika scores with chula; Israel (1-1; +0 -0; 5) (POINT OF THE GAME)
6(1)-7(0) 3; Zulaika + (2-0; +2 -0; 2); chula; Beitia (0-1; +0 -0; 1)
7(1)-8(0) 6; Diego + (1-0; +1 -0; 3); high pass; Zulaika (2-1; +2-0; 3)
--------------------
1 Ithurria; 2 Barandika; 3 Arrieta; 4 Erik; 5 Israel (Back); 6 Zulaika; 7 Betia; 8 Diego
*Possible Game Point
Round 2
8(1)-2(0) 3; Diego + (2-0; +2 -0; 2); Diego smashes a fast and powerful left pass that completely handcuffed Barandika (PLAY OF THE GAME); Barandika (0-2; +0 -0; 1)
8(3)-3(0) 1; Diego + (3-0; +3 -0; 1); Ace, a great serve. Caroms off the side wall just before it gets to the back, Arrieta has no answer; Arrieta (0-2 +0-0(?); 0)
*8(5)-1(2) 3; Diego + (4-0; +4 -0; 2); 2 wall (left-front) carom; Ithurria (2-2; +2 -1) 1
Deigo (7) wins; Ithurria (2) 2nd
Playoff for 3rd
6 (Zulaika) (1) v 1 (Ithurria) (1) 5; Zulaika + (3-1; +3-0; 3); chula; Ithurria (2-3; +2 -1; 2)
(#8) (Diego) (7(points)----4(actual points))
(#1) Ithurria (2----2)
(#6) Zulaika (3----2)
Standings (week ending May 26) * = Known Perfect Game)
Barandika.....6 (3*)
Ithurria......5 (1*)
Goitia........4 (3*)
Diego.........4 (3*)
Erik..........4 (2*)
Zulaika.......2
Arrieta ......2 (1*)
Salegi(back)..1
G10 5/25(E) YET ANOTHER PERFECT GAME--WELL PLAYED TOO--ARRIETA (2 WINS)
This was the 12th perfect game in the last 16, another game in which "the team" was excellent (+13 -2--although 2 of the 13 were "aces" were dropped and thrown into the high pad respectively), making them +25 -3 in the last two games. This time Arrieta ran the perfect game from the 7 post, meaning he had to win 5 consecutive points. He got hist start with help from Betia (who had run off 5 consecutive points with some great offense and defense), and was also gifted a point by Diego, but he scored the others himself, with great defense (see article for 5/25(M) below for more on the "team's" defense today) saving points he later won. The match took 10 minutes and there were 48 balls in play. Arrieta played 14 balls and caught and threw 10. It was his first win since May 9(E).
Here is how he did it.
1 Beitia; 2 Barandika; 3 Diego; 4 Goitia; 5 Ithurria; 6 Erik; 7 Arrieta; 8 Zulaika
*Possible Game Point
Round 1
1(0)-2(0) 3(balls in play); Beitia + (+=winner -=error); (1-0(points record) ;+1 -0; 2(balls in play); Beitia makes a very good catch on the apron and returns a two wall (left-front) to win; Barandika (0-1; +0 -0; 1)
1(1)-3(0) 3; Beitia + (2-0; +2 -0; 2); big bounce winner from left side; Diego (0-1; +0 -0); 1)
1(2)-4(0) 1; Beitia + (3-0; +3-0; 1); Ace (dropped catch by Goitia(?); Goitia (0-1; +0 -0(?); 0)
1(3)-5(0) 3; Beitia + (4-0; +4-0; 2); low left pass; Ithurria (0-1; +0 -0); 1)
1(4)-6(0) 7; Beitia + (5-0, +5-0 4) two wall (left-front) after a great save by each; Erik (0-1; +0 -0; 3) (POINT OF THE GAME)
1(5)-7(0) 4; Beitia - (4-1; +4 -1; 2); after Arrieta makes a great save on the left wall, Beitia's rebote is too low; Arrieta (1-0; +0 -0; 2)
7(1)-8(0) 3; Arrieta + (2-0; +1-0; 2); left wall after a very good save; Zulaika (0-1; +0 -0; 1)
--------------------
1 Beitia; 2 Barandika; 3 Diego; 4 Goitia; 5 Ithurria; 6 Erik; 7 Arrieta; 8 Zulaika
*Possible Game Point
Round 2
7(2)-2(0) 3; Arrieta + (3-0; +2 -0; 2); Arrieta makes a great catch on the apron an wins with a perfect long dejada (PLAY OF THE GAME); Barandika (0-2; +0 -0; 1)
7(4)-3(0) 1; Arrieta + (4-0; +3 -0; 1); Ace (Diego threw the serve into the upper pad(?); Diego (0-2; +0 -0(?); 0)
*7(6)-4(0) 3; Arrieta + (5-0; +4 -0; 2); chic-chac; Goitia (0-2; +0 -0(?); 1)
Arrieta (8) wins; Betia (5) second
Playoff for show
5 (Ithurria (0)-6 (Erik (0)) 4; Erik + (1-1; +1 -0; 2); Erik great save on apron, follows with a left wall pass (Ithurria (0-2; 0-0; 2)
8 (Zulaika (0)-2 (Barandika) (0) 3; Zulaika + (1-1; +1 -0; 2); perfect chula--rolls out; Barandika (0-3; +0 -0; 1)
3 (Diego) (0)-4 Goitia (0) 1; Diego - (0-3; +0 -1(?); 1); Fault (not sure which kind); Goita (1-2; +0 -0(?); 0)
6(Erik) (2)-8(Zulaika) (2) 5; Erik + (2-1; +2-0; 3); Erik makes great apron save, then wins with the chic-chac; Zulaika (1-2; +1-0; 2)
6(Erik) (6)-4(Goitia (2) 3; Erik + (3-1; +3 -0; 2); chic-chac; Goitia (1-3; +0 -0)
Erik (8) 3rd
(#7) Arrieta (5(points)----5(actual points)
(#1) Beitia (5----5)
(#6) Erik (6----3)
Standings (May 25 (E)) * = Known Perfect Game)
Barandika 6 (3*)
Ithurria 5 (1*)
Goitia 4 (3*)
Erik 4 (2*)
Diego 3 (2*)
Zulaika 2
Arrieta 2 (1*)
Salegi (back) 1
=================================
G10 5/25 (M) THE IMPORTANCE OF DEFENSE--BARANDIKA--6 WINS
The team got its "mojo" back in this game, after a sluggish beginning to the week. +12 -1. What really impressed me in today's Matinee game was the superb defensive play. Defensive play is not the first thing one thinks of when considering Quiniela singles. Catch the pelota, rip it, kill the point as quickly as possible. And this team has shot makers in abundance. But today the other side of the coin was on display. I counted 5 superb defensive saves, 2 by Barandika, the winner, 2 by Erik, and 1 by Betia. There were other excellent saves as well, but it was hard to keep track while scoring the game in real time. Defense saves points so they can be won later. Sometimes they are, sometimes they aren't, but the kill shot caught and returned gives the opponent something to think about. Because of the great defense, today's 11 minute, 13 point game had 61 balls in play. Barandika played 20 of those balls, he caught and threw 12. He shone at the beginning and end of the game.
There are very few statistical measures of defense. I analyzed the defense played for the Mano (hand) Final in the recently concluded Binakako Txapelketa/Campeonato Parejas (pairs) competition at Bizkaia, Bilbo (Bilbao) on April 7, 2019. But Mano goes at a slower pace than Jai Alai and I was able to stop and start "the tape" as much as I wanted to. I watched that one twice. In this game defense helped Barandika to 2 of his 5 winning points. The other interesting thing about this game was a tactical decision by Diego to play a different shot. It payed off handsomely for 1 point. Then I noticed other players doing it also, and will watch for more of it in the future.
Here's how Barandika did it. See below for Diego's decision.
1 Barandika; 2 Beitia; 3 Ithurria; 4 Zulaika; 5 Erik; 6 Arrieta; 7 Diego; 8 Goitia
* Possible Game Point
Round 1
1(0)-2(0) 5(balls in play); Barandika + (+=winner -=error) (1-0(point record); +1 -0, 3(balls in play)); chic-chac; Beitia (0-1; +0 -0; 2)
1(1)-3(0) 3; Barandika + (2-0; +2 -0; 2); Barandika makes an excellent catch against the left wall and then throws an overhead left pass; Ithurria (0-1; +0 -0; 1)
1(2)-4(0) 3; Barandika + (3-0, +3 -0; 2); chic-chac; Zulaika (0-1; +0 -0; 1)
1(3)-5(0) 4; Erik + (1-0; +1 -0; 2) Erik makes a terrific save with a one foot left wall climb, then throws a chula to win the point; Barandika (3-1; +3 -0; 2)
5(1)-6(0) 11; Erik + (2-0; +2 -0; 6); Erik saves the point with a terrific falling rebote from more than halfway back, then wins with a left wall pass (CO-PLAY OF THE GAME); Arrieta (0-1; +0 -0; 5)
5(2)-7(0) 4; Diego + (1-0; +1 -0; 2); Erik retreats expecting Diego to throw one of his precise chula--chic chacs, perhaps intending to cut it off; Diego instead rips one high and deep. It bounces off the back wall hard and Erik backpedals to around the underserve line to try to get it; he tries to go over his head, but no luck. I had not seen that from Diego. Certainly a shot to "keep them honest," and put this point "in the bag"; Erik (2-1; +2 -0; 2)
7(1)-8(0) 2 Goitia + (1-0; +1 -0; 1); Diego sets up where he thinks Goitia is going to throw it, but Goitia throws it harder than Diego calculated, a long pass chic-chac that bounces pretty far in front of the wall but comes out at an awkward, though not impossible angle. Diego, suddenly forced to adjust, is unable to return it; Diego (1-1; +1 -0; 1)
--------------------
1 Barandika; 2 Beitia; 3 Ithurria; 4 Zulaika; 5 Erik; 6 Arrieta; 7 Diego; 8 Goitia
* Possible Game Point
Round 2
8(1)-2(0) 2; Goitia - (1-1; +1 -1; 1); dropped catch, the only error of the game; Beitia (1-1; +0 -0; 1)
2(2)-3(0) 8; Ithurria + (1-1; +1 -0; 4); Betia makes a great save on the apron, but Ithurria retrieves the throw and wins the point with a two wall (left-front) from the left side (CO-PLAY OF THE GAME); Betia (1-2; +0 -0; 4)
3(2)-4(1) 3; Ithurria + (2-1; +2 -0) 2); Left pass with a big bounce; Zulaika (0-2; +0 -0; 1)
3(4)-1(3) 6; Barandika + (4-1; +4 -0; 3); Barrandika plays excellent defense against the left wall and wins with a left pass. Ithurria (2-2; +2 -0; 3) (POINT OF THE GAME--SITUATIONAL)
*1(5)-6(0); 3 Barandika + (5-1; +5 -0; 2); big bounce left winner; Arrieta (0-2; +0 -0; 1)
Barrandika wins; Ithurria 2nd
Playoff for third
5 (Erik) (2)-2 (Betia) (2) 4; Betia + (2-2; +1 -0; 2); high and deep two wall (left-front) (CO-PLAY OF THE GAME) Erik (+2 -2; +1 -0; 2)
(#1) Barandika (1st) (7(points)----5(actual points))
(#3) Ithurria (2nd) (3----2)
(#2) Betia (3rd) (4----2)
Standings (May 25 (M)) * = Known Perfect Game)
Barandika 6 (3*)
Ithurria 5 (1*)
Goitia 4 (3*)
Erik 4 (2*)
Diego 3 (2*)
Zulaika 2
Arrieta 1
Salegi (back) 1
=================================
G10 5/24(E) ERIK--PERFECT GAME--4 WINS
I did not view this game, but got the basics from two members of Tiger's Chalk Talk Bulletin Board. Many thanks. The basics are that Erik won tonight's game, a perfect game from the 8 post. That makes 11 perfect games in the last 14 Game 10s. It is interesting that in singles games, even more than in doubles perhaps, the 8 post can be very advantageous. With Spectacular 7 scoring, it offers a the shortest route to a perfect game, 4 actual points. Other post positions demand anywhere from 5 to 7 actual points. Which is not to say that a P8 perfect game is easy. Every point in Quiniela Jai Alai at this level is a difficult point. Stringing points together is even more difficult. But the P8 perfect game does demand the fewest points. 5 of the recent string of perfect games have come from the 8 post (5/16(E); 5/18(E); 5/22(E); 5/23(M); 5/24(E). Is that a trend? It certainly seems so lately, but it is a very small set of games. Let's see how it plays out for a while. In any case, I have the sequence, but not the anatomy (except for the first point) of this game. Here is how it went.
1 Betia; 2 Goitia; 3 Zulaika; 4 Diego; 5 Arrieta; 6 Ithurria 7 Barandika 8 Erik
*=Possible Game Point
Round 1
1(0)-2(0) 1(ball in play); Betia - (+=winner -=error) (point record) 0-1; +0 -1, 1 (ball in play)); Goitia (1-0, +0 -0, 0); Fault (overserve)
2(1)-3(0): Zulaika (1-0); Goitia (0-1)
3(1)-4(0): Zulaika (2-0); Diego (0-1)
3(2)-5(0): Arrieta (1-0); Zulaika (2-1)
5(1)-6(0): Arrieta (2-0); Ithurria (0-1)
5(2)-7(0): Barrandika (1-0); Arrieta (2-1)
7(1)-8(0): Erik (1-0); Barrandika (1-1)
--------------------
1 Betia; 2 Goitia; 3 Zulaika; 4 Diego; 5 Arrieta; 6 Ithurria 7 Barandika 8 Erik
*=Possible Game Point
Round 2
8(1)-1(0): Erik (2-0); Betia (0-2)
8(3)-2(0): Erik (3-0); Goitia (0-2)
8(5)-4(0): Erik (4-0); Diego (0-2)
Erik wins
Playoff for second and third
5(Arrieta) (2)-3(Zulaika) (2); Zulaika (3-1); Arrieta (2-2)*
* I'm not sure who served and received this point.
(#8) Erik (1st) (7 points----4 actual points)
(#3) Zulaika (2nd) (4----3)
(#5) Arrieta (3rd) (2----2)
Standings (May 24 (E)) * = Known Perfect Game)
Ithurria 5 (1*)
Barandika 5 (3*)
Goitia 4 (3*)
Erik 4 (2*)
Diego 3 (2*)
Zulaika 2
Arrieta 1
Salegi (back) 1
=================================
G10 5/23(E) THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY--BARANDIKA (5 WINS)
The Dania team played poorly for the third consecutive game. Although the match figures of +7 -3 don't look particularly bad, the individual winner, Barandika (with his 3rd perfect game--this time from the 8 post--in a stretch of 10 individual perfect games in the last 13), was gifted two "service aces" during his run by successive poor returns of serve (both into the high pad) by Amigorena (today's back) and Diego. So, by all rights this game was +5 -5. For the last 3 games, the team has been +20 -13. But if you add the question mark service aces for the games, the totals are a little more revealing: +17 -16. These look more like early game figures than late. Does it mean these players aren't as good as we might think? Not at all. It means they are in a bit of a "slump." Quiniela jai alai is a grind. Game after game, day after day these players go at it. It is the nature of the game to go through ups and downs. For 8 players to go through this for 33 points is...interesting. Hopefully, they will come out of this bad patch tonight.
As for the game, Barandika took advantage of his chance after Zulaika, who looked great for 4 consecutive points, dropped a catch. Barandika's first gift. The two aces followed. He earned his 4th point with a beautiful left pass that turned into a chic-chac against Ithurria. For the game Barandika was 4-0 (+3 -0). There were some excellent points, highlighted by the 13 ball point during Zulaika's run, a point during which Ithurria was beaten down the left wall, whiffed at it, but kept his cool and simply reboted it on the way back. Diego had a rough night, with a perfectly set up two wall that he threw off the court to start Zulaika's run and the previously noted service ace by Barandika.
There were 9 balls in play during Barandika's run. He caught and threw 6. The game took 9 minutes. There were 47 balls in play.
Here's how Barandika did it.
* Possible game point
Round 1
1 Amigorena (Back); 2 Diego; 3 Zulaika; 4 Ithurria; 5 Goitia; 6 Erik; 7 Arrieta; 8 Barandika
1(0)-2(0) 2(balls in play); Amigorena - (+=winner -=error) (0-1(points record), +0 -1, 1(ball in play); long dejada loops into the low pad; Diego (1-0, +0 -0, 1)
2(1)-3(0) 8; Diego - (1-1, +0 -1, 4); throws 2 wall on to the apron; Zulaika (1-0, +0 -0) 4)
3(1)-4(0) 13; Zulaika + (2-0, +1 -0, 7); two wall (left-front); during the point Ithurria makes a great recovery of a left wall shot, whiffing at it on the way out, and reboting it on the way back; Ithurria (0-1 +0 -0, 6). (BEST POINT OF THE GAME)
3(2)-5(0) 3; Zulaika + (3-0, +2-0, 2); chic-chac; Goitia (0-1, +0 -0, 1)
3(3)-6(0) 5; Zuliaka + (4-0, +3-0, 3); two wall (left-front); Erik (0-1, +0 -0, 2)
3(4)-7(0) 1; Zulaika + (5-0, +4-0, 1); Ace; Arrieta (0-1, +0 -0)
3(5)-8(0) 2; Zulaika - (5-1, +4 -1, 1); dropped catch; (Barandika (1-0, +0 -0, 1)
---------------------------------------
* Possible game point
Round 2
1 Amigorena (Back); 2 Diego; 3 Zulaika; 4 Ithurria; 5 Goitia; 6 Erik; 7 Arrieta; 8 Barandika
8(1)-1(0) 1; Barandika + (2-0, +1 -0, 1) Ace(?); Arrieta throws an easy serve into the upper pad (0-2, +0 -1(?), 0)
8(3)-2(1) 1; Barandika + (3-0, +2 -0, 1) Ace(?); Diego throws an easy serve into the upper pad; Diego (1-2, +0 -1(?), 0)
*8(5)-4(0) 5; Barandika + (4-0, 3-0, 3); beautiful left wall pass that then kisses the low left and then chic-chacs the back wall (PLAY OF THE GAME); Ithurria (0-2, +0 -0, 2)
Barandika wins.
(#8) Barandika (1st) (7 points)----4 (actual points);
(#3) Zulaika (2nd) (5----5)
(#2) Diego (3rd) (1----1)
Standings (May 23 (E)) * = Known Perfect Game)
Ithurria 5 (1*)
Barandika 5 (3*)
Goitia 4 (3*)
Diego 3 (2*)
Erik 3 (1*)
Zulaika 2
Arrieta 1
Salegi (back) 1
G10 5/22(E) A PERFECT BUT TIRED GAME--GOITIA (4 WINS)
First, a little context which may or may not have anything to do with how tonight's 10th game played out. Game 9, a superfecta 9 point game that every player in Game 10 played in, was a marathon. It lasted over half an hour, with numerous possible game points. It is well understood that late players play 5 games a night, and what happens in one game shouldn't effect another. But it seemed to me a very "gassed" unit played Game 10 tonight. None of the 11 points lasted more than 5 balls in play. Half the first round was lost by errors. It seemed to me as if the players were sleep walking a little. And after Game 9, who could blame them. In any event, just like this afternoon, Goitia, from the 8 post (Erik from #7 won a perfect game this afternoon), got some help for his first point, and then (unlike Erik) got some more for his third. His other two points were legitmate winners, including a beautiful left wall pass that beat Diego and finished things. It was the 10th perfect game in the last 12 Game 10s. The 4 points took 15 balls to play. Goitia played 9 of them. He was +2 -0. The win was his 3rd perfect game in the last two weeks and tied him for 2nd with Barandika with 4 wins, one behind Ithurria.
Here's how he did it:
* Possible game point
Round 1
1 Ithurria; 2 Arrieta; 3 Diego; 4 Zulaika; 5 Barandika; 6 Erik; 7 Salegi (Back); 8 Goitia
1(0)-2(0) 2 (balls in play); Ithurria - (+=winner -=error) (point record) 0-1, +0 -1, 1 (ball in play); missed rebote (not a complete whiff, it dropped not to far from him); Arrieta (1-0, +0 -0, 1)
2(1)-3(0) 4; Diego + (1-0, +1 -0, 2); very nice chula that caromed off the left wall deep and low and then kissed the back wall even lower; Arrieta (1-1, 0-0, 2)
3(1)-4(0) 4; Diego - (1-1, +1 -1), 2); carom shot badly misfires off the court; Zulaika (1-0, 0-0, 2)
4(1)-5(0) 5 Zulaika + (2-0, 1-0, 3); chic-chac--same trajectory as Diego's winner except a little lower off the left wall; Barandika (0-1, 0-0, 2)
4(2)-6(0) 1; Zulaika + (3-0, 2-0, 1); Ace (Erik dropped it, it looked like an easy catch(?); Erik (0-1, 0-0, 0(?))
4(3)-7(0) 5; Zulaika + (4-0, 3-0, 3); chic-chac; Salegi (back) (0-1, 0-0, 2)
4(4)-8(0) 4 Zulaika - (4-1, 3-1, 2); Zulaika throws a rebote too high; Goitia (1-0, 0-0, 2)
---------------------------------------
1 Ithurria; 2 Arrieta; 3 Diego; 4 Zulaika; 5 Barandika; 6 Erik; 7 Salegi (Back); 8 Goitia
* Possible game point
Round 2 (points double for the rest of the game).
8(1)-1(0) 3; Goitia + (2-0, +1 -0, 2); chic-chac; Ithurria (0-2, +0 -1, 1)
8(3)-2(1) 3; Arrieta - (1-2, +0 -1, 1); dropped catch; Goitia (3-0, +1-0, 2)
*8(5)-3(1) 5; Goitia + (4-0, +2 -0, 3); perfect deep left wall pass from the outside (PLAY OF THE GAME); Diego (1-2, +1 -1, 2) (BEST POINT OF THE GAME)
(#8) Goitia wins (7 points----4 actual points); (#4) Zulaika 2nd (4----4)
Playoff for third place.
(#2) Arrieta (1)-(#3) Diego (1) 3; Arrieta + (2-2, +1 -1, 2); nice serve sets up easy dejada; Diego (1-3, +1 -1, 1)
Arrieta 3rd (3----2)
Standings (May 22 (E)) * = Known Perfect Game)
Ithurria 5 (1*)
Barandika 4 (2*)
Goitia 4 (3*)
Diego 3 (2*)
Erik 3 (1*)
Zulaika 2
Arrieta 1
Salegi (back) 1
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G10 5/22(M)--PERFECT GAME FOR THE WINNER--POOR GAME FOR THE TEAM--ERIK (3 WINS)
Last Sunday the Dania "team" played a perfect game (i.e. no errors) (see below). Today's game was the polar opposite of that game, but provided another perfect game (the 7th in the last 10) for the winner. Erik, last season's Triple Crown winner, is having a more difficult time in this short season (which isn't to say he's playing badly, just that he isn't dominating--as of today's performance, he moved into a first place tie with Zulaika (late-back) for most total wins for the season). He broke a 14 game drought with his first Game 10 win since May 5(M) . The win was his 3rd in this competition and moved him into a tie for 3rd place, behind Ithurria (5) and Barandika (4). Perfection from the 7 post. He was gifted his first point by a missed dejada by Barandika, but he earned the rest of his points with a two wall (Goitia), a chula (Arrieta), a chic-chac (Leke--back), and a high and hard two wall carom (left-front) that landed deep and inside the line (Diego). The game had its share of excellent plays, beginning with the opening point, when Leke hustled to get a sure Arrieta winning dejada on the first point, then a great apron save by Ithurria against Leke, and the best of the lot, a terrific falling rebote by Erik more than half-way from the front wall that saved the point that Barandika later gifted.
It was the first game since I have been doing these that had an equal number of winners and errors, 6. It was a very poor game from a technical standpoint, surprising from players of this caliber. But everyone has an off day, and Wednesday Matinee performances are difficult to figure out, as the players are coming off two days of rest and have to find their rhythm. Last week's Wednesday Matinee had +7 -1 (not counting the playoff).
Erik ended up playing 5 points (+4 -0). In the points he played, there were 22 balls in play. He caught and threw 13. 3 of his 5 points came on three ball points, the minimum (excluding aces). The game had 43 balls in play and lasted 9 minutes.
Here's how Erik did it:
1 Arrieta; 2 Leke (Back); 3 Ithurria 4; Diego; 5 Zulaika; 6 Barandika; 7 Erik; 8 Goitia
* Possible game point
Round 1
(1-0)-(2-0) 4 (balls in play); Leke + (+=winner -=error) (point record) (1-0) ; +1 -0, 2 (balls in play)); Leke struggles to return an excellent serve, gets off balance doing so. Arrieta for the dejada winner...but no, Leke comes roaring down the left side, Arrieta realizes he's going to get it, begins retreating, and Leke wins the point with a dejada of his own (CO PLAY OF THE GAME); Arrieta (0-1, +0 -0, 2)
(2-1)-(3-0) 4; Leke - (1-1, +1 -1, 2); dropped catch by Leke after Ithurria makes a great save on the apron; (Ithurria 1-0, 0-0, 2).
(3-1)-(4-0) 3; Diego - (0-1, +0 -1, 1); Diego throws a rebote off the court; Ithurria (2-0, +0 -0, 2)
(3-2)-(5-0) 1; Ithurria - (2-1, +0 -1, 1); Fault (overserve); Zulaika (1-0, +0 -0, 0)
(5-1)-(6-0) 4; Zulaika - (1-1, +0 -1, 2) ); dropped catch (Barandika) (1-0, +0 -0, 2)
(6-1)-(7-0) 6; Barandika - (1-1 +0 -1, 3); Erik makes a great rebote save from the back half of the court (CO-PLAY OF THE GAME). Barandika throws a sure dejada winner into the lower pad; Erik (1-0, +0 -0, 3)
(7-1)-(8-0) 3; Erik + (2-0, 1-0, 2); 2 wall carom (left-front); Goitia (0-1, +0 -0, 1)
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1 Arrieta; 2 Leke (Back); 3 Ithurria 4; Diego; 5 Zulaika; 6 Barandika; 7 Erik; 8 Goitia
* Possible game point
Round 2 (points double for the rest of the game).
(7-2)-(1-0) 3; Erik + (3-0, 2-0, 2); chula; Arrieta (0-2, +0- 0, 2)
(7-4)-(2-1) 7; Erik + (4-0, 3-0, 4); chic-chac; Leke (1-2, +1 -1, 3) (BEST POINT OF THE GAME)
*(7-6)-(4-0) 3; Erik + (5-0, +4 -0, 2); long, high two wall carom (left-front), lands deep and just inside the line (CO-PLAY OF THE GAME); Diego (0-2, +0 -1, 1).
(#7) Erik (8 points----5 actual points) wins. (#3) Ithurria (2----2 finishes 2nd)
Playoff for 3rd (#5) Zulaika (1----1); (#6) Barandika (1----1); (#2) Leke (1----1)
(5-1)-(6-1) 2; Zulaika - (1-2, 0-2, 1); dropped catch; Barandika (2-1, +0 -1, 1)
(6-3)-(2-1) 3; Barandika + (3-1, +1 -1, 2); Leke (1-3, +1 -1, 1)
Barandika (5)
(#6)Barandika finishes 3rd (5----3)
Standings (May 22 (M)) * = Known Perfect game
Ithurria 5 (1*)
Barandika 4 (2*)
Goitia 3 (2*)
Diego 3 (2*)
Erik 3 (1*)
Zulaika 2
Arrieta 1
Salegi (back) 1
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GAMES OF 5/15-5/19
G10 5/19(M)--NOT AN INDIVDUAL PERFECT GAME--BUT A PERFECT GAME NONETHELESS--ITHURRIA
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. 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 front, 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. Barrandika also beat him with a chic-chac on the way to a perfect game in the 5/18(E).
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 . 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 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).
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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G10 5/18(E)--6TH PERFECT GAME IN THE LAST 7--BARANDIKA--MAP HAS ADDED FEATURE--RUNNING TOTAL OF EACH PLAYER'S PRODUCTION
Note: in the map below, you will see the usual data and an added feature, a running total of each player's production. Feedback (and especially if you catch errors in arithmetic or judgment--if you watched and remember the game) is welcome.
In the poorest G10 of this week and of any of the ones I have mapped (4 errors in 10 points), Barandika took it to a little higher plane with the game's best shot (IMHO), and, with a little help from Diego, ran it out with 3 more points from the 8 post to win in perfect fashion. Barandika played 4 points and won 4 points (+3 -0). He took care of the four points in about the last two minutes of the 9 minute game. 21 balls was all it took, of which he caught and threw 12. He took the initiative from Zulaika, who was on his way to a perfect game from the 3 post with 5 consecutive points (+2 -0), with a save of a two wall winner on the wood and a return that beat Zulaika down the left wall. From there a good serve to Amigorena (late-back), substituting for Arrieta, set Barandika up for an easy dejada winner. Then came the best point of the game which, just like this afternoon, involved Diego. Back and forth they went through 11 balls, with Diego keeping Barandika back but just missing chic chacs or chulas, allowing Barandika to defend with rebotes. Then Diego dropped a simple catch. After that, Barandika dispatched Ithurria with the minimum (that isn't an ace), a third ball two wall carom that was a winner from the instant it left his cesta. There was no playoff, as Zulaika's 5 points (out of 6 points played (+5 -0)) easily placed 2nd, and Diego (3 points played--+1 -2), with his only point of the match, a 5th ball dejada (also against Amigorena) came in 3rd. No one else scored. It was a "short" perfect game, but you can't pick your post position, you can only score points. Which is exactly what Barandika, in a very efficient manner, did. There were 39 balls in play in the game.
++++++++++++++++++++
Note: EITB counts a fault as a ball in play by the server. I don't understand why, but they have been televising BP for a lot longer than I've been watching it. At present I count a 1 ball point won by the server as an ace, no matter the circumstances, but I try to note (with a ?) serves that could easily be assigned as errors to the receiver.
1 Diego 2 Amigorena (late) (substituting for Arrieta) 3 Zulaika 4 Ithurria 5 Beitia 6 Erik 7 Goitia 8 Barrandika
1(0)-2(0) 5; Diego + (1-0, +1-0, 3 balls in play); dejada; Amigorena (0-1, 0-0, 2 bip)
1(1)-3(0) 1; Diego - (1-1, +1-1, 1 bip); fault (overserve); Zulaika (1-0, 0-0, 0 bip)
3(1)-4(0) 1; Zulaika + (2-0, +1-0, 1 bip); ace (Ithurria threw it into the high pad)? (0-1, +0-0(?), 0 bip)
3(2)-5(0) 5; Zulaika + (3-0, +2-0, 3 bip); big bounce left wall; Beitia (0-1, 0-0, 2 bip)
3(3)-6(0) 3; Erik - (0-1, +0-1, 1 bip); throws rebote off the court after having time to not do so; Zulaika (4-0 2-0, 2 bip)
3(4)-7(0) 3; Goitia - (0-1, +0-1, 1 bip); throws into the high pad; Zulaika (5-0, 2-0, 2 bip)
3(5)-8(0) 4; Barandika + (1-0, +1-0, 2 bip); great apron save of a two wall, and immediately throws a left wall pass; Zulaika (5-1, +2-0, 2 bip)
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1 Diego 2 Amigorena (late) (substituting for Arrieta) 3 Zulaika 4 Ithurria 5 Beitia 6 Erik 7 Goitia 8 Barrandika
8(1)-2(0) 3; Barandika + (2-0, +2-0, 2 bip); dejada; Amigorena (0-2, +0-0, 1 bip)
8(3)-1(1) 11; Diego - (1-2, +1-2, 5 bip); dropped catch; Barandika (3-0, +2-0, 6 bip); BEST POINT OF THE GAME
*8(5)-4(0) 3; Barandika + (4-0, +3-0, 2 bip); emphatic two wall carom to end the game. Ithurria (0-2 +0-0(?) 1 bip)
8 (7 points--4 actual points); 3 (5--5), 1 (1--1)
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G10 5/18(M)--5 CONSECUTIVE PERFECT G10 STREAK ENDS--SALEGI "ZERO TO HERO"
Dania's 5 game perfect game G10 streak ended today. Ithurria had the 8th perfect game in his grasp, going for PGP, PPG from the 5 post position early in the second round. But Salegi (late-back), a late replacement for Arrieta, said no. He beat Ithurria with a chic chac that was close to being returned, but Ithurria couldn't quite get it to the front wall. Possibly a marginal call, but I gave a winner to Salegi. A few minutes earlier, he had looked very much the part of a replacement a little out of his depth when he whiffed on a fairly easy rebote against Zulaika. When Ithurria was on his streak it looked like Salegi would be nothing more than "the last out" of yet another perfect game. But he dug deep on his third shot of the 6 ball point against Ithurria and kept the game alive. Then he made that chance pay off with a 7th ball chula against Zulaika, a 3rd ball left wall pass against Erik, and a 5th ball big bounce winner over Barandika to finish things. It was what announcer Dale Martinek would call "zero to hero."
The game itself was a bit sloppy by its own standards, 12 points, +9 -3, but the -3 were the first 3 of the game, 2 faults sandwiched around Salegi's error. For the match Salegi played 5 points and won 4 (+4 -1). A nice "secondary" perfect game. There were no playoffs as Ithurria rode his early streak to 2nd (6 points--5 actual) and Goitia followed the first two mistakes with one of his own, but the 2 points got him third position. The game had 62 balls in play. Time: 13 minutes.
1 Zulaika 2 Goitia 3 Salegi (back) substituting for Arrieta 4 Erik 5 Ithurria 6 Barandika 7 Diego 8 Beitia
1(0)-2(0) 1; Zulaika -; fault (overserve)
2(1)-3(0) 5; Salegi -; whiffs on rebote he should have made, was positioned well and swung at air
2(2)-4(0) 1; Goitia -; fault (overserve)
4(1)-5(0) 4; Ithurria +; chic-chac
5(1)-6(0) 7; Ithurria +; chic-chac
5(2)-7(0) 13; Ithurria +; chic-chac--nice comeback after Diego looked like he had winners set up--easily the best point of the game
5(3)-8(0) 3; Ithurria +; chula
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1 Zulaika 2 Goitia 3 Salegi (back) substituting for Arrieta 4 Erik 5 Ithurria 6 Barandika 7 Diego 8 Beitia
5(4)-1(0) 7; Ithurria +; chula
*5(6)-3(0) 6; Salegi +; chic-chac
3(2)-2(0) 7; Salegi +; chic-chac
3(4)-4(0) 3; Salegi +; left wall pass
*3(6)-6(0) 5; Salegi +; big bounce winner
3(8-5 actual)) 5(6--5) 2 (2--2)
Salegi played 5 points, 26 balls in play. He played 13.
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GAME 10 5/17(E)--5TH CONSECUTIVE GAME 10 PERFECT GAME--BARRANDIKA
Note; I did not watch this game. Many thanks to one of the members of Tiger's Chalk Talk for providing this information.
#1 Zulaika won twice, then #4 Barandika ran perfect
6-team show playoff with result of pairings in finals being the 3-6-2
#3 Ithurria beats #6 Goitia and then the #3 beats #2 Erik
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GAME 10 5/16(E)--4TH CONSECUTIVE GAME 10 PERFECT GAME--ITHURRIA
This was the 4th consecutive perfect game 10. It was an "easy" one by Ithurria out of the 8 position.
It took him 14 balls in play of which he had 7. 4 points. 4 points won. (+3 -0). Two 2 walls on the 3rd shot, and 1 chic-chac on the 7th (against Goitia, who played him well). Because of the way Ithurria won there was only one single playoff point for 3rd. Here is how he did it. There was only 1 error in the entire match (+10 -1). ThE game, including playoff, took 8 minutes. Ithurria took care of business in less than 5.
1 Arrieta; 2 Zulaika; 3 Goitia; 4 Diego; 5 Barandika; 6 Leke; 7 Erik; 8 Ithurria
1(0)-2(0) 4 balls in play; Zulaika +; chic-chac
2(1)-3(0) 1; Zulaika +; ace: 2nd consecutive G10 that Goitia is aced in his first point.
2(2)-4(0) 3; Zulaika +; two wall (left-front)
2(3)-5(0) 1; Zulaika +; ace (legitimate ace)
2(4)-6(0) 2; Leke +; returns serve big bounce straight down the middle.
6(1)-7(0) 6; Erik +; long bounce chic-chac after both players made excellent point saving catches
7(1)-8(0) 1; Erik - Fault (overserve), sort of sums up Erik's efforts in the last few G10s. Does poorly in match but well in playoff (see below).
8(1)-1(0) 3; Ithurria +; two wall (l-f)
8(3)-3(0) 7; Ithurria +; chic-chac
*8(5)-4(0) 3; Ithurria +; two wall (l-f)
Ithurria(7--4); Zulaika (4--4)
Playoff for third
6(1)-7(1); 7; Erik +; big bounce
Erik 3rd (3 points--2).
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GAME 10 5/15(E)--SUBLIME AND EVEN MORE RIDICULOUS THAN LAST SATURDAY--DIEGO AND ANOTHER PERFECT GAME
Diego has now won 3 of the last 5 Game 10s, 2 with perfect games, and for the second time a difficult perfect game, this time from the 1 position (last time was from the 2). He won in a matter of 5 minutes and 23 balls in play (of which he had 15). 7 points, 7 points won (+5 -2). He got a little more help this time, 2 opponents' errors (possibly 3, remotely possibly 4). Dania Game 10 has now seen 5 consecutive perfect games (Diego-7 actual points, Diego-6, Goitia-7, Goitia-5, Diego 7). Once again there was a protracted playoff for 2nd and 3rd place. It took 2 full rounds to complete, and 7 possible place points to determine 2nd position (of which two were lost by a dropped catch and a ball thrown into the high pad). Mercifully, 3rd place was decided by one point. The playoffs took twice as long as the actual win, so long that one might forget how well Diego played.
Here's how well.
1 Diego; 2 Goitia; 3 Erik; 4 Zulaika; 5 Arrieta; 6 Ithurria; 7 Barandika; 8 Urbieta
1(0)-2(0) 1; Diego + ace. Diego quickly took care of the battle of the titans with a perfect serve.
1(1)-3(0) 5; Erik - throws too high into pad
1(2)-4(0) 1; Diego + ace though Zulaika looked like he would catch it, he didn't
1(3)-5(0) 3; Diego + beautiful inside pass from the outside.
1(4)-6(0) 3; Ithurria - dropped catch
1(5)-7(0) 7; Diego + best point of the match but my feed glitched at the crucial moment--I gave it to Diego
*1(6)-8(0) 3; Diego + perfect 2 wall carom to finish
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5-15(M)--GOITIA 2ND PERFECT GAME IN A ROW
Diego was impressive last Saturday, very impressive. But today Goitia equaled his 12 consecutive Game 10 points AND won his SECOND CONSECUTIVE PERFECT GAME 10. I missed the first couple of shots of the first point because, again, the game came on earlier than it usually does. No matter. Goitia wasn't playing yet.
Here's how he did it.
1 Erik 2 Zulaia 3 Ithurria 4 Goitia 5 Barandika 6 Diego 7 Amigorena 8 Arrieta
1(0)-2(0) ?; balls in play; Zulaika - (got to this point when this happened so it may have been Erik +)
1(1)-3(0) 3; Erik +; overhead pass
1(2)-4(0) 8; Goitia +; dejada after excellent point by both
4(1)-5(0) 3; Goitia +; chula
4(2)-6(0) 3; Goitia +; two wall (left-front) carom
4(3)-7(0) 5; Amigorena -; dropped catch
4(4)-8(0) 3; Goitia +; left wall pass
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2nd round
*4(5)-2(0) 7; Goitia+ big bounce
Goitia wins (7) Erik second (2) Zulaika 3rd after another "throw a bucket of paint on a Picasso" playoff (although the Zulaika-Diego show point made it a bucket of gold paint). It was a short but electric point, which shows just how professional these guys are. I have decided not to cover playoffs in perfect games as, IMHO, they simply dull the glow.
Goitia 5 points played 5 points won (+4 -0). It took 29 balls in play to win. Goitia had 17. First point and last were the most difficult. Great game for Goitia.
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For the week ending May 12.
5/12(M) G 10--ANOTHER PERFECT GAME--GOITIA
There has been a surfeit of Perfect games lately at Dania. I tuned in for G9 to get ready for G10 and that was absolutely not a perfect game. In fact I thought it would never end. I think Diego-Salegi were up 4 times to finally get the win. And then a 4 team playoff for 4th place. That game must have taken close to a half hour.
Anyway, in G10 Goitia took the PG in 33 balls in play and about 5 minutes. The final point was an 11 ball point, so he took the other 6 points in 22 balls. He had 4 dejadas in the first 5 points, all on 3 ball points, meaning his serve was so good that he got easy catches and close second throws. Finally Zulaika made him move back and forced an excellent save before Goitia beat him with a chula. Then came his toughest point, against Barandika, an 11 ball marathon that he finally won with...another dejada. So 5 dejadas and a chula. And the 7th point, you ask? Against #3 Diego, Diego took the serve and tried the high risk overhead outside deep pass that started him on his way to yesterday's perfect game. This time he threw it off the court. Deigo quickly went out of the playoff with another bad throw. Interestingly, Erik did the same thing he did in yesterday's Matinee, taking second place, stopping Ithurria at PPP with a 2 wall carom, and following that with a chula and chic-chac. 6 consecutive points after two perfect games yesterday and today. So, in a way, I guess he was perfect twice also.
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5/11(E) GAME 10--HE DID IT AGAIN!!!
The main thing is that Diego, with the exception of 1 dropped catch, could have run two perfect games today. This time, from the 1 slot, he was, if possible, more devastating than in the afternoon. He opened with 5 winners (3 consecutive aces, although the second "ace" was aided by Leke throwing away the return), a dejada and a two wall. The 5 winners made 12 consecutive points in this game today. These 5 came on 11 balls in play in two minutes. I don't know if there are any records for consecutive points won in the same game, or consecutive perfect games in the same game, but it came to an end with a simple dropped catch against Goitia, who won the 8 ball point. It also let everyone else into the game.
No one took advantage as the second round was filled with errors (Goitia threw one too high, Zulaika faulted, Leke scored an ace when Erik dropped an easy serve, and Diego won the game when he came back and Ithurria dropped a catch). So for Diego, 6 points won, 1 lost, and he was +5 -1. For the two Game 10s today he won 13 points, lost one and was +11 -1. Not a bad haul. And about as dominant a day in this game as can be imagined. For tonight's game there were by all +11 -5, but two of the winners were "aces" that were dropped or thrown away by the receiver. So actually +9 -7
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5/11(M) GAME 10--THE SUBLIME FOLLOWED BY THE RIDICULOUS--DIEGO--PERFECT GAME
Game 10 took 10 minutes. It started at 4:18. Diego won from the 2 with an undefeated perfect game in 4 minutes. It took 26 balls in play for him to annihilate his opposition. He was +6 -0 (Barrandika helped him with a rebote off the top pad). It was one of the most devastatingly dominant demonstrations of the Jai Alai art that I have seen in my short time watching the Quiniela game. Like cutting butter with a chain saw. He started by intercepting Erik's serve and beating him with an amazing high and deep outside pass (I don't know whether he two walled it or not). He followed that with an ace, another outside pass, a dejada, a perfect left wall pass (after two great rebote saves on the point against Urtaran, who gave him the most resistance in a 7 ball point), Barrandika's error, and a perfect chula to put away Zulaika and the field.
THAT WAS THE SUBLIME PART
The ridiculous part was the 6 minute (that seemed like 6 hour) playoff for place and show. 8 points were played in the last 6 minutes. 4 of them ended in errors. Because the points were being played so fast and because I don't understand the rules for how a 7 team playoff works, I may have gotten some of it wrong. No matter. The whole ridiculous exercise put me in a place that showed me that such playoffs have little meaning outside of the fact that they pay the bills. It was like throwing a bucket of paint on a Picasso.
But the first 4 minutes... that man can play! If you want to see the best player (in my opinion) on the roster, watch #22. He is maddening sometimes, with the over and underserves, and sometimes I don't understand how he doesn't win more, but a game like the one he played today, well, let's just say it was worth the wait, and perhaps it's not too good an idea to stare into the sun for too long.
