This is a current awareness blog that links to the latest sources of information on Basque Pelota matches and Tournaments. It covers all of both North and South Basque modalities: Pro and amateur. It links to match stories, statistics and video highlights and/or full match videos. !!!NEW CESTA PUNTA PRO TOUR 2024 CESTA NADAU--DECEMBER 6, 13, 20, 2024---JAI ALAI LEAGUE (EREMAN!) WINTER SERIES--OCTOBER 2024--FEBRUARY 2025!!!

Showing posts with label South Basque. Show all posts
Showing posts with label South Basque. Show all posts

Thursday, October 31, 2024

JAI ALAI/CESTA PUNTA--JAI ALAI LEAGUE (EREMAN!) JAI ALAI WINTER SERIES 2024-25 (Gernika)

JAI ALAI LEAGUE (EREMAN!) WINTER SERIES 2024-25 INTRODUCTION  

JAI ALAI LEAGUE (EREMAN!) JAI ALAI WINTER SERIES 2024-25 (Gernika) 

Note: Links to All Jai Alai Winter Series full match videos back to 2021-2 are available from EITB TV Winter Series Page (click on "Gernika 4 Denboraldia". JAWS 2023-24 (16 full match videos), JAWS 2022-2023 (16 full match videos), and JAWS 2021-2022 (9 full match videos).

You can follow the entire tournament via EITB (Basque). The main Tournament page will give the scores of each match, standings, with links to match articles,  and the entire schedule. It is very easy for you to translate the EITB coverage via any number of translators or automatically through your computer. I will give no spoiler links to each match video.

TOURNAMENT PREVIEW (JAI ALAI NEWS VIA MANISTA.COM) (CASTILIAN AND BASQUE)

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FINAL: 

FEBRUARY 16, 2025

LUDOVIC LADUCHE--MIKEL MANCISIDOR (GROUP A, #2)
(4-2, 172-150, [+22])

v

ARITZ ERKIAGA--ION IBARLUZEA (GROUP B, #2)
(5-1, 180-144, [+36])


SCORES, STANDINGS, MATCH ARTICLES (CLICK ON SCORE FOR LINK TO MATCH ARTICLES)

MATCH PREVIEW (JAI ALAI NEWS VIA MANISTA.COM (CASTILIAN)

MATCH ARTICLE (JAI ALAI NEWS VIA MANISTA.COM) (CASTIILIAN) 

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SEMI-FINAL ROUND ROBIN LEAGUE

Day 6 (FEBRUARY 10,  2025)
 
ENAUT URRIESTI--GORKA SOROZABAL (GROUP A, #1) v
THOMAS URRUTIA--THIBAULT BASQUE (GROUP B, #1)


SCORES, STANDINGS, MATCH ARTICLES (CLICK ON SCORE FOR LINK TO MATCH ARTICLES)

MATCH PREVIEW (JAI ALAI NEWS VIA MANISTA.COM (CASTILIAN)

MATCH ARTICLE (MANISTA.COM) (BASQUE) (ADDED FEBRARY 12, 2025).

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Day 5 (FEBRUARY 3,  2025)

LUDOVIC LADUCHE--MIKEL MANCISIDOR (GROUP A, #2) v
ARITZ ERKIAGA--ION IBARLUZEA (GROUP B, #2)


SCORES, STANDINGS, MATCH ARTICLES (CLICK ON SCORE FOR LINK TO MATCH ARTICLES)

MATCH PREVIEW (JAI ALAI NEWS VIA MANISTA.COM (CASTILIAN)

MATCH ARTICLE (JAI ALAI NEWS VIA MANISTA.COM) (CASTILIAN) 

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Day 4 (JANUARY 27,  2025)

ENAUT URRIESTI--GORKA SOROZABAL (GROUP A, #1) v
LUDOVIC LADUCHE--MIKEL MANCISIDOR (GROUP A, #2)


SCORES, STANDINGS, MATCH ARTICLES (CLICK ON SCORE FOR LINK TO MATCH ARTICLES)

MATCH PREVIEW (JAI ALAI NEWS VIA MANISTA.COM (BASQUE)

MATCH ARTICLE (JAI ALAI NEWS VIA MANISTA.COM) (CASTILIAN) INCLUDES UP TO DATE SEMI-FINAL LEAGUE STANDINGS

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Day 3 (JANUARY 20,  2025)

ENAUT URRIESTI--GORKA SOROZABAL (GROUP A, #1) v
ARITZ ERKIAGA--ION IBARLUZEA (GROUP B, #2)


SCORES, STANDINGS, MATCH ARTICLES (CLICK ON SCORE FOR LINK TO MATCH ARTICLES)

MATCH PREVIEW (JAI ALAI NEWS VIA MANISTA.COM (CASTILIAN)

MATCH ARTICLE (JAI ALAI NEWS VIA MANISTA.COM) (BASQUE) INCLUDES A LISTING OF THE FINAL 3 SEMI-FINAL LEAGUE MATCHES

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Day 2 (JANUARY 13,  2025)

THOMAS URRUTIA--THIBAULT BASQUE (GROUP B, #1) v
LUDOVIC LADUCHE--MIKEL MANCISIDOR (GROUP A, #2)


SCORES, STANDINGS, MATCH ARTICLES (CLICK ON SCORE FOR LINK TO MATCH ARTICLES)

MATCH PREVIEW, INCLUDING THE ENTIRE SEMI-FINAL SCHEDULE (JAI ALAI NEWS VIA MANISTA.COM (CASTILIAN)

MATCH ARTICLE (JAI ALAI NEWS VIA MANISTA.COM) (CASTILIAN) 

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Day 1 (JANUARY 6,  2025)

THOMAS URRUTIA--THIBAULT BASQUE (GROUP B, #1) v
ARITZ ERKIAGA--ION IBARLUZEA (GROUP B, #2)


SCORES, STANDINGS, MATCH ARTICLES (CLICK ON SCORE FOR LINK TO MATCH ARTICLES)

MATCH PREVIEW, INCLUDING THE ENTIRE SEMI-FINAL SCHEDULE (JAI ALAI NEWS VIA MANISTA.COM (CASTILIAN)

MATCH ARTICLE (JAI ALAI NEWS VIA MANISTA.COM) (BASQUE) 

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LEAGUE ROUND ROBIN

Day 10 (December 30,  2024)

GROUP B:

1. ARITZ ERKIAGA--ION IBARLUZEA v 
THOMAS URRUTIA--THIBAULT BASQUE

GROUP B:

2. JOHAN SOROZABAL--UNAI LEKERIKABEASKOA (LEKE) v
JEAN OLHARAN--JON ZABALA

FULL MATCH VDEO FOR BOTH MATCHES, IN THE ABOVE ORDER (EITB)

SCORES, STANDINGS, MATCH ARTICLES (CLICK ON SCORE FOR LINK TO MATCH ARTICLES)

MATCH PREVIEW (JAI ALAI NEWS VIA MANISTA.COM) (CASTILIAN)

NOTE: THIS ENDS THE LEAGUE PHASE OF THE COMPETITION. THE SEMI-FINAL LEAGUE PHASE BEGINS JANUARY 6, 2025. THIS IS A LEAGUE ROUND ROBIN AMONGST THE TOP 2 TEAMS IN GROUP A AND B. IT WILL BE HELD ON JANUARY 6, 13, 20, 27, FEBRUARY 3, AND 10. THE TOP TWO TEAMS IN THIS LEAGUE WILL MEET IN THE FINAL ON FEBRURAY 16. 

FOR FULL FINAL LEAGUE STANDINGS, CONSULT THE SCORES, STANDINGS, MATCH ARTICLES LINK ABOVE. SCROLL DOWN PAST THE SEMI-FINAL MATCH UPS.

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Day 9 (December 23,  2024)

GROUP A:

XABIER BARANDIKA--IMANOL LOPEZ
ALEX GOITIA--JULEN DEL RIO/ORTZI ALDAZABAL (ARGOITIA I)

NOTE: JULEN DEL RIO SUFFERED A CALF INJURY AND HAD TO RETIRE AFTER THE FIRST SET. HE WAS REPLACED BY 17 YEAR OLD ARGOITIA I


SCORES, STANDINGS, MATCH ARTICLES (CLICK ON SCORE FOR LINK TO MATCH ARTICLES)

MATCH PREVIEW (JAI ALAI NEWS VIA MANISTA.COM) (BASQUE)

MATCH ARTICLE (CASTILIAN)

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Day 8 (December 16,  2024)

GROUP A:

LUDOVIC LADUCHE--MIKEL MANCISIDOR v
ALEX GOITIA--JULEN DEL RIO 


SCORES, STANDINGS, MATCH ARTICLES (CLICK ON SCORE FOR LINK TO MATCH ARTICLES)

MATCH PREVIEW (JAI ALAI NEWS VIA MANISTA.COM) (CASTILIAN)

MATCH ARTICLE (MANISTA.COM) (CASTILIAN)  

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Day 7 (December 9,  2024)

GROUP A:

LUDOVIC LADUCHE--MIKEL MANCISIDOR v
XABIER BARANDIKA--IMANOL LOPEZ


SCORES, STANDINGS, MATCH ARTICLES (CLICK ON SCORE FOR LINK TO MATCH ARTICLES)

MATCH ARTICLE (JAI ALAI NEWS VIA MANISTA.COM) (BASQUE)  (added December 12, 2024)

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Day 6 (December 2,  2024)

GROUP B:

JOHAN SOROZABAL--UNAI LEKERIKABEASKOA (LEKE) v
THOMAS URRUTIA--THIBAULT BASQUE


SCORES, STANDINGS, MATCH ARTICLES (CLICK ON SCORE FOR LINK TO MATCH ARTICLES)

MATCH PREVIEW (JAI ALAI NEWS VIA MANISTA.COM) (CASTILIAN)
MATCH ARTICLE (JAI ALAI NEWS VIA MANISTA.COM) (CASTILIAN)  

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Day 5 (November 25, 2024)

GROUP A:

ENAUT URRIESTI--GORKA SOROZABAL v
LUDOVIC LADUCHE--MIKEL MANCISIDOR 


SCORES, STANDINGS, MATCH ARTICLES (CLICK ON SCORE FOR LINK TO MATCH ARTICLES)

MATCH PREVIEW (JAI ALAI NEWS VIA MANISTA.COM) (CASTILIAN)
MATCH ARTICLE (JAI ALAI NEWS VIA MANISTA.COM) (CASTILIAN)

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Day 4 (November 18, 2024)

GROUP B:

ARITZ ERKIAGA--ION IBARLUZEA v
JEAN OLHARAN--JON ZABALA 


SCORES, STANDINGS, MATCH ARTICLES (CLICK ON SCORE FOR LINK TO MATCH ARTICLES)

MATCH PREVIEW (MANISTA.COM) (CASTILIAN)
MATCH ARTICLE (JAI ALAI NEWS VIA MANISTA.COM) (BASQUE)

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Day 3 (November 11, 2024)

GROUP A:

ENAUT URRIESTI--GORKA SOROZABAL v
XABIER BARANDIKA--IMANOL LOPEZ


SCORES, STANDINGS, MATCH ARTICLES (CLICK ON SCORE FOR LINK TO MATCH ARTICLES)

MATCH PREVIEW (JAI ALAI NEWS VIA MANISTA.COM) (BASQUE)
MATCH ARTICLE (JAI ALAI NEWS VIA MANISTA.COM) (BASQUE)

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Day 2 (November 4, 2024)

GROUP B:

JEAN OLHARAN--JON ZABALA v
THOMAS URRUTIA--THIBAULT BASQUE


SCORES, STANDINGS, MATCH ARTICLES (CLICK ON SCORE FOR LINK TO MATCH ARTICLES)

JAI ALAI NEWS DID NOT PROVIDE A MATCH ARTICLE FOR THIS MATCH
MATCH PREVIEW (JAI ALAI NEWS VIA MANISTA.COM (BASQUE)

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Day 1 (October 28, 2024)

GROUP B:

ARITZ ERKIAGA--ION IBARLUZEA v
JOHAN SOROZABAL--UNAI LEKERIKABEASKOA (LEKE)

 GROUP A:

ALEX GOITIA--JULEN DEL RIO v
ENAUT URRIESTI--GORKA SOROZABAL

FULL MATCH VIDEO (EITB--In the order listed above)

SCORES, STANDINGS, MATCH ARTICLES (CLICK ON SCORE FOR LINK TO MATCH ARTICLES)

MATCH PREVIEW (JAI ALAI NEWS VIA MANISTA.COM) (CASTILIAN)
MATCH ARTICLE (JAI ALAI NEWS VIA MANISTA.COM) (CASTILIAN)


Wednesday, October 30, 2024

JAI ALAI/CESTA PUNTA--JAI ALAI LEAGUE (EREMAN!) JAI ALAI WINTER SERIES 2024-25 (Gernika)

JAI ALAI LEAGUE (EREMAN!) WINTER SERIES 2024-25 INTRODUCTION  

JAI ALAI LEAGUE (EREMAN!) JAI ALAI WINTER SERIES 2024-25 (Gernika)

Note: Links to All Jai Alai Winter Series full match videos back to 2021-2 are available from EITB TV Winter Series Page (click on "Gernika 4 Denboraldia". JAWS 2023-24 (16 full match videos), JAWS 2022-2023 (16 full match videos), and JAWS 2021-2022 (9 full match videos).

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The 2024-2025 Jai Alai League (Ereman!) Season opened with the first League match of the Jai Alai Winter Series (Gernika). This is a Grand Slam Tournament with 8 pairs, 4 in each of 2 groups. It will consist of a single round robin. The top two teams in each division will then square off in the semi finals, Group A#1 v Group B#2 and Group B#1 v Group A#2. The two winners will face each other in the final. The 16 match tournament will be played (2 matches the first week) one match per week for the rest of the tournament, with the groups alternating, each Monday night, with the exception of New Years Eve and the Final, which will be held on Sunday afternoon. All matches will be streamed on delay and then on demand via EITB. 

You can follow the entire tournament via EITB (Basque). The main Tournament page will give the scores of each match, standings, with links to match articles,  and the entire schedule. It is very easy for you to translate the EITB coverage via any number of translators or automatically through your computer. I will give no spoiler links to each match video. 

Scoring: 2 sets to 15 with a tie breaker to 5

2-0 win=4 points
2-1 win=3 points
1-2 loss=1 point
0-2 loss=0 points 

Standings ties will be broken by net point differential

Group A:

ALEX GOITIA--JULEN DEL RIO
ENAUT URREISTI--GORKA SOROZABAL
XABIER BARANDIKA--IMANOL LOPEZ
LUDOVIC LADUCHE--MIKEL MANZICIDOR

Group B:

ARITZ ERKIAGA--ION IBARLUZEA
JOHAN SOROZABAL--UNAI LEKERIKABEASKOA (LEKE)
THOMAS URRUTIA--THIBAULT BASQUE
JEAN OLHARAN--JON ZABALA






Thursday, February 22, 2024

JAI ALAI/CESTA PUNTA--JAI ALAI LEAGUE (EREMAN!) WOMEN'S WINTER LEAGIUE 24 BEGINS--INTRODUCTION

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JAI ALAI LEAGUE (EREMAN!) WOMEN'S WINTER LEAGUE 2024 INTRODUCTION  

JAI ALAI LEAGUE (EREMAN!) WOMEN'S WINTER SERIES 2024 (DURANGO)

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The 2024 Jai Alai League (Ereman!) and EUSKOTREN ("a public company of the Basque Government are the promoters of  the Women's Winter Series Tournament (February, 26, March 4, and March 11, to be played at recently renovated and remodeled Ezkurdi Fronton (EITB), Durango (Wikipedia), with 4 pairs. It is a Master Tournament, consisting of 2 Semi-finals and a Final. All three matches will be streamed on demand by EITB. In addition,  there will be a Men's Masters singles Tournament featuring Aritz Erkiaga, Unai Lekerikabeaskoa, Ludovic Laduche, and Johan Sorozabal (top finishers in the FINAL FOUR tournament, which was held last October between the top finishers in the 2023 Summer Partidos). Complete details of matchups and dates, along with other relevant information is available via Jai Alai News Facebook (Basque, with links to 19 photos). Note that a Facebook membership is not required. Simply click on the circled X and you will be linked. 

An English Google translate of the Facebook article is available below.

EITB and the Jai Alai League are promoting this competition heavily in order to shine a spotlight on the growth of the Women's game in the Basque country. The Women's game is growing by leaps and bounds, with the players improving exponentially. The fact that EITB is televising all of the matches on a slight delay, in the same time slot as was used for the recently completed Jai Alai Winter Series, speaks volumes about the importance of promoting the Women's game. And the secondary Men's tournament won't be too bad either.

The blog will cover this Tournament as it did the JAWS, with No Spoiler and Spoiler sections separated by a ===== barrier.

GOOGLE ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF TOURNAMENT INFORMATION

EUSKOTREN WOMEN WINTER SERIES
DURANGO WILL TAKE GERNIKA'S WITNESS!
Take it!

From Monday, the best female cesta Punta players will compete in Ezkurdi, in the Euskotren Winter Series tournament.

Lizardi's injury has opened the door for young Elaia Gogenola and she is the main novelty.

Last year's champions Erika and Arai will not repeat as a couple.

In the men's individual competition Erkiaga, Johan, Laduche and Lekerika will compete.
ETB 1 will offer all the matches: February 26 and March 4 and 11.

The women's cesta punta has its main date in Ezkurdi of Durango from this Monday. After last year's success, the Women Winter Series tournament has its second edition, this time also under the auspices of EUSKOTREN, the public company of the Basque Government. It has been working for women's sports in the South Basque Country for several years and now it has taken another step, jumping to the top of the basket.

The stage, of course, will be the historic Ezkurdi stadium. It's only been a year since it was repaired and inaugurated and Durango is once again among the most important squares of Cesta Punta, with the Women Winter Series, the Individual Series or the Final Four of the Jai Alai League, that was played by the top scoring players in the 2023 Summer League.

Lizardi's injury and the novelty of Gogenola

In terms of the sports approach, there is a significant change in this year's edition. Eneritz Lizardi from Mutriko, who is a reference in women's cesta punta, will not participate. The defender from Gipuzkoa has a fracture in the right knee cruciate ligament.

She will undergo surgery on March 14 and according to the forecasts she will be out of the courts for half a year. This unfortunate news has opened a door for a new player. Elaia Gogenola (Born, 2007) strong and courageous striker.

Women's cesta punta is still a growing sport and Eraman has chosen five forwards and three defenders to organize a high level tournament. 
It is therefore mandatory for a striker to play in the back court. This has happened many times in the ball world and in the cesta point and it also shows the ability of a ball player to adapt. That being the case, Ihart Arakistain from Sopela will play as a defender. If Arakistein performs well, it will open up opportunities for her to play as a striker or a defender in the future. Her partner will be Elaia Gogenola, new this year. Both are members of the Berriatu club and know each other well.

Champions will not repeat as a pair

Erika Mugartegi and Arai Lejardi from Marina (?) are last year's champions, but this year they will not repeat as a couple. Mugartegi will play with Maialen Aldazabal from New York and Lejardi with Helena Barrenetxea from Durango. Lejardi is at the top of the ball: she is the current champion of the Winter Series and Buruz Buru and the point guard that all opponents want to beat. 

The other couple that will participate in the tournament is made up of Maite Ortiz de Mendibil from Gasteiz and Frida Watkins from Zumaia.

Individual Series

Four players will take part in the men's head-to-head in Erama! In the Individual Series organized by the company: the main favorite Aritz Erkiaga, Johan Sorozabal, Ludovic Laduch and Unai Lekerika.

February 26

19:00  SEMI-FINALS
HELENA-ARAI vs MAITE-FRIDA (WS)
Johan vs Laduche (Single Series)

March 4
 
19:00  SEMI-FINALS
ERIKA-MAIALEN vs ELAIA-IHART (WS)
Erkiaga vs Lekerika (Individual Series)

FINALS on March 11

All matches can be seen on ETB 1, on Mondays from 22:15.

Vouchers and tickets
Tournament tickets and vouchers are available at www.eramanjaialai.com .

Reviving the cesta-punta in Durango

A year after the inauguration of Ezkurdi, the zesta punta has been revived in Durango. With the formation of the new club, they already have 44 players, but in all there are 64 players who are training with the Ezkurdin basket. First, there was a lack of young players and now, there is a lack of free hours on the court in Durango.

Aritz Erkiaga, the player of ERAMAN!, is the instructor of the club. He is the main point of reference for the cesta school in Durango. Aritz's bold and spectacular play is, to one degree or another, what all fans want to see.

Players

HELENA BARRENETXEA (Durango, 2007)
ARAI LEJARDI (Markina-Xemein, 2007)
MAITE ORTIZ DE MENDIBIL (Gasteiz, 2005)
FRIDA WATKINS (Zumaia, 2008)
ERIKA MUGARTEGI (Markina-Xemein, 2008)
MAIALEN ALDAZABAL (2006)
ELAIA GOGENOLA (2007)
IHART ARAKISTAIN (Sopela, 2006)

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JAI ALAI LEAGUE (EREMAN!) WOMEN'S WINTER LEAGUE 2024 INTRODUCTION  

JAI ALAI LEAGUE (EREMAN!) WOMEN'S WINTER SERIES 2024 (DURANGO)

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Thursday, January 11, 2024

JAI ALAI/CESTA PUNTA: HEGOALDE (SOUTH BASQUE): JAI ALAI WORLD TOUR/WORLD PELOTA ASSOCIATION 2023 WORLD SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP--WOMEN'S AND MEN'S--COMPLETE

Munduko Pilota Batzarra (World Pelota Association) and Jai Alai World Tour  sponsored the 2023 World Singles Championship, played at Mendibarren Fronton, Berriatua (1--Frontons.net) (2--City, Wikipedia)

This was a seeded Tournament, with the higher seeded players entering in later rounds. There were  1/8, Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, and a Final. There was also a women's pairs Tournament, set up in the same fashion. Unfortunately there is no information available for the Women's Tournament before the Quarter Finals. 

The entire Tournament ran from December 1, 2023 through January 5, 2024, with Qurater Finals beginning on December 16. The Finals of both tournaments were televised by EITB.

Mendibarren is a 48 meter court, and has become the home of this tournament recently, after several years at 38 meter Bizkaia (Bilbo) Fronton. It is, in my opinion, a perfect court for the singles game.

We have little to no match information about any of these matches, but the Berritxu Zesta Eskola Facebook page  (click on the X if you don't have a Facebook account) provided scores and linescores for all matches.  Note that if you are unable to directly access the  Facebook links below, try using this link and then tracking back to the relevant links. Dates are noted for each match below.

As all of those posts include photos (69 total) I will link to them. The posts were all in Basque.


NON SPOILER:

Both women's and men's Finals were streamed by EITB. I will present this link in a non spoiler fashion, followed by a === barrier. Below that, all information (scores, linescores, available statistics, final standings of the players, selected Google translated match articles, and more, will be available.

January 5, 2024

Finals:

Women's

MAITE ORTIZ DE MENDIBIL (Deia article--Castilian) v
ARAI LEGARDI (linked information contains spoilers, see the link below)

Men's

ERIK MENDIZABAL (substituting for IMANOL LOPEZ)


Women's match begins at: 0:00 on the video
Men's match begins at 50:14 on the video

Note that between the end of the Women's match and beginning of the Men's match there is a ceremony celebrating the career of Aimar Aldazabal, who retired after 21 years as a professional player.

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SPOILERS

NOTE: THE MAIN THEME OF THIS TOURNAMENT, AS SHOWN BY THE MATCH ARTICLES AND VIDEOS AVAILABLE, WAS THAT IT WAS A MEN'S AND WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT. 16 MEN AND 8 WOMEN WERE INVOLVED. THE MEN PLAYED 15 MATCHES, THE WOMEN PLAYED PLAYED 9 FROM THE QUARTER-FINAL LEVEL ON. THERE WERE EARLIER WOMEN'S ROUNDS, BUT THERE WAS NO COVERAGE THAT I COULD FIND REGARDING THOSE EARLIER MATCHES.

WOMEN'S CESTA PUNTA IS QUICKLY GROWING AND BECOMING POPULAR IN THE BASQUE COUNTRY. THE QUALITY HAS IMPROVED BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. JUDGE FOR YOURSELF IN THE ONE MATCH THAT WAS TELEVISED.

AS FAR AS THE MEN ARE CONCERNED, ARITZ ERKIAGA, AT PRESENT, TOWERS OVER THE CESTA PUNTA WORLD LIKE THE COLOSSUS OF RHODES. HE WAS SEEDED LATE IN THE TOURNAMENT AND DID NOT DISAPPOINT. HE WON 3 MATCHES, ALL IN STRAIGHT SETS, AND HAD AN ASTRONOMICAL 41 NET POINTS, MEANING THAT HE WAS WINNING EACH SET BY AN AVERAGE OF 12-5. HIS WINNING SCORES WERE 12-10, 12-5, 12-4, 12-1, 12-5, AND 12-6. 

HE TRAILED MIKEL MANCISIDOR BY 4 POINTS IN THE FIRST SET, BUT RALLIED TO WIN THAT. HE NEVER TRAILED BY MORE THAN ON POINT THE REST OF THE WAY, AND ONLY 3 TIMES. HE TOYED WITH ERIK MENDIZABAL (A MULTIPLE SINGLES QUINIELLA CHAMPION AT DANIA BEACH, FLORIDA) IN THE FINAL. MENDIZABAL WAS BROUGHT IN ON SHORT NOTICE WHEN IMANOL LOPEZ WAS UNABLE TO PLAY DUE TO INJURY. THIS MAY HAVE EFFECTED HIS PERFORMANCE, BUT NOBODY WAS GOING TO BEAT ERKIAGA. 

IT WAS ERKIAGA'S 3RD CONSECUTIVE SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP, AFTER DEFEATING IMANOL LOPEZ AND AIMAR ALDAZABAL THE LAST TWO YEARS. IT WAS HIS 4TH SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP OVERALL. ALDAZABAL RETIRED AFTER THIS TOURNAMENT, ENDING A 21 YEAR CAREER IN THE SPORT.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE LACK OF COMPETITIVE FINALS BELIED THE FACT THAT THIS WAS A TERRIFICALLY COMPETITIVE TOURNAMENT, WITH SOME SPECTACULAR MATCHES. THE ONLY EVIDENCE OF THIS IS THE PRESENTATION OF LINESCORES FOR EACH MATCH (SEE BELOW).

I HAVE LINKED TO THE RELEVENT POSTS DUE TO THE 69 PHOTOS THEY CONTAINED. I HAVE COPIED OUT THE LINESCORES BELOW.

THE BEST WAY TO FOLLOW THE TOURNAMENT FROM BEGINNING TO END IS BY STARTING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST.

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JANUARY 5, 2024
                                                                                                     
DAY 8: FINALS



Note that between the end of the Women's match and the beginning of the Men's match there was a ceremony to mark the retirement of Aimar Aldazabal, who finished off a 21 year career playing both front and back court, beginning at Fort Pierce Florida in 2003, playing in US quiniella Leagues at Fort Pierce and Dania Beach, among others. He began his sporting life at the Berriartua Club, so his final performance (today's doubles match--see below, which was not streamed), took place at his home Fronton. Cesta Punta Pro Tour website lists 8 Championships among his finest performances.  

Women's match begins at 0:00 on the video.
Men's match begins at 50:14 on the video.

WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT

ARAI LEGARDI (2-0; +17) 2 (click on right arrow at top left of screen)
Deia Interview (Castilian)
12-8, 12-5 (24-13)

Linescores (match winner always listed 1st)

Set 1:

0-1; 2-1; 2-2; 3-2; 3-3; 5-3; 5-5; 8-5; 8-6; 10-6; 10-7; 11-7; 11-8; 12-8
-1;+1;=;+1;=;+2;=;+3;+2;+4;+3;+4;+3;+4
4 equal scores, 1 lead change

Set 2: 

4-0; 4-1; 5-1; 5-3; 6-3; 6-4; 9-4; 9-5; 12-5
+4;+3;+4;+2;+3;+2;+5;+4;+7
0 equal scores, 0 lead changes

Scoring (EITB)

Lejardi +18 -5
Ortize de Mendibil +8 -6

Total Score: +26 -11 (.703)

Balls in Play: 129

Lejardi 69 (50 on the bounce, 19 in the air)
Ortiz de Mendibil 60 (46, 14)

Non-error Percent (BIP - errors) / BIP (129 - 11)/ 129 (.915)

Avg. BIP per point: 4.4

Time of the match: 32:25 (entire time of the match, EITB did not keep track of actual playing time.

Avg. Time per Point: 52.6 seconds

ARAI LEGARDI WINS THE WOMEN'S SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP (3-0; +28)

Women's Final Standings

ARAI LEGARDI:            3-0 +28 Champion
MAITE ORTIZ DE MENDIBIL: 2-1 +11 2nd Place
ERIKA MUGARTEGI:         1-1   0
IHART ARAKISTAIN:        1-1  -1
MAIALEN ALDAZABALl:      0-1  -7
ELAIA GOGENOLA:          0-1  -8
ENERITZ LIZARDI:         0-1  -8
OIHANA SOROZABAL:        0-1 -15

MEN'S TOURNAMENT 

ARITZ ERKIAGA (2-0, +28) 2
ERIK MENDIZABAL (substituting for IMANOL LOPEZ) (2-0, +3) 0
12-5, 12-6 (24-11)

Linescores (match winner always listed 1st)

Set 1:

3-0; 3-1; 4-1; 4-3; 10-3; 10-5; 12-5 
+3;+2;+3;+1;+7;+5;+7
0 equal scores, 0 lead changes

Set 2: 

1-0; 1-2; 6-2; 6-4; 10-4; 10-6; 12-6
+1;-1;+4;+2;+6;+4;+6
2 equal scores, 2 lead changes

Scoring (EITB)

Erkiaga +17 -2
Mendizabal +9 -7

Total Score: +26 -9 (.743)

Balls in Play: 181

Non-error Percent (BIP - errors) / BIP (181-9) / 181: .950

Erkiaga: 97 (80 on the bounce, 17 in the air)
Mendizabal 84 (76, 8)

Avg. Balls per Point: 5.2

Time of the match: 36:23 (entire time of the match, EITB did not keep track of actual playing time.

Avg. Time per Point: 62.4 seconds

ARITZ ERKIAGA WINS THE MEN'S SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP (3-0; +41)

In addition there was a "curtain raiser" 

JOKIN ARBE--ROBERTO LEKUE (manista.com) 25
(Alberdi interview, Xistera Kluba, Basque, Castilian, or French)

Men's Final Standings

ARITZ ERKIAGA:        3-0 +41; Champion
ERIK MENDIZABAL:      2-1 -10; Runner up
COSME AGUIRRE:        2-1  +4
MIKEL MANZICIDOR:     2-1  +2
LUDOVIC LADUCHE:      1-1 +13
AIMAR ALDAZABAL:      1-1  +4
JOHAN SOROZABAL:      1-1  +3
ANTXON ALBERDI:       1-1  -8
URKO LEKERIKABEASKOA: 1-1 -13
JULEN DEL RIO:        1-1 -18
THIBAULT BASQUE:      0-1  +2
ALEX GOITIA:          0-1  -2
ROBERTO LEKUE:        0-1  -3
JON TAMBOURINDEGUY:   0-1  -3
MARTIN:               0-1  -4
JOKIN ARBE:           0-1  -8
IMANOL LOPEZ: DID NOT PLAY DUE TO INJURY


Google English Translation

Arai Lejardi has worn the first cap of the Women's Individual Championship.

Aritz Erkiaga won the individual championship for the third time in a row [January 5], the fourth overall.

Mikel Reina Barros

01/08/2024

Little by little, the girls' cesta point is making progress . It already has the first champion of the Individual Championship: Arai Lejardi. Markina-Xemeindarra overcame Maite Ortiz de Mendibil in two sets [January 5] at the front of Mendibarren Fronton in Berriatu.

The first set was the most equal, everyone tried to impose their game, they were uncomfortable when they didn't play their way, the player from Gasteiz is a forward and Lejardi is a defender. But Lejardi adapted better, especially by delaying the ball with backhands, and won the first set 12-8. With the confidence of winning the set , Markina-Xemeindara worked more comfortably in the second, also she started to win 4-0 and left the set focused. In the end she prevailed 12-5.

Erkiaga also prevailed in two sets against Erik Mendizabal from Mutri. However, it was a tough match, especially physically. The native of Ispaster showed his mastery in front of the spectators who filled the stadium. He scored 16 goals and only missed two. Both puntistas wanted to work on the goals from the beginning, but Erkiaga finished better. He prevailed 12-5 in the first set and 12-6 in the second. The striker wore the cap for the third year in a row in Berriatu.

++++

December 29, 2023

Day 7: Semi-Finals

All 4 Scores (2 women's and 2 men's) and 14 photos

WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT

MATCH 1

ARAI LEJARDI (1-0; +8) 2 (click on right arrow at top left of screen)
IHART ARAKISTAIN (1-0; +8) 1
(from the Final of the Women's Cesta Punta, Championnat de Pelote de Europe 36m, played on June 18, 2022. Arakstain is  Berriatua's Front Court Player--Federation Francaise de Pelote Youtube) 
12-4, 9-12, 5-1 (26-17)

Linescores (match winner always listed 1st)

Set 1:

0-1; 1-1; 1-2; 8-2; 8-3; 11-3; 11-4; 12-4
-1;=;-1;+6;+5;+8;+7;+8
2 equal scores, 1 lead change

Set 2:

0-1; 1-2; 4-2; 4-3; 5-3; 5-7; 6-7; 6-8; 7-8; 7-11; 9-11; 9-12
-1;-1;+2;+1;+2;-2;-1;-2;-1;-4;-2;-3
2 known equal scores, 2 lead changes

Tie breaker:

1-0; 1-1; 5-1
+1;=;+4
1 equal score, 0 lead changesl

LEJARDI ADVANCES TO THE FINAL

MATCH 2

MAITE ORTIZ DE MENDIBIL (1-0; +15) 2 Deia Interview (Castilian)
ERIKA MUGARTEGI (1-0; +7) 0
(from the Final of the Women's Cesta Punta, Championnat de Pelote de Europe 36m, played on June 18, 2022. Mugartegi is Markina's front court  player--Federation Francaise de Pelote Youtube)
12-8, 12-9 (24-17)

Linescores (match winner always listed 1st)

Set 1:

0-3; 5-4; 8-4; 8-6; 10-6; 10-8; 12-8
-3;+1;+4;+2;+4;+2;+4
1 equal score, 0 lead changes

Set 2:

0-1; 1-1; 1-2; 4-2; 4-4; 5-4; 5-5; 6-5; 6-6; 7-6; 7-8; 8-8; 8-9; 12-9
-1;=;-1;+2;=;+1;=;+1;=+1;-1;=;-1;+3
8 equal scores, 3 lead changes

ORTIZ DE MENDIBIL ADVANCES TO THE FINAL

MEN'S TOURNANAMENT

MATCH 1

ARITZ ERKIAGA (1-0; +9) 2
JULEN DEL RIO (1-0; +1) 0
12-4, 12-1 (24-5)

Linescores (match winner always listed 1st)

Set 1:

1-0; 1-2; 3-2; 3-4; 12-4
+1; -1; +1; -1; +8
4 equal scores, 4 lead changes

Set 2: 

9-0; 9-1; 12-1
+9;+8;+11
0 equal scores, 0 lead changes

ERKIAGA ADVANCES TO THE FINAL

MATCH 2

ERIK MENDIZABAL (substituting for IMANOL LOPEZ) (1-0; -1) 2
AIMAR ALDAZABAL (1-0; +8) 0
12-9, 12-11 (24-20)

Linescores (match winner always listed 1st)

Set 1:

1-0; 1-2; 2-2; 2-6; 6-6; 6-7; 8-7; 8-9; 9-9; 9-10; 10-10; 10-11; 12-11
+1;-1;=;-4;=;-1;+1;-1;=;-1;=;-1;+1
8 equal scores, 4 lead changes

Set 2: 

4-0; 4-4; 8-4; 8-5; 10-5; 10-6; 11-6; 11-9; 12-9
+4;=;+4;+3;+5;+4;+5;+2;+3
1 equal score, 0 lead changes

MENDIZABAL ADVANCES TO THE FINAL

++++  

December 23, 2023:

Day 6: Quarter Finals

All 4 Scores (2 women's and 2 men's) and 9 photos

WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT

MATCH 1

MAITE ORTIZ DE MENDIBIL 2 Deia Interview (Castilian)
OIHANA SOROZABAL 0 (French)
12-5, 12-4 (24-9)

Linescores (match winner always listed 1st)

Set 1:

2-0; 2-1; 4-1; 4-5; 12-5
+2;+1;+3;-1;+7
1 equal score, 2 lead changes

Set 2:

5-0; 5-1; 7-1; 7-2; 10-2; 10-4; 12-4
+5;+4;+6;+5;+8;+6;+8
0 equal scores, 0 lead changes

ORTIZ DE MENDIBIL ADVANCES TO THE SEMI-FINALS

MATCH 2

(from the Final of the Women's Cesta Punta, Championnat de Pelote de Europe 36m, played on June 18, 2022. Mugartegi is Markina's front court  player--Federation Francaise de Pelote Youtube)
(from the Final of the Women's Cesta Punta, Championnat de Pelote de Europe 36m, played on June 18, 2022. Aldazabal is Berriatua's back court
player--Federation Francaise de Pelote Youtube)
12-11, 12-6 (24-17)

Linescores (match winner always listed 1st)

Set 1:

0-2; 1-2; 1-6; 2-6; 2-7; 3-7; 3-8; 5-8; 5-10; 9-10; 9-11; 12-11
-2;-1;-5;-4;-5;-4;-5;-3;-5;-1;-2;+1
1 equal score, 1 lead change

Set 2:

1-0; 1-3; 5-3; 5-4; 9-4; 9-6; 12-6
+1;-2;+2;+1;+5;+3;+6
1 equal score, 2 lead changes

MUGARTEGI ADVANCES TO THE SEMI-FINALS

MEN'S TOURNAMENT

Day 6: Quarter Finals

JOHAN SOROZABAL (1-0; +11) 0
12-9, 12-7 (24-16)

Linescores (match winner always listed 1st)

Set 1:

0-1; 1-1; 1-2; 2-2; 2-3; 4-3; 4-4; 5-4; 5-5; 6-5; 6-7; 11-7; 11-9; 12-9
-1;=;-1;=;-1;+1;=;+1;=;+1;-1;+4;+2;+3
7 equal scores, 3 lead changes

Set 2: 

2-0; 2-1; 5-1; 5-3; 6-3; 6-7; 12-7
+2;+1;+4;+2;+3;-1;+5
2 equal scores, 2 lead changes

ALDAZABAL ADVANCES TO THE SEMI-FINALS

MATCH 2

ERIK MENDIZABAL (substituting for IMANOL LOPEZ) 2
LUDOVIC LADUCHE (1-0; +12) 1
12-9, 7-12, 5-4 (24-25)

Linescores (match winner always listed 1st)

Set 1:

0-1; 2-1; 2-3; 4-3; 4-7; 5-8; 8-8; 8-9; 12-9
-1;+1;-1;+1;-3;-3;=;-1;+3
6 equal scores, 5 lead changes

Set 2:

1-0; 1-2; 3-2; 3-5; 5-5; 5-6; 6-6; 6-11; 7-11; 7-12
+1;-1;+1;-2;=;-1;=;-5;-4;-5
5 equal scores, 3 lead changes

Tie breaker:

0-1; 3-1; 3-4; 5-4
-1;+2;-1;+1
3 equal scores, 3 lead changes

MENDIZABAL ADVANCES TO THE SEMI-FINALS

++++

December 16, 2023

Day 5: Quarter Finals

All 4 Scores (2 women's and 2 men's) and 14 photos

WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT

MATCH 1

ARAI LEJARDI(click on right arrow at top left of screen)
(from the Final of the Women's Cesta Punta, Championnat de Pelote de Europe 36m, played on June 18, 2022. Lizardi is Markina's back court  player--Federation Francaise de Pelote Youtube) 
12-9, 12-7 (24-16)

Linescores (match winner always listed 1st)

Set 1:

1-0; 1-2; 2-2; 2-4; 3-5; 6-5; 6-6; 7-6; 7-7; 8-7; 8-8; 10-8; 10-9; 12-9
+1;-1;=;-2;-2;+1;=;+1;=;+1;=+2;+1;+3
6 equal scores, 2 lead changes

Set 2:

0-1; 8-1; 8-3; 9-3; 10-4; 10-7; 12-7
-1;+7;+5;+6;+6;+3;+5
1 equal score, 1 lead change

LEJARDI ADVANCES TO THE SEMI-FINALS

MATCH 2

IHART ARAKISTAIN 2 (from the Final of the Women's Cesta Punta, Championnat de Pelote de Europe 36m, played on June 18, 2022. Arakstain is  Berriatua's Front Court Player--Federation Francaise de Pelote Youtube) 
ELAIA GOGENOLA 0
12-10, 12-6 (24-16)

Linescores (match winner always listed 1st)

Set 1:

4-0; 4-3; 8-3; 8-5; 10-5; 10-10; 12-10
+4;+1;+5;+3;+5;=;+2
1 equal scores, 0 lead changes

Set 2:

3-0; 3-2; 4-2; 4-3; 6-3; 6-4; 10-4; 10-6; 12-6
+3;+1;+2;+1;+3;+2;+6;+4;+6
0 equal scores, 0 lead changes

ARAKISTAIN ADVANCES TO THE SEMI-FINALS

MENS COMPETITION

MATCH 1

MIKEL MANZICIDOR (2-0, +6) 0
12-10, 12-5 (24-15)

Linescores (match winner always listed 1st)

Set 1:

0-3; 2-3; 2-4; 3-4; 3-5; 4-5; 4-8; 9-8; 9-10; 12-10
-3;-1;-2;-1;-2;-1;-4;+1;-1;+2
3 equal scores, 3 lead changes

Set 2:

4-0; 4-2; 5-2; 5-3; 6-3; 6-4; 10-4; 10-5; 12-5
+4;+2;+3;+2;+3;+2;+6;+5;+7
0 equal scores, 0 lead changes

ERKIAGA ADVANCES TO THE SEMI-FINALS

MATCH 2

COSME AGUIRRE (2-0; +6) 1
11-12, 12-11, 5-4 (28-27)

Linescores (match winner always listed 1st)

Set 1:

5-0; 5-5; 6-5; 6-6; 10-6; 10-7; 11-7; 11-12
+5;=;+1;=;+4;+3;+4;-1
3 equal scores, 1 lead change

Set 2:

1-0; 1-1; 2-1; 2-2; 4-2; 4-6; 5-6; 5-9; 6-9; 6-10; 7-10; 7-11; 12-11
+1;=+1;=+2;-2;-1;-4;-3;-4;-3;-4;+1
4 equal scores, 2 lead changes

Tie breaker:

0-2; 2-2; 2-4; 5-4
-2;=;-2;+1
2 equal scores, 1 lead change

WOW!!!

DEL RIO ADVANCES TO THE SEMI-FINALS

Quarter Final Preview (Hitza--Basque)

Google English Translation

For the first time, women will play the Individual Championship
They will play in Berriatua together with the men, the contract to play the tournament in the front of Mendibar ends this year. It will be Aimar Aldazabal's last tournament. The quarter-finals will begin on Saturday [December 16].

Presentation of the individual tournament in Berriat
Mikel Reina Barros
12/12/2023 

The Individual Championship organized by the Berriatu Zesta School, the Berriatu City Council and the World Ball Assembly comes with innovations. For the first time, women will participate. The last four years have been played in Mendibar's fronto, but this year the contract to play there ends. However, in today's [December 12] presentation, the organizers have expressed their intention to continue doing it there.

"Using the good moment of the Zesta-punta, we also wanted to make room for the girls, because they are also on the rise. We notice this at Zesta School, for example, and we wanted to give them a boost", he explained. He said that it is a "great opportunity" to see the best pointe players in Berriatuan and that it has been a tournament that has gained "strength" in the calendar in recent years. They highlighted the success of last year's tournament , both in terms of level and audience.

Mikel Plaza, the head of the World Football Association, explained that the tournament has become a benchmark in the front of Mendibar, and he admitted that he would be "very happy" if it were played there in the next few years: "The head-to-head has become regular there. It's not the most important tournament in the way of handball, but the front is very suitable, and that has opened the doors to other puntists." The mayor of the town, Joseba Goienola, emphasized that the tournament spreads the name of Berriatua around the world: "We don't have a football cathedral or a university, but we do have a school , and a very important one, too. And that is the most important thing in the beginning, to educate young children in all the senses".

The renewed Maialen Aldazabal was "enthusiastic" about playing the individual tournament, and said that in recent years it has strengthened its commitment to women. "We are not used to playing in this way, and we will see how we adapt. It is a new challenge for us and we will learn a lot." When asked about his favourites , he highlighted the names of Arai Lejardi, Elaia Gogenola and Ihart Arakistein and that usually the strikers perform "better", especially when finishing the shot.

Greetings It will be the first individual championship for Maialen, and the last for Aimar Aldazabal, but in general. The native of Berria will say goodbye to professional football, where and in his town. In fact, he has not played a professional match since last year's head-to-head tournament. " I'm full of enthusiasm , because I'm going to play in town. I know that I will lack rhythm and that the young people are coming strong, but it is my front line, and it is the modality that I like the most".

The quarter-finals will be played on December 16 and 23, the semi-finals on December 29 and the finals on January 5. All the festivals will start at 19:30 and the girls' and boys' doubles competition will be played. Tickets will cost 10 euros. They have played preliminary eliminations in the men's division , and Mikel Manzi, Cosme Agirre, Johan Sorozabal and Ludovic Ladutche have qualified to play against last year's four best point guards.

Matches:

December 16:
Erkiaga-Manzi, Del Rio Cosme, Arai-Eneritz and Ihart-Elaia
December 23:
Aimar-Johan, Lopez-Ladutche, Maite-Sorozabal and Erika-Maialen
December 29:
The semi-finals
January 5:
Finals (via EITB)


Google English Translation

Unsurprisingly, the favorites advanced in the Berriatu Individual Championship

On Saturday [December 16] they played the first ever quarter-finals for both men and women.

Mikel Reina Barros

12/18/2023 

The favorites have left no room for surprise in the top-of-the-line Individual Championship in Berriatu, and have entered the semi-finals . On Saturday [December 16] the girls played the Individual Championship for the first time. Two of the names drawn among the favorites played in the presentation and did not have much problem to enter the semi-finals.

Arai Lejardi beat Eneritz Lizardi 2-0. The second team started the game better by leading 3-5, but the Markina-Xemenida showed the ability to turn the score around and made fewer mistakes in the last points: 12-9. In the second, the defender who dominated from the beginning took an 8-1 lead, but even though Lizardi came within three points, she prevailed 12-7.

Ihart Arakistarin also had to work hard in the first set even though Gogenola was losing 10-5 , she was able to get a 10-10 tie , but the last two points were in favor of Arakistarin. In the second set, she went from a 6-4 lead to a 10-4 lead, eventually winning 12-6.

In the men's first ever quarter-final, current champion Aritz Erkiaga noticed Mikel Manzi's greater pace at the start. The team from Mutri came from two playoffs, and in the first set, the team from Ispaster had to squeeze. The defender was ahead 0-3, turned it around 9-8 for the champion to win 12-10. In the second, taking the speed, he went ahead 4-0 until Erkiaga prevailed 12-5.

Without a doubt, the most even match was between Julen Del Rio and Cosme Aguirre, the defender won 2-1. 11-12 prevailed in the first and 12-11 in Gasteiz in the second. The third and final set was even more equal, Del Rio won 5-4.

Matches:

December 23:
Aimar-Johan, Lopez-Ladutche, Maite-Sorozabal and Erika-Maialen
December 29:
The semi-finals
January 5:
Finals (via EITB)

++++

December 9, 2023

Day 4: 1/8

Scores and 7 photos

MATCH 1

ANTXON ALBERDI (1-0; +4) 0  (Xistera Kluba interview, Basque, Castilian, or French)
12-6, 12-6 (24-12)

Linescores (match winner always listed 1st)

Set 1:

1-0; 1-2; 6-2; 6-3; 7-3; 7-4; 8-4; 8-5; 10-5; 10-6; 12-6
+1;-1;+4;+3;+4;+3;+4;+3;+5;+4;+6
1 equal score, 1 lead change

Set 2:

0-1; 5-1; 5-4; 9-4; 9-6; 12-6
-1;+4;+1;+5;+3;+6
1 equal score, 1 lead change

LADUCHE ADVANCES TO THE QUARTER FINALS

MATCH 2

URKO LEKERIKABEASKOA (1-0; -2) 0 (video of Urko in action) 
12-8, 12-5 (24-13)

Linescores (match winner always listed 1st)

Set 1:

3-0; 3-2; 5-2; 5-3; 6-3; 6-4; 10-4; 10-5; 11-5; 11-8; 12-8
+3;+2;+3;+2;+3;+2;+6;+5;+6;+3;+4
0 equal scores, 0 lead changes

Set 2:

4-0; 4-1; 6-1; 6-4; 8-4; 8-5; 12-5
+4;+3;+5;+2;+4;+3+;+7
0 equal scores, 0 lead changes

J.SOROZABAL ADVANCES TO THE QUARTER FINALS 

++++

December 8, 2023

Day 3: 1/8

Scores and 9 photos

MATCH 1

MIKEL MANCISIDOR (1-0, +3) 2
12-8, 12-8 (24-16)

Linescores (match winner always listed 1st)

Set 1:

0-1; 1-1; 1-2; 4-2; 4-5; 5-5; 5-6; 7-6; 7-7; 8-7; 8-8; 12-8
-1;=;-1;+2;-1;=;-1;+1;=;+1;=;+4
7 equal scores, 8 lead changes

Set 2: 

0-1; 2-1; 2-3; 3-3; 3-4; 4-4; 4-5; 5-5; 5-8; 12-8
-1;+1;-1;=;-1;=;-1;=;-3;+4
6 equal scores, 3 lead changes

MANCISIDOR ADVANCES TO THE QUARTER FINALS

MATCH 2 

COSME AGUIRRE (1-0, +2) 2
12-11, 11-12, 5-2 (28-25)

Linescores (winner always listed 1st)

Set 1:

2-0; 2-1; 6-1; 6-2; 7-2; 7-4; 8-4; 8-7; 9-7; 9-11; 12-11
+2;+1;+5;+4;+5;+3;+4;+1;+2;-2;+1
2 equal scores, 2 lead changes

Set 2: 

4-0; 4-1; 8-1; 8-4; 9-4; 9-6; 10-6; 10-8; 11-8; 11-12
+4;+3;+7;+4;+5;+3;+4;+2;+3;-1
1 equal score, 1 lead change

Tie breaker:

0-2; 5-2
1 equal score, 1 lead change

AGUIRRE ADVANCES TO THE QUARTER FINALS

++++

December 2, 2023

Day 2: 1/8

Scores and 7 photos

MATCH 1

URKO LEKERIKABEASKOA 2 (video of Urko in action)
12-11, 6-12, 5-2 (23-25)

Linescores (match winner always listed 1st)

Set 1:

0-1; 1-1; 1-2; 2-2; 2-5; 4-5; 4-7; 7-7; 7-9; 11-9; 11-11; 12-11
-1;=;-1;=;-3;-1;-3;=;-2;+2=+1
5 equal scores, 1 lead change

Set 2:

0-2; 1-2; 1-3; 3-3; 3-5; 4-5; 4-6; 6-6; 6-12
-2;-1;-2;=;-2;-1;-2;=;-6
2 equal scores, 0 lead chantes

Tie breaker:

2-0; 2-1; 4-1; 4-2; 5-2
+2;+1;+3;+2;+3
0 equal scores, 0 lead changes

MATCH 2

ANTXON ALBERDI 2  (Xistera Kluba interview, Basque, Castilian, or French)
MARTIN 0
12-9, 12-11 (24-20)

Linescores (match winner always listed 1st)

Set 1:

0-1; 1-1; 1-5; 4-5; 4-6; 6-6; 6-7; 8-7; 8-8; 11-8; 11-9; 12-9
-1;=;-4;-1;-2;=;-1;+1;=;+3;+2;+3
4 equal scores, 1 lead change

Set 2:

0-3; 2-3; 2-6; 5-6; 5-8; 6-10; 9-10; 9-11; 12-11
-3;-1;-4;-1;-3;-4;-1;-2;+1
1 equal score, 1 lead change

++++

December 1, 2023

Day 1: 1/8

Scores and 5 photos

MATCH 1:

ROBERTO LEKUE 0 (manista.com)
12-9, 10-12, 5-3 (27-24)

Linescores (match winner always listed first)

Set 1:

2-0; 2-1; 3-1; 3-4; 5-4; 5-6; 9-6; 11-7; 11-9; 12-9
+2;+1;++2; -1; +1; -1; +3; +4; +2; +3
3 equal scores, 4 lead changes

Set 2:

1-0; 1-1; 2-1; 2-3; 5-3; 5-5; 8-5; 8-7; 9-7; 9-8; 10-8; 10-12
+1;=;+1;-1;+2;=;+3;+1;+2;+1;+2;-2
5 equal scores, 3 lead changes

Tie breaker:

1-0; 1-2; 4-2; 4-3; 5-3
+1;-1;+2;+1;+2
2 equal scores, 2 lead changes
 
MATCH 2

COSME AGUIRRE 2
12-11, 12-11 (24-22)

Linescores (match winner always listed 1st)

Set 1:

0-4; 1-4; 1-5; 4-5; 4-6; 5-6; 5-7; 6-7; 6-9; 7-9; 7-10; 11-10; 11-11; 12-11
-4;-3;-4;-1;-2;-1;-2;-1;-3;-2;-3;+1;=+1
1 equal score, 1 lead change

Set 2:

0-1; 4-1; 4-3; 5-3; 5-4; 6-4; 6-8; 9-8; 9-9; 10-9; 10-11; 12-11
-1;+3;+1; +2;+1;+2;-2;+1;=;+1;-1;+1
6 equal scores, 5 lead changes 

Sunday, November 19, 2023

JAI ALAI/CESTA PUNTA--HEGOALDE (SPAIN) 2023 JAI ALAI WORLD TOUR (JAWT) CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL--FULL MATCH VIDEO

In the Summer of 2023, the Jai Alai World Tour produced a series of 4 Grand Slam Tournaments (8 pairs divided into 2 groups of 4, featuring League Round Robins followed by semi-finals between the two top teams in each group, followed by a Final). Coverage at the JAWT website was sporadic at first, getting better as the summer progressed. 

On November 17, the Final of the JAWT was held at Club Bilbao Deportivo, a venue with a rich history and tradition that goes back, in one iteration or another, to 1912. The match was played between the 2 pairs that accumulated the most championship points during the 2023 season. 

This post will consist of:

A. Non-spoiler: a link to the players and full match video of the Final. No other information will be given

=== barrier

B. Spoiler

1. Same links as in non-spoiler, with the following information: Winners, score, line scores, match statistics, match article, Google English Translation of the match article,

C. Links to complete results of each of the matches of each of the Grand Slams.

D. Links to full match videos of the FINALS of each of the Grand Slams (along with others matches, if available, from any of the Grand Slams).

=========================

A. NON-SPOILER

JAWT FINAL (November 17, 2023)



This match begins at the beginning of the video. Originally it was the second match of the night.

The first match of the night featured a women's match made up of contestants in last year's Women's Jai Alai Winter Series. It begins at 1:28:07 on the video.




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B. Spoiler 

10-15, 15-13, 5-4 (30-32)


Linescore (taken from match article--see below, Red (G-G) always listed first)

First set : 1-0, 1-1 , 2-1, 2-2 , 2-3, 2-4, 2-5, 2-6, 3-6, 3-7, 4-7, 4-8 , 4-9, 5-9, 6-9, 7-9, 8-9, 9-9 , 10-9, 11-9, 12-9, 13-9, 14-9, 14-10, 15 -10.

Second set: : 0-1, 0-2, 0-3, 1-3, 1-4, 2-4, 3-4, 3-5, 4-5, 4-6, 4-7, 5-7, 6-7, 7-7 , 7-8 , 8-8, 8-9 , 9-9 , 9-10, 10-10 , 11-10, 11-11 , 12-11 , 12-12 , 13- 12, 13-13 , 13-14, 13-15 .

Third set : 0-1, 0-2, 1-2, 1-3, 2-3, 3-3 , 4-3, 4-44-5 .

Scoring (EITB)

Erkiaga +17 -8; Basque +3 -7
Goikoetxea +14 -6; G. Sorozabal +3 -4

Total Score: +37 -25 (.597)

E-B + 20; G-G errors: 10 (.667 winners)
G-G +17; E-B errors 15 (.531 winners)

Balls in Play: 418

Erkiaga: 93; Basque 114
Goikoetxea 102; G. Sorozabal 109

Non-error Percent (BIP - errors) / BIP  (418 -25) /418 (.940)

Individual NEP:

Erkiaga (93 - 8) / 93 (.914); Basque (114 - 7) / 114 (.939)
Goikoetxea (102 - 6) / 102 (.941); G. Sorozabal (109 - 4) / 109 (.963)

Avg. BIP per point: 6.7 

Time of the match: 70:40 (total match time, actual playing time was not provided) 
 
Avg. time per point: 68.4 seconds. 

This match begins at the beginning of the video. Originally it was the second match of the night.

Match Article (EITB, Castilian)

Google English Translation:

Erkiaga and Basque, champions of the Jai Alai World Tour

The blues started the match badly, but they managed to turn the situation around to win the txapela against Goikoetxea and Gorka (15-10, 13-15 and 4-5).

Aritz Erkiaga and Thibault Basque won this Friday in the final of the Jai Alai World Tour held at the Deportivo fronton in Bilbao after defeating Iñaki Osa Goikoetxea and Gorka Sorozabal in the last set (15-10, 13-15 and 4-5 ) . The blues started the game badly, but they managed to turn the situation around to win the txapela.

In the first goals both couples have been testing each other, but Erkiaga and Basque soon took the reins to take the lead on the scoreboard ( 3-7 ). The blues have been looking for the back of the fronton and Goiko has come into play whenever he can to help his partner.

Little by little, the reds have been putting speed on the ball and that has helped them score the goals, putting 9 even on the scoreboard. Goiko and Gorka took the lead with the 10th goal. The back front has hurt Basque in terms of errors and, with 10 consecutive goals (14-9) , Goikoetxea and Gorka have managed to take the first set ( 15-10 ).

In the second set, with the ball change, the Erkiaga-Basque couple gained strength and got back into the match, scoring the first three goals. However, the reds have continued playing their game and have tried to keep the difference as small as possible ( 4-5 ).

They tied the score at 7, and this time it was not at all clear who was going to win. One of the longest goals was the 8-all tie: more than two minutes and 38 shots. Furthermore, Basque has hurt himself , and although he has been able to continue playing, Erkiaga has had to enter the game more times than necessary to help.

It was a very disputed set, but in the end the blues prevailed and left everything for the last set.

As expected, the last few goals have also been intense. Erkiaga and Basque took the lead again, Goiko and Gorka turned the score around, but the blues dominated the final goals and won the final.

Iñaki Osa Goikoetxea's last game in Bilbao

Iñaki Osa 'Goiko', one of the best punters in history, has said goodbye to Bilbao in the final of the Jai Alai World Tour. He will leave professional ball in February of next year after a 27-year career. Therefore, the one from Zumaia has not been able to say goodbye with a victory.

The first match of the night featured a women's match made up of contestants in last year's Women's Jai Alai Winter Series. It begins at 1:28:07 on the video.



Linescore: (winners always listed 1st)

0-2; 2-2; 2-5; 4-5; 4-9; 8-9; 8-10; 9-10; 9-11; 11-11; 11-13; 13-13; 13-14; 14-14; 14-17; 16-17; 16-19; 22-19; 22-21; 25-21
-2; =; -3; -1; -5; -1; -2; -1; -2; =; -2; =; -1; =; -3; -1; -3; +3; +1; +4
5 equal scores, 1 lead change

Scoring (EITB)

Merino +12 -7; Watkins +4 -3
Barrenetxea +8 -7; Arakistain +3 -2

Total Score: +27 -19 (.587)

M-W +16; B-A errors 9 (.640 winners)
B-A +11 M-W errors 10 (.524 winners)

Balls in play: 215

Merino 51; Watkins 58
Barrenetxea 61; Arakstain 45

Non-error percent: (BIP - errors) / BIP (215 - 19) / 215 (.912)

Individual NEP:

Merino (51 - 7) /51 (.863); Watkins (58 - 3) / 58 (.948)
Barrenetxea (61 -7) / 61 (.885); Arakstain (45 -2) / 45 (.956)

Avg. BIP per point: 4.7

Time of the match: 39:28 (total match time, actual playing time was not provided) 

Average time per point: 51.5 seconds

Unfortunately, there was no match article. But what I have seen from watching selected women's matches over the last 5 years is that the women's game is improving dramatically and exponentially. This was a terrific match.

C. Complete results from each of the Grand Slams:

4. Hondarribia (Jostaldi Fronton) (July 21-September 16, 2023)

FINAL:

INAKI GOIKOETXEA--GORKA SORZABAL (substituting for JON ZABALA) 2
JOHAN SOROZABAL (substituting for JEAN OLHARAN)--THIBAULT BASQUE  0
15-12, 15-14 (30-26)


Linescore (match winner always listed 1st)

Set 1:

0-1; 1-1; 1-2; 2-2; 2-9; 4-9; 4-11; 9-11; 9-12; 15-12
-1; = -1; =; -7; -5; -7; -2; -3; +3
3 equal scores, 1 lead change

Set 2: 

1-0; 1-1; 7-1; 7-4; 8-4; 8-5; 9-5; 9-6; 10-6; 10-7; 12-7; 12-8; 13-8; 13-14; 15-14
+1; =; +6; +3; +4; +3; +4; +3; +4; +3; +5; +4; +5; -1; +1
2 equal scores, 2 lead changes

Scoring (EITB)

Goikoetxea +10 -8; G. Sorozabal +6 -5 
J. Sorozabal +8 -7; Basque +5 -7

Goikoetxea 2 aces

Total score: +29 -27 (.518)

G-GS +16 JB errors 14 (.533)
JS-B +13 G-GS errors 13 (.500) 

Balls in Play: 370

Goikoetxea 98; G. Sorozabal 87
J. Sorozabal 85; Basque 100

Non-error percent (BIP - errors) / BIP: (370 -27) / 370 (.927)

Individual NEP:

Goikoetxea (98 - 8) / 98 (.918); G. Sorozabal (87 - 5) / 87 (.943)
J. Sorozabal  (85 - 7) / 85 (.918); Basque (100 - 7) / 100 (.930)

Avg. BIP per point: (370 / 56) (6.6)

Time of the match: 65:49 (total match time, actual playing time was not provided) 

Avg. time per point: 71.8 seconds

Match Article (Jai Alai World Tour, Castilian)

Google English Translation:

GOIKOETXEA SAYS GOODBYE TO HONDARRIBIA IN STYLE
 
Published on 09/17/2023

Goikoetxea-Gorka have been proclaimed champions of the 'Hondarribia Grand Slam', beating Johan-Basque 2-0 (15-11, 15-14) in the final.

You couldn't ask for a better ending to the summer season at the Jostaldi fronton, with the stands packed and the public enjoying the Johan/Gorka brotherly duel and seeing Goikoetxea in action on this stage for the last time.

Johan-Basque started strong and at times it seemed like a surprise could spring, but the red couple has been putting things in place, with an immaculate Goiko and an imperial Gorka.

After 15-11 in the opening set, the match was still up in the air and was tied, but Goiko knew how to wait for his moment and, when the others made a mistake, he continued playing masterfully and also leading the second set, 15 -14 and the game at his side.

Great day of basket rush at Jostaldi, with the presence of the Provincial Tourism Deputy, Azahara Domínguez; the director of Tourism of the Provincial Council, Iñigo García; the director of Sports of the Basque Government, Gorka Iturriaga; and the mayor of Hondarribia, Igor Enparan.


Other Hondarribia complete Match videos:

August 25, 2023: Day 3 League (2 matches)

15-13, 15-11 (30-24)

IBAN ETCHEBERRY (substituting for JEAN OLHARAN)--THIBAULT BASQUE 0
15-13, 15-5 (30-18)

FULL MATCH VIDEO (EITB) in the order listed above)

+++++

3. Gernika (Gernika) (July 15-August 12, 2023)

FINAL

JOHAN SOROZABAL (substituting for AARON GONZALEZ DE MATAUKO)--UNAI LEKERIKABEASKOA (substituting for IMANOL LOPEZ) 0
15-9, 15-10 (30-19)


Linescore (winners always listed 1st)

Set 1:

2-0; 2-3; 8-3; 8-4; 9-4; 9-6; 12-6; 12-8; 13-8; 13-9; 15-9
+2; -1; +5; +4; +5; +3; +6; +4; +5; +4; +6
1 equal score, 2 lead changes

Set 2: 

5-0; 5-2; 6-2; 6-3; 9-3; 9-5; 11-5; 11-6; 14-6; 14-10; 15-10
+5; +3; +4; +3; +6; +4; +6; +5; +8; +4; +5
0 equal scores, 0 lead changes

EITB provided no statistical information on this match.

Match article (Jai Alai World Tour--Castilian)

Google English Translation

ERKIAGA-DEL RIO, TOTAL SUPERIORITY IN GERNIKA!

Published on 08/13/2023

Aaron-Manzi vs Eñaut-Unda: 15-11, 15-9 in the "curtain raiser".

ERKIAGA-DEL RIO vs JOHAN-LEKERIKA: 15-9, 15-10

Aritz Erkiaga and Julen Del Rio are the new champions of the Gernika Grand Slam. It is the second title for the man from Biscay and the first for the man from Alava. Although it may seem a bit distant, they started the championship badly. Defeat against Aaron and López and some lack of communication between the two. Normal. It was the first time that Aritz and Julen played together. A month later the understanding is complete. The matches played in Gernika and those they have played together in Iparralde have helped them grease the machinery and understand each other better and better. Today they have been much superior. More than the scoreboard shows. Erkiaga has been a gale force with a very confident Del Rio behind, against the blues who have lacked, precisely, playing a few games together to reach a final together. Johan, substitute for Barandika, and Lekerika, playing for Zabala, were unable to close the final.

Fabulous atmosphere, yes, in the Jai Alai Cathedral. All the paper sold, fans in the stands and ETB cameras in action. The match got off to a lively start. Two shots from Erkiaga to start (2-0), right hand from Leke to tie (2-2) and first shot from Johan, two very forced rebound walls, to put the blues ahead on the scoreboard (2-3) It was the first and only time. The Colorados have tied at three and have already left. 7-3, two walls from Erkiaga. 8-4, Johan finishes wide. 9-5, two walls from Erkiaga, Sorozabal arrives and returns the play but in the opposite direction. The blues have gotten closer to three points (9-6) thanks to Lekerika: incredible basket, from bottom to top with his feet in the air, releases from the right, hits the ball and raises his arms asking for support from the public.

But the Colorados, dominators of the game, have continued with their roadmap. Erkiaga looks for the ball and literally breaks it wide (10-6), ends the same on the side in the txoko (13-8) and closes the serve set, this time due to Johan's mistake when entering to finish (15 -9).

In the second set there was no change of script. With the initial 5-0, Erkiaga and Del Rio left the blues cold and from then on, the blues dreamed of entering the game when the reds missed a couple of balls in a row. There was no option: 6-2, 9-3, 11-5, 14-6, 14-10 and 15-10. The Ispaster striker had room to shine in the shot and those offensive errors have been small balls of oxygen for Unai and Johan. When the score allowed it, Del Rio loosened his right hand more up and down. A play that hurts, but when it is not right, a good gift for the opponent.

Yes indeed. Surely, we would have seen another final if today's losers had played the entire tournament together.

No other matches were televised.


Note: the 2nd Semi-final was abandoned after Jean Olharan suffered a severe leg injury near the end of the first set.

+++++

2. Markina-Xemein (Uni Fronton) (June 9-July 16, 2023)

FINAL:

15-11, 9-15, 5-2 (29-28)


Linescore: (winning team always listed 1st)

Set 1:

1-0; 1-3; 4-3; 4-4; 8-4; 8-8; 9-8; 9-9; 14-9; 14-11; 15-11
+1; -2; +1; =; +4; = +1; =; +5; +3; +4
5 equal scores, 2 lead changes

Set 2: 

0-3; 1-3; 1-4; 3-4; 3-5; 4-5; 4-7; 6-7; 6-9; 7-9; 7-10; 8-10; 8-13; 9-13; 9-15
-3; -2; -3; -1; -2; -1; -3; -1; -3; -2; -3; -2; -5; -4; -6
0 equal scores, 0 lead changes

Tie Breaker: 

1-0; 1-1; 2-1; 2-2; 5-2
+1; =; +1; =; +3
2 equal scores, 0 lead changes

EITB provided no statistical information.   

Match article (Jai Alai World Tour, Castilian)

Google English Translation

BARANDIKA AND BASQUE, THE VICTORY OF PERSEVERANCE!

 Published on 07/20/2023

BARANDIKA-BASQUE vs ERKIAGA-IBARLUZEA: 15-11, 9-15, 5-2

Erika-Maddi vs Lur-Arai: 8-15, 8-15

Goikoetxea has received a warm tribute and on behalf of the town of Markina, "Txino" Bengoa and the City Council have presented him with an award.

3,500 fans joined this year's Grand Slam. Markina-Xemei has 5,000 inhabitants and a front of almost 1,000 people (including Labrite de Iruñe). Today it is packed to the brim and tickets have been sold out for a long time.

Xabi Barandika and Thibault Basque have won the Markina-Xemein Grand Slam. From the beginning they have been the "silent favorites" of this tournament. They were the favorites of many fans since the day they were presented, but they have been "lucky" not to carry that label. In the remaining five pairs there has been a player from the town. They have had the honor of playing at home, but also the pressure. Xabi and Thibault, with little pressure, progressed game after game and in the end they were the ones who took the victory.

The match was well designed by the winners. Removing Erkiaga from the game. As far as possible, let the Ispaster pass over it, so that it does not bounce too much. The reds have started well, charging back. Erkiaga reached the break 8-4 without having many chances. On the rebound and very forced, he made the most notable fall, thrown to the ground with force. But the party is not broken. Ibarluzea held on, Aritz began to finish from the ribs and they tied 8-8 and 9-9. Barandika broke the tie, finishing off the rest of the serve (10-9) and from there they went almost directly to fifteen (15-11).

But in the second game things have changed a lot. When the material is heated, the chances of Erkiaga increase. The Blues are now ahead 4-7. The Basques also made quite a few mistakes in today's regatta. He stood on the right in that position, although he dominated the rebound well. The Reds have gone a little further up, but at 6-7 Ispaster's team has stood up. Of the eight paintings, he left a delicious delicacy on the plate. dead The ball has barely bounced. Otherwise Barandika was there! 9-15 the set ends with some nice walls from Erkiaga. Disappointment

The final round of five points has started with a goal. Then a nice goal with a rebound from Barandika (2-1). Xabi's rebound is a huge offensive weapon. And Erkiaga also responded with rebounds, but with setbacks (2-2). The blues did not score any more goals, even Barandika made it 3-2 at the end of the throw-in. 4-2 Basques, behind. And 5-2 was the shot that Aritz threw out. He had to vomit and almost fell.

To round off the beautiful day, tribute was paid to Iñaki Osa Goikoetxea. He did not reach the final of the tournament and watched the match as an audience. The great Juan Mari Bengoa and the municipal councilor Mari Eli Ituarte gave him the work of art to express the gratitude of the entire town.

It is a great thing for a town of 5,000 inhabitants to have a stadium where 1,000 people enter. It is the same capacity as Labrite in Pamplona, ​​but in a much smaller town. The Grand Slam was organized for the first time last year and in this year's edition around 3,500 fans gathered at the University. There is something! Let the serum continue!

No other matches were televised.


+++++

1. Donostia (San Sebastian) (Carmelo Balda) (May 13-June 17, 2023)

FINAL

ERIK MENDIZABAL--JULEN DEL RIO (substituting for UNAI LEKERIKABEASKOA) 0
15-9, 15-8 (30-17)


Linescore (match winner always listed 1st)

Set 1:

7-0; 7-2; 11-2; 11-7; 13-7; 13-9; 15-9
+7; +5; +9; +4; +6; +4; +6
0 equal scores, 0 lead changes

Set 2: 

0-1; 3-1; 3-2; 5-2; 5-3; 8-3; 8-7; 9-7; 9-8; 15-8
-1; +2; +1; +3; +2; +5; +1; +2; +1; +7
1 equal score, 1 lead change

EITB provided no statistical information. 

Match article (El Coreo, Castilian)

Google English Translation

Goikoetxea and Gorka win the Grand Slam of basket tip in San Sebastián
Erik and Del Río, a last-minute substitute for Lekerika after the muscular problem he suffered in his right arm on Friday night in Markina, prevailed (2-0)

John Paul Martin

Saturday, June 17, 2023, 10:00 p.m.

Goikoetxea and Gorka are the new champions of the San Sebastián basket-tipping Grand Slam, the first event on the Jai Alai World Tour circuit. The player from Zumaia and the French Basque defeated Erik and Del Río, a last-minute substitute for Lekerika, who on Friday night suffered a muscle problem on his right arm in the game that He played in Markina.

The winners have dominated both sets with authority. They have taken the first (15-9) after a much more solid start than their rivals. They have had the situation under control against a combination that was playing together for the first time. They have commanded in the luminous 11-2 and, although their opponents have tried to react, their efforts have fallen on deaf ears. In the second they have also immediately opened an important gap that has allowed them to remain calm and win the tournament (15-8).


Other Donostia Full Match Videos

1st Semi-Final: June 3, 2023

15-10, 15-11 (30-21)


Linescore (match winner always listed 1st)

Set 1:

2-0; 2-1; 5-1; 5-2; 9-2; 9-4; 10-4; 10-6; 12-6; 12-9; 14-9; 14-10; 15-10
+2; +1; +4; +3; +7; +5; +6; +4; +6; +3; +5; +4; +5
0 equal scores, 0 lead changes

Set 2:

1-0; 1-1; 3-1; 3-4; 7-4; 7-5; 8-5; 8-6; 9-6; 9-11; 15-11
+1; =; +2; -1; +3; +2; +3; +2; +3; -2; +4
3 equal scores, 4 lead changes

Scoring (EITB)

Mendizabal +13 -5; Lekerikabeaskoa +10 -1
Barandika +6 -5; Zabala +9 -2

Total Score: +38 -13 (.745)

M-L +23 B-Z errors 7 (.766 winners)
B-Z +15 M-L errors 6 (.714 winners)

Balls in Play: 416

Erik 99; Lekerikabeaskoa 112
Barandika 92; Zabala 113

Non-error percent (BIP - errors) / BIP (416 - 13) / 416 (.969)

Individual NEP:

Erik (99 - 5) / 99 (.949); Lekerikabeaskoa (112 - 1) / 112 (.991)
Barandika (92 - 5) / 92 (.946); Zabala (113 - 2) / 113 (.982)

Avg. balls per point: 8.2

Time of the match (total match time, actual playing time was not provided):
65:19

Avg. time per point: 76.8 seconds

Match article (Jai Alai World Tour, Castilian)

Google English Translate

ERIK-LEKERIKA, TO THE DONOSTIA FINAL
 
Published on 06/05/2023

Erik-Lekerika have qualified for the final of the 'Grand Slam Donostia 2023' after having defeated Barandika-Zabala 2-0 (15-10 and 15-11) in the semifinal this afternoon .

It is the third victory in this tournament for Erik-Lekerika, who came with two victories in two league games. Erik Mendizabal played at a high level in the first set and in the second Barandika took over, leading the blues ahead. However, Lekerika came to the rescue and the match ended 2-0.

Carmelo Balda's day began with the match between Basterra-Basque and Víctor-Bailo, with a victory for the latter by 25-23.

Next Saturday at 11:00, framed in the events that accompany the semi-finals of the Top-14 rugby in Anoeta, the second semi-final will be played, between Goiko-Gorka (first in group A) and Johan-López (second in B) . The final is scheduled for June 17.