Pala--Mundo Parejas Begins--Specifics of the Competition, Play in round, Jornada 1

Mundial Parejas, the premier long court Pala Tournament, began  February 22-23, 2019. The tournament, sponsored by Munduko Pilota Batzarra (Basque Pelota and Associated Sports World Council), is set up in a unique way. In each round the partnerships change. It features 8 InnPala professionals, 4 front court (delanteros) and 4 back (zagueros). The tournament will be played as a partial double round robin, with each player pairing with 3 others in each round, for a total of 6 matches. The partners who will not be playing together in the League phase are listed at the bottom of this post. On April 13 the top two delanteros pair up with the top two zagueros and play in a final. There is also a 3rd place match. The scoring for the tournament is based completely on joko (set) scores: 3-0=100pts, 3-1=80pts, 3-2=60pts, 2-3=40pts, 1-3=20pts, 0-3=0pts. The scoring system emphasizes the importance of every joko, no matter what the situation in any match.

All matches will be played at Mungia, (1)(2) the "Cathedral" of long court Pala (Pala Larga (1)(2)).

Complete tournament information (.pdf format, 12p), including match schedule and partnerships, rules of the tournament, and a listing of past winners going back to 2007. (Source: Munduko Pilota Batzarra).

The players:

Delanteros (Front): Pablo Fusto; Ibon Garate; Esteban Gaubeka; Dan Necol
Zagueros (Back): Iker Gordon; Xabier Ibargarai; Ibai Perez; Inaki Urrutia

Note: Garate won a 2 match play-in v Ander Landeta for the 4th front court position (see below).

InnPala Player pages

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

Previous Tournament Winners (since 2007)

2007: Urkia-Imanol 45 Gaubeka-Velilla 33 Match article (Naiz)

2008: Fusto-Larrinaga 45 Ziskar II-Galan 35 Match article (Naiz)

2009: Gaubeka-Beldarrain 45 Urkia-Lujan 33 Match article (Naiz)

2010: Ziskar II-Imanol 40 Fusto-Ayerbe 24 Match article (EITB)

2011: No Competition

2012: Gaubeka-Ayerbe 3 Altadill-Lujan 1 (12-8, 6-12, 12-11, 12-8) (42-39)
Match article (InnPala)

2013: Fusto-Larrinaga 3 Gaubeka-Ayerbe 0 (10-8, 10-7, 10-6) Match article (Diario Vasco) Complete Results (InnPala)

2014: Zubiri-Imanol 3 Fusto-Urkijo 2 (3-10, 6-10, 10-6, 10-8, 10-7) (39-41) Match article (Munduko Pilota Batzarra) video of final point (EITB) Complete Results (InnPala)

2015: Fusto-Ibargarai 3 Gaubeka-Ibai Perez 1 (10-8, 10-9, 2-10, 10-8) (32-35) Match article (Munduko Pilota Batzarra)

2016: Fusto-Brefel 3 Gaubeka-Imanol 2 (10-8, 8-10, 10-6, 7-10, 10-7) (45-41) Match article (Deia) BLOG POST (scroll to Pala) (unfortunately, EITB has removed the full match video)

2017: Fusto-Ibai Perez 3 Gaubeka-Imanol 2 (4-10, 9-10, 10-8, 10-8, 10-8) (43-44) BLOG POSTS THAT COVER ENTIRE TOURNAMENT; Munduko Pilota Batzarra Tournament coverage; video of final point and closing ceremony (EITB); (unfortunately, EITB has removed the full match video

2018: Fusto-Ibargarai 3 Landeta-Gordon 1 (10-9, 9-10, 10-5, 10-8) Munduko Pilota Batzarra Tournament coverage; Full match video (EITB)

Since 2007 in Finals

Fusto (d front) 6-2 (4 in a row from 2015-2018, and 5 of the last 6)

Gaubeka (d front) 2-5

Imanol (z back) 3-2

Ayerbe (z back) 1-2

Larrinaga (z back) 2-0
Ibargarai (z back) 2-0
Urkia (d front) 1-1
Ziskar II (d front) 1-1
Ibai Perez (z back) 1-1
Lujan (z back) 0-2

Belderain (d front) 1-0
Zubiri (d front) 1-0
Brefel (z back) 1-0
Velilla (z back) 0-1
Galan (z back) 0-1
Urkijo (z back) 0-1
Altadill (d front) 0-1
Landeta (d front) 0-1
Gordon (z back) 0-1

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

Pre-Tournament qualifying round--February 22-23 and Jornada (Day) 1, March 1, 2019 ; Jornada 2, March 8 ; Jornada 3, March 15 ; Jornada 4, March 22 ; Jornada 5,  March 29;  Jornada 6, April 5 

Final and 3rd Place Match: April 13

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

Tournament preview article (Deia). Also has a feature on Ibon Garate.

Preview article (El Correo)

March 1, 2019

 Jornada (Day) 1 

Garate-Urrutia 3 (60) Gaubeka-Gordon 2 (40)

(10-9, 10-5; 9-10; 8-10; 10-9) (47-43)

Time of match: 80 minutes (Source: Innpala Fronton Facebook--see below)

Necol-Ibai Perez 3 (60) Fusto-Ibargarai 2 (40)

(10-9, 10-5, 9-10, 3-10, 10-9) (42-43)

Note: Source on joko scores for both matches (Mundo Deportivo); Diario Vasco Cartelera had 2nd match 4th Joko listed as 4-10); Dan Necol Facebook had it (10-9, 10-4, 9-10, 4-10, 10-9) Munduko Batzarra confirms Mundo Deportivo scores.

Time of match: 85 minutes (Source: Innpala Fronton Facebook--see below)

Match articles (Mundo Deportivo)
Match articles (Munduko Batzarra)

Match articles +10 photos (Innpala Fronton Facebook)
Dan Necol Facebook photo

InnPala "clasification" (Microsoft Excel format)
Munduko Batzarra "puntuacion" (.pdf format, 1p).

The premier doubles Championship got off to the best possible start with two breathtaking matches that were won by the minimum (1 point) in the 5th joko (set). The losers will be disappointed, of course, but the 2 jokos they each won puts them in good standing in the larger context of the competition. It is unfortunate that there was no video of these matches, because they both must have been classics. The times of the two matches alone tells the story of a tense and entertaining evening for the Mungia fans. Garate, who barely got past the play-in stage (see below), and Urrutia, the two "new kids" on the InnPala block, played with great poise. After losing a 2-0 joko lead, they went into the fifth joko with all the momentum against them. They played their game and stayed with the old pro Gaubeka and Gordon (each of whom have been finalists in the competition in the last two years). According to the Munduko Batzarra match article, the match ended on a missed Gaubeka two wall shot. Both match articles mentioned how well Urrutia played.

In the other match, last year's Champions had much the same motivation. Since 2007 no pair has won the championship in consecutive years (although Fusto has won it two times with the same partner on two occasions (see previous winners above). While this Tournament is unique in that partnerships change every week, eliminating the idea of a chemistry developing or partners getting into an unbeatable rhythm, it must be in the back of the minds of both Fusto and Ibargarai that they can both achieve a unique status by winning this tournament together. For Fusto, it would be his 5th consecutive championship (an amazing achievement considering the circumstances), and 7th overall. For Ibargarai, it would be his 2nd consecutive championship, something only Fusto has achieved in the last 12 years. It would also be Ibargarai's 3rd championship without a loss, something no one else has done, and would equal him with Imanol for 3rd most championships.

So they had a lot of incentive. But for the first two jokos, Necol-Ibai Perez, who have one championship between them, dominated. Then F-I won a close joko and then dominated another. With all the momentum in their favor, the same thing happened in the second match as happened in the first. N-I won. The InnPala Fronton match story summed up the match:

"It was played at the speed of vertigo with so many points that brought the fans out of their seats."

So in the first round, the fans were treated to about as exciting a "double header" as can be imagined. We can hardly wait for Friday! For Jornada 2 matchups, see below.

Table: Journada 1

Key: Player (wins-losses; jokos won-lost; points)

Delanteros (Front)

Garate.....(1-0, 3-2, 60)

Necol.......(1-0, 3-2, 60)

Fusto.......(0-1, 2-3, 40)

Gaubeka..(0-1, 2-3, 40)

Zagueros (Back)

Ibai Perez.(1-0, 3-2, 60)

Urrutia.....(1-0, 3-2, 60)

Gordon.....(0-1, 2-3, 40)

Ibargarai...(0-1, 2-3, 40)

Play in matches

February 23, 2019

Garate-Urrutia 3 Landeta-Ibai Perez 0 (10-6, 10-4, 10-8) (30-18) (InnPala Twitter) Twitter has the scores correct but the back court partners reversed. See the promotional poster at Innpala Fronton Facebook for verification.

Total Garate 4 Landeta 3: Garate advances

Match article and feature on Ibon Garate (Deia)

InnPala: "The Sopela striker (Garate) qualifies for the World Doubles Championship by beating Landeta 3-0 on Saturday, after losing 3-1 on Friday" (google translate)

Second match, exhibition between Gaubeka-Gordon and Necol-Ibargarai, was canceled.

February 22, 2019

Landeta-Urrutia 3 Garate-Ibai Perez 1 (10-8, 9-10, 10-8, 10-9) (39-35) (Diario Vasco Cartelera)

Match photo (Innpala Twitter)

We have little information about these two matches. Both had one sided results, but if you look at the joko linescores rather than the final outcomes, you will see that they were very competitive. 5 of the 7 jokos were decided by 2 or less points. In the Deia article above, Garate said he was very disappointed after the first match, but came back determined to play his best game and hope it would be enough. By 1 joko, it was. And, if you are looking for a possible story line, Urrutia might be the place to start. He was the real winner of this two match set. He is 25 and has been with the company for 16 months. In that time he has already won a major championship and been runner-up in two others. He was on the winning side in both the play-in matches, winning 6 of 7 jokos with two different partners. He might be a real "wild card" in this competition. Time will tell.

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

SCHEDULE FOR THE 6 WEEK ROUND ROBIN LEAGUE PHASE (InnPala)

March 1, 2019:

Gaubeka-Gordon v Garate-Urrutia

Fusto-Ibargarai v Necol-Ibai Perez

March 8:

Garate-Ibargarai v Fusto Urrutia

Gaubeka-Ibai Perez v Necol-Gordon

March 15:

Necol-Ibargarai v Garate-Gordon

Gaubeka-Urrutia v Fusto-Ibai Perez

March 22:

Garate-Gordon v Gaubeka-Urrutia

Fusto-Ibai Perez v Necol-Ibargari

March 29:

Garate-Urrutia v Fusto-Ibargarai

Gaubeka-Gordon v Necol-Ibai Perez

April 5:

Garate-Ibargarai v Necol-Gordon

Gaubeka-Ibai Perez v Fusto-Urrutia

League pairs that will not play together:

Fusto-Gordon

Garate-Ibai Perez

Gaubeka-Ibargarai

Necol-Urrutia

April 13: Final

#1 delantero (front)-#1 zaguero (back) v #2 (d)-#2 (z)

Source: Munduko Pilota Batzarra "dossier"

For an up to date accounting of the win-loss records of the InnPala players, and a cumulative accounting of their rankings, see the "InnPala Players win-loss records and independent matches" Page on the right side of the blog.

Remonte--Sagardoaren Txapelketa (Tourneo Sidra) Begins--How it works, previous winners, Round 1-Week 1--February 28-March 2, 2019

The Sagardoaren Txapelketa/El Torneo de la Sidra/Cider Tournament began February 28, 2019 and will end with a final on May 4, 2019. 

The  Sagardoaren Txapelketa IX features 8 Oriamendi2010 roster pairs (7 players from the A Group and 9 from the B Group). The tournament will be contested in two 4 team groups (A and B). Each team corresponds to a cider house sponsor. Letters following the players' names correspond to their Oriamendi2010 groups.

Remonte Player Pages at Oriamendi2010

Group A

Bereziartua (Uterga-Labaka) (A-B)
Gaztañaga (Urriza-Zaldua) (A-B)
Larre-Gain (Juanenea-Azpiroz) (B-B)
Petritegi (Segurola-Endika) (B-A)

Group B

Altzueta (Etxarri-Ion) (A-A)
Gurutzeta (Ezkurra II-Garces) (B-B)
Oialume Zar (Goikoetxea V-Barrenetxea IV) (B-A)
Setien (Ansa II-Agirrezabala) (B-A)

Of these pairs, only Segurola-Endika have ever won the Tournament. There are five players who did not play (except as substitutes) last year. They are Ansa II, Etxarri, and Goikoetxea V in the front; Labaka and Zaldua in the back.

The tournament will consist of a League phase, a single round robin in each group. There will be a change in how the Semi-finals are contested this year. The first and second place teams in each group will advance to a Semi-final League, a single round robin. At the end of the Semi-final League the top two teams will play in the Final on May 4. This format makes the League play more important. Under the old format, all teams advanced, but were seeded so that the teams that finished lower had to play more matches to get to the Final.

Scoring for the League phase will be as follows.

Match winner (40 point matches): 4pts.
36-39: 2pts.
31-35: 1pt
26-30: 0pts.
0-25: -1pt

--------------------------

Previous winners (Source: Oriamendi 2010 Emaitzak/Resultados database)

Note: for all results and match articles for all previous tournaments, I will link to the results. Finals match articles will be linked to directly. To match the results to the match articles for all other matches, I will link to all match articles for that year. Simply match the articles to the result dates. It is a bit cumbersome, but, I think, the easiest way to find non-Final Tournament match stories given the structure of the Oriamendi2010 databases. All match articles, unless otherwise specifically stated, are from Oriamendi2010 or the Viva El Remonte blog via Oriamendi2010. I have yet to find any tournament history in any modality covered as well and as powerfully from the standpoint of easy retrieval of information from one place, as the Oriamendi2010 website. High Cestas to all involved. Esterrik Asko.

2011--Juaristi-Olazar 40 Endika-Urrutia I 36 (match article) (complete match results)--(individual match articles)

2012--Onatz-San Miguel 40 Juaristi-Olazar 31 (match article) (video highlights 35-31--40-31) (complete tournament match results)--(individual match articles)

2013--Matxin III-Etxeberria III 40 Jauristi-Agirrezabala 33 (match article) (video highlights 36-28--40-33) (complete  tournament match results)--(individual match articles)

2014--Etxeberria IV-Ion 40 Matxin III-Etxeberria III 34 (match article)(video highlights 36-24--39-34) (full tournament match results)--(individual match articles)

2015--Zeberio II-Endika 40 Uterga-Olazar 27 (match article) (Full match video--EITB) (complete tournament match results)--(individual match articles)

2016--Segurola-Endika 40 Uterga-Aizpuru III 38 (match article) (Full match video--EITB) (complete tournament match results)--(individual match articles) (BLOG POST--scroll to the Remonte section))

2017--Otaegi-Ion 40 Urriza-Azpiroz 37  (match article)  (Full match video--EITB)  (complete tournament match results)--(individual match articles)

2018--Urriza-Garces 40 Uterga-Zubiri 31 (match article) (Full match video--EITB)  (complete tournament match by match results)--(individual match articles)

Endika is the only player to have won 2 STs. Juaristi, Olazar, Endika and Uterga have played in 3 finals. Matxin III, Etxteberria III, and Urriza  have played in 2 finals.

--------------------------

Preview article (Oriamendi 2010)
Preview article (Diario Vasco)
Preview article (Kronika) (Basque)

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

Round 1--Week 1: February 28-March 2, 2019; Round 1--Week 2: March 7, 9 ; Round 2--Week 1, March 14, 16 ; Round 2--Week 2, March 21, 23 ; Round 3--Week 1: March 28, 30 ; Round 3--Week 2: April 4, 6

Semi-final League
Round 1 ; Round 2 ; Round 3

Final

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

2019 full tournament match results

March 2, 2019

Group B

Ansa II-Agirrezabala (B-A) (Setien) 40 Goikoetxea V-Barrenetxea IV (B-A) (Oialume Zar) 37

Selected linescore (winners always listed first)

19-25; 30-25; 40-37

Partial scoring:

Ansa II +20 Agirrezabala +3 service aces -1

Goikoetxea V ?; Barrenetxea IV +3 services aces -1

Match preview article

Match article

Two Group B players who never participated as scheduled players in this Tournament before, played very well, according to the match article. Ansa II played a little better and errors by Goikoetxea V at the end, after he had played excellent Remonte earlier in the match, made the difference. The two Group A back court men played equally well. The key part of the match was an 11-0 run by A-A that turned the momentum. G-B fought hard, but could never overcome the deficit. 

An interesting sidelight was that Ansa II had lost 30-6 with Zaldua to Urtasun-Garces two days earlier. It wasn't exactly a confidence booster on the eve of his first Sagardoaren Tournament match. But it had no effect on his play. On the other hand, Barrenetxea IV, an experienced veteran who has played in many tournaments, had a great match the same day (+24) in a hard fought 40-36 win over Zeberio II-Larranaga. 

Group B Table

Setien (Ansa II-Agirrezabala) (B-A).........................1-0  +4

Oialume Zar (Goikoetxea V-Barrenetxea IV) (B-A)..0-1 +2

Altzueta (Etxarri-Ion) (A-A).......................................0-0   0

Gurutzeta (Ezkurra II-Garces) (B-B)...........................0-0  0

--------------------

February 28, 2019

Group A

Juanenea-Azpiroz (B-B) (Larre Gain) 40 Uterga-Labaka (A-B) (Bereziartua) 26

(B-B 1-0; A-B 0-1)

Selected linescore (winners always listed first)

7-2; 15-6; 20-10; 27-16; 30-20; 34-24; 40-26

Scoring:

Jaunenea +16 -2; Azpiroz +15 (including 5 service aces) -3

Uterga +11 -5; Labaka +10 (2 aces) -4*

*Inferred from the other scores

Match preview

Match article

Juanenea was discussed in the Galarreta Star Match recurring Page  on February 9, 2019 and he and Azpiroz were discussed on the January 17 (see below, past the entire Masters singles Txapelketa (bordered in red). The Feb. 9 discussion highlighted the opinion that Juanenea was a much better player than his record indicated due to many unequal pairings where his team was in a lower ranked pairing. The January 19 discussion made the same argument for J-A as a team. The hypotheses would be severely tested in their opening Sagardoaren Group A match. They were matched up with 2018's Best Group A and Group B players. 

Juanenea (+16 -2) played a magnificent match, clearly (according to the match article) outplaying Uterga. Azpiroz statistically outplayed Labaka almost as much as J outplayed U. J-A's winners totaled over 3/4 of their points. Azpiroz had a terrific offensive day (+15) and made only 3 errors. J-A put U-L on the back foot with 7-2 and 8-4 runs at the start. They slowly increased or maintained that lead through to the end, finishing the match in style with a 6-2 run. U-L barely avoided a -1 point in their first match and are now under tremendous pressure to win their next two.

In the larger context of monthly Galarreta results, Juanenea's 5 match losing streak came to an end. 

 Group A Table

Team-Players-Oriamendi2010 position-wins-losses tournament points.

Larre Gain (Juanenea-Azpiroz) (B-B) 1-0 +4

Gaztañaga (Urriza-Zaldua) (A-B)........0-0  0

Petritegi (Segurola-Endika) (B-A).......0-0  0

Bereziartua (Uterga-Labaka) (A-B)......0-1 0 

Note: This Tournament can also be followed in its larger context of the twice weekly 4 match sessions (on Thursdays and Saturdays) at Galarreta. There, in addition to following this tournament, you can see how the participants in the ST are doing in their other weekly matches, what their monthly win-loss records are, and other information on the comings and goings of Oriamendi2010 Remonte. See the "Galarreta Star Match" recurring Page on the right side of the blog.

Also, these professional Remonte players don't play all their matches at Galarreta. They also play in an annual set of mostly short court (36-38 meters, as opposed to Galarreta's 56 meter court) tournaments sponsored by Fundacion Remonte Euskal Jai (Euskal Jai Berri). Those competitions are covered on a separate Page on the right side of the blog: Euskal Jai Berri Match results. Match scores, articles, and separate player win-loss records are available. 

Remonte--February 2019 Rankings and Leading Monthly Leaders along with Win-Loss Records

Oriamendi2010 Roster

Full February 2019 Rankings with ranking explanation

Historical monthly rankings back to July 2011

Leaders for February 2019 were

Group A: Matxin III (delantero--front court) 40
Group B: Arruarte (delantero--front court) 36

February marked the end of the two longest winning streaks of the year so far: 7 by Ion (Group A d-b) and Larranaga (Group B (d-b). It also marked the end of Uterga's amazing 12 match doubles winning streak. The end came with a 40-39 loss with Larranaga (whose winning streak was broken on February 9) to Ansa II-Barrenetxea IV on February 14. Matxin III was perfect for the month, his only defeat coming in a 3 v 3 match on the February 23, 2019 "Remonte Day" celebrations. The end of the month marked the start of the Ninth Sagardoaren Txapelketa, one of the premier Tournaments on the Oriamendi2010 calendar. A surprise came in the first match, a loss by Uterga-Labaka to Juanenea-Azpiroz. Since the end of the streak, Uterga is 1-2. Ion had a great month, but his only loss against 5 wins allowed Matxin III to win the #1 Group A ranking for the month. Larranaga had the heaviest load, 539 points in a month where he split 8 matches. There were 15 uneven group match ups (not counting the 3 on 3 match). The team with the advantage won 11 of those matches.

2019 Leading Monthly Leaders:

Group A: Extarri (d-f) 1 (January); Matxin III (d-f) 1 (February)
Group A: Highest Ranking: Matxtin III 40

Group B: Larranaga (z-back court) 1 (January); Arruarte (d-f) 1 (February)
Group B: Highest Ranking:  Larranaga 39.17 (February)

-------------------------------------

Actual win-loss records for February 2019

Group A:

Tournament Championships:

Urriza: 1: Buruz Buruko (January 10-26, 2019 2-0) (BLOG POST--THIS BLOG) also see the link below to the "Star Matches" page (Tournament is outlined in red).

Longest winning streak:

Ion +7 (January 26, 2019-February 16, 2019)
Larranaga +7 (January 10-February 9, 2019)

ST=Sagardoaren Txapelketa

Matxin III(d)..........4-1...189-150...-1
Urtasun(d)..............2-1...95-69......+1
Zeberio II(d)...........4-3...250-236...-1
Uterga(d)................3-3...215-227..-.2 ST Group A (0-1)
Etxarri(d)................2-3..147-139...+1
Urriza(d).................0-1...36-40......-2

Ion(z).......................5-1..235-187...-1
Barrenetxea IV(z)...4-3..258-261..+2
Agirrezabala(z).......3-3..202-214...-1


Group B:

Aldabe(d)................5-2..221-203....+1
Goikoetxea V(d).....4-4..235-250.....-1
Ansa II(d)................3-3..185-196....-3
Juanenea(d).............1-1..75-66......+1 ST Group A (1-0)
Ezkurra II(d)..........2-4..186-217...+1
Segurola(d)..............1-4.121-130...+1
Benat(d)...................0-2...46-70......-5

Arruarte(z)..............4-1..156-138....-1
Garces(z).................4-2..176-140...+2
Larranaga(z)...........4-4..271-268.....-1
Labaka(z)................3-3..166-185....-1 ST Group A (0-1)
Zubiri(z)..................2-3..155-158...+1
Azpiroz(z)...............2-4..209-202...+1 ST Group A (1-0)
Zaldua(z).................0-6..136-210....-6

In uneven pairings

A-A 5-1; A-B 1-5
A-A 2-0; B-B 0-2
A-B 6-4; B-B 4-6 (includes Juanenea-Azpiroz (B-B) win over Uterga-Labaka (A-B) in Sagardoaren Txapelketa opening ST Group A match)

B-B-B 1-0; A-A-B 0-1

February heaviest Load: Larranaga (4-4--271-268=539 points; 67.25 points per match.

For full coverage of Oramendi2010 Galarreta Thursday and Saturday matches, see the Remonte: Galarreta "STAR" matches page on the right side of the blog.

Main Nue--FFPB Championnat de France Pro Individuel--Group B Final--February 25, 2019

The 2019 FFPB (Federation Francais de Pelote Basque) Championnat de France Pro Individuel Tournament began on January 4, and will end on March 3, 2019. For the third consecutive year, there are two competitions,  Group A and Group B. 21 players are involved. FFPB has provided a "dossier" (.pdf format, 7p.) explaining how the tournament works and who the players in each group are. This is a seeded ladder knock out tournament with qualification and league rounds, leading to the final.

The Players:

Player profiles at Esku Pilota

Group A: Peio Larralde (front); Matthieu Ospital (front); Baptiste Ducassou (back); Bixinto Bilbao (back); Augusti Waltery (front); Ximun Lambert (back); Peio Guichandut (back); Vincent Elgart (front); Julien Etchegary (front); Ion Iturbe (back); and Anton Monce (front)

Last year's finalists: Larralde and Ospital have been directly seeded into the League phase (1st and 2nd seeds)

Group B: Pascal de Ezcurra (back); Laurent Lambert (front); Alexis Inchauspe (front); Mickael Palomes (back); Gregory Aguirre (front); Cedric Lucu (back); Bixente (Vincent) Cubiat (back); Mattin Olcomendy (front); Mickael Darmendrail (front)

de Ezcurra and Lambert have been directly seeded into the League phase (1st and 2nd seeds)
-------------------------------------

Previous Championships:

Complete coverage of the 2018 Championship was provided by FFPB:

Results
Brief Match Articles and Photos

More detailed articles and selected match videos were provided by Pilota Ttiki. When videos are available they are linked at the bottom of the article.

Beginning January 9 and "suivant" at the bottom of the article until you reach other tournament articles. The tournament ended on February 25 (A) and February 27 (B) (Note that not all articles you will link to are articles about this tournament).

Twenty 2018 FFPB Championnat de France Elite Pro condensed full match videos are available via Pilota Ttiki Youtube. Scroll to or find "Championnat Individuel" or "Liguilla" (without the quotes).

Finals:
Group A: Larralde 40 Ospital 18
Match article and link to full match video

Group B: Iturbe 40 L. Lambert 27
Match article and link to full match video

2017 Tournament complete coverage (match articles and available videos)

Finals:
Group A: Ducassou 40 Ospital 27
Group B: Etchegaray 40 Elgart 21

2016 Full Tournament Results: Final: Larralde 40 Ducassou 22
2015 Full Tournament Results: Final Ducassou 40 Larralde 21 (pelotelive.free.fr)

-------------------------------------

Play in Round (January 4-7, 2019) Qualification Round Seeded Matches (January 12-14); January 19; January 26

Liguilla: February 2; February 3; February 9; February 11; February 15, February 17

Finals: February 25--Group B; March 3--Group A

-------------------------------------

February 25, 2019

Group B Final 

Le Garat, Donibane Garazi (St.-Jean-Pied-de-Port) (1) (2)

Full match videos

 1. Inchauspe (#3 seed) (front) 40 L. Lambert (#2 seed) (front) 39 (Pilota Ttiki Youtube--condensed full match)

2. Info-Garazi Youtube (most but not all points, different camera angle, more of Inchauspe's celebration (and Lambert's despair) at the end of the video)

Selected linescore (winner always listed first) (Pilota Ttiki and FFPB)

0-3; 4-4; 6-6; 22-17; 27-21; 27-27; 39-36; 39-39; 40-39

For full, enhanced linescore (server, balls in play, score, winner or error, comments) see below. 

Decades: 6-4; 9-11; 14-16; 22-18; 27-23; 30-30; 35-35

Equal scores: 3; 4; 6; 8; 9; 11; 12; 13; 14; 17; 27; 30; 31; 32; 33; 34; 35; 39 (18)

Lead changes: 11

Full scoring: (My judgments, yours may be different--my scoring is subjective and I am no expert at Main Nue scoring, but I will leave it for you to judge below--any feedback will be gladly accepted, since I know there are observers with far more experience than I have, and I can learn much from that experience. I will say this. I tend to favor winners, partly because  a + makes 2 players happy, a - makes 2 players angry :) ). 

Inchauspe +35 (including 11 service aces) -7; L. Lambert +32 (5 aces) -5

Direct points (xare, pumpa xare, balls hit into the back dugout)

Inchauspe 12; L. Lambert 9

Balls in play: 558. Time of match: about 1 hour 30 minutes (Le Garat Clock) Actual playing time: about 36 minutes (length of the video)

Balls in play--Number of points

1-9--59

10-19--12

20-29--7

30--1 (12-11--12-12)

Match article (Pilota Ttiki)

Match article: (FFPB)

This match was an epic, played in a "cathedral," Le Garat.  

The basics. 18 equal scores, 11 lead changes. 558 balls in play. 1 hour and 30 minutes. Pilota Ttiki's condensed match videos are wonderful, but they cannot convey the palpable tension that such a match must have created in real time. It ended with a fantastic winner by left hander Alexis Inchauspe (with his right hand, no less!!), a "Pumpa Xare" (direct point--player hits a ball which bounces into the meshwork (xare or filet) of the side dugout of the trinquet). Inchauspe hit this one from behind the service fault line (about 17.25 meters--56 feet--watch where the Juge Arbitre stands--from the front wall). A very difficult shot, to say the least, executed perfectly. But, incredibly, a shot he had scored with, by my count, 4 times right handed earlier in the match--once from deeper than the match winner (see enhanced linescore below). 

Three weeks ago, in the first Semi-final Liguilla match, Laurent Lambert, propelled by an 18-4 run at the finish, easily defeated Inchauspe 40-25. This match was completely different. Inchauspe's 27-21 lead was the largest of the match, and Lambert immediately answered with an 8-0 run including a "xare" (into the meshwork on the fly) and a beautiful high and deep shot that Inchauspe tried to return off the back foot moving away, but couldn't. At that point it looked like Lambert might run away with this match also. But Inchauspe was having none of it, answering with two "xares" and a crisp two wall winner of his own to equalize at 30. The fourth decade was an intense battle, with neither player enjoying more than a 1 point lead, a decade of 5 equal scores and 2 lead changes. It was in this decade that fatigue began to set in for both players and, by my scoring, 3 errors (1/4 of the total errors in the match) occurred. 35-35. 

The last decade was quick (45 balls in play) but consumed with tension. It was also spiced with a controversy (perhaps 2) during the 87th point that could have been disastrous to the winner. At 39-36, Inchauspe had victory in his grasp, but Lambert said "not yet" as he answered with a left wall winner, a right wall passing shot (after a no call on the shot, which looked like it might have been too high, bounced eccentrically from left to right, and went past the protesting Inchauspe), and a service ace, to set up the final point. It looked like it might be a long point, but on the 8th ball, Inchauspe executed the shot of the match, to end one of the most exciting, entertaining Main Nue matches I have seen. A great way to end the Tournament. 

My accounting of the match is presented below, point by point, for your entertainment. Hopefully I have gotten it right. Again, any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Key: Server, number of balls in play, score (winner always listed first), player name + (winner) or - (error) (+a=service ace), commentary.

For American readers who may not be familiar with terminology

Dejada=soft and usually short shot

Cortada=hard sidearm shot

Pass=passing shot

Xare=shot which goes into the side mesh on the fly

Pumpa Xare=shot which goes into the side mesh on the bounce

Partial Source (Pilota Ttiki)

Inchauspe (black); Lambert (red)

Inchauspe wins the coin toss and serves

Decade 1:

I, 20-- 0-1 L+ (Xare, 2nd quadrant)

L, 5--0-2 L+ (dugout roof pass) 

L, 11--0-3 L+ (right pass, after Inchauspe makes a great save while falling on his back)

L, 8--1-3 I+ (I runs the length of the court to reach a L dejada and passes him)

I, 1--2-3 I+a (I serves into the back dugout)

I, 1--3-3 I+a (I serves off the bottom of the back wall)

I, 2--3-4 L+ (Pumpa Xare--1st quadrant)

L, 2--4-4 I+ (Xare--1st quadrant)

I, 3--5-4  I+ (2 wall--front to right)

I, 3--6-4 I+ (left pass into the back dugout)

36 balls in play; I +6 (including 2 service aces) -0; L +4 -0

---------------

Decade 2

I, 6--6-5 I- (too high into the crowd on the right side)

L, 7--6-6 I- (too high into the crowd on the left side)

L, 7--6-7 L+ (Xare--2nd quadrant)

L, 1--6-8 L+a (two wall serve--front to right)

L, 20--7-8 I+ (I makes a great save to continue the point, then puts one on side dugout roof that L swings at and hits only air)

I, 7--8-8 I+ (two wall low--front to right)

I, 8--8-9 I- (too low on two wall--front to right)

L, 2--9-9 L- (missed dejada)

I, 8--9-10 L+ (3 wall--left to front to right)

L, 27--9-11 L+ (dugout roof pass)

93 bip; I +2 -3; L +4 (incl. 1 ace) -1 

---------------

Decade 3

L, 2--10-11 L- (shot hits below front wall line)

I, 1--11-11 I+a 

I, 21--12-11 I + (Pumpa Xare--hits inside of second quadrant post--shot from behind the fault line--right handed!--see 39-39 point below)

I, 30--12-12 L+ (pelota hits top corner of side dugout roof in 3rd quadrant, bounces away)

L, 1--12-13 L+a

L, 6--13-13 I+ (Xare--hits the inside of the 2nd quadrant filet post) 

I, 1--14-13 I+a

I, 6--14-14 L+ (left pass)

L, Falta Erdi (serve hits back wall so hard that it rebounds past the service fault line, second serve results)

L, 13--14-15 L+ (left pass)

L, 13--14-16 L+ (Xare--2nd quadrant)

95 bip; I +4 (incl. 2a) -0; L +5 (1a) -1

---------------

Decade 4

L, 7--14-17 L+ (Xare from behind fault line--1st quadrant)

L, 14--15-17 I+ (2 wall (right-front) left roof passing shot)
I, 1--16-17 I+a
I, 1--17-17 I+a
I, 1--18-17 I+a
I, 15--19-17 I+ (2 wall (right-front) Pumpa Xare--1st quadrant--right handed!)
I, 3--20-17 I+ (Pumpa Xare--hits inside of 3rd quadrant post--right handed!)

I, 13--21-17 I+ (Pumpa Xare--3rd quadrant--right handed!)

I, 22-17--I+a
I, 2 22-18--L+ (hits front bevel--straight down right wall)

58 bip: I +8 (incl. 4a); -0; L +2 -0)

Decade 5

L, 11--22-19 L+ (bottom corner first quadrant post--Xare--or just rebound?)

L, 10--23-19 L- (missed 2 wall--right-front) 

I, 4--23-20 I- (missed 2 wall--right-front)

I, 21---23-21 L+ (Pumpa Xare--3rd quadrant post)

L, 26--24-21 I+ (cortada to the outside)

I, 9--25-21 I+ (dejada)

I, 1--26-21 I+a

I, 5--27-21--I+ (low left wall--possible obstruction on I, not called)

I, 8--27-22--L+ (left roof pass)

L, 3--27-23--L+ (deep left roof, I--cannot return it on the back foot)

98 bip: I +4 (incl. 1a) -1; L +4 -1) 

Decade 6

L, 5--27-24 L+ (Xare--2nd quadrant)

L, 7--27-25 I- (mis-hit into crowd on right)

L, 1--27-26 L+a (serves into the back dugout)

L, 1--27-27 L+a

L, 3--27-28 L+ (Xare)

L, 5--27-29 L+ (high deep shot that I, on the back foot, cannot return)
L, 4--28-29 I+ (Xare--1st quadrant)
I, 6--28-30 L+ (deep roof pass into the back dugout)
L, 8--29-30 I+ (I saves a certain Xare by L, then Pumpa Xare--2nd quadrant)
I, 3--30-30 I+ (low two wall--front-right)

43 bip: I +3 -1; L +6 (incl. 2 aces) -0

Decade 7

I, 4--30-31 L+ (left roof pass)
L, 13--31-31 I + (left roof pass--on 8th ball, I hits a 4 wall shot that bounces before hitting the final (right) wall, L makes a great save, but loses the point)

I, 3--32-31 I+ (dejada)
I, 2--32-32 L + (left roof pass)
L, 12--33-32 L- (mis-hits right wall pass)
I, 8--33-33 L+ (right pass)
L, 8--34-33 L- (hits high into crowd on left side)
I, 10--34-34 I- (hits left wall shot too low)
L, 25--34-35 L+ (left wall deep)
L, 4--35-35 I+ (left roof pass)

90 bip: I +3 -1; L +4 -2

Decade 8

I, 13--36-35 I+ (Xare--from the 5th quadrant to the 2nd quadrant--right handed!)
I, 1--37-35 I+a
I, 4--37-36 I- (mis-hit two wall--right-front)
L, 8--38-36 I+ (left wall)
I, 1--39-36 I+a
I, 4--39-37 L+ (left wall)
L, 5--39-38 L+ (high left cross court to right pass)

There were two controversies on this point

1. Lambert's serve hit very close to out high on the right side. Inchauspe did not appeal and play went on.

2. On ball #5 Lambert hit a high shot that hit off the front wall and appeared to hit the railing above the red line at the top front left. While Inchauspe was appealing to the Juge Arbitre, the ball sailed past him on the way to the right wall to score.

L, 1 39-39 L+a
L, 8 40-39 I+ (Pumpa Xare from the fault line into the 3rd quadrant, right handed!) (see 12-11; 19-17; 20-17, 21-17; and 36-35 above).

45 bip: I +5 (incl. 2 aces) -1; L 3 (1a) -0

--------------------------------

Final Summary of Group B Tournament: For full scores and match stories see the dates linked to above, or for just match scores see the "dossier" linked to above.

Player--position (avant-front or arriere-back)--Tournament wins-losses

Inchauspe (av) 4-1--TXAPELDUN (185-137--+48)

L. Lambert (av) 2-2--2nd place

Palomes (ar)...................2-2

Aguirre (av) ..................1-1

Cubiat (ar).....................1-1

Darmendrail (av)...........1-1

de Ezcurra (ar) ..............1-2

Lucu (ar) .......................0-1

Olcomendy (av).............0-1

In matches where front court players played back court players:

F: 3-2; B; 2-3

Mano--Binakako Txapelketako/Campionato Parejas--2018-2019--Week 14

Binakako Txapelketako/Campionato Parejas, the premier doubles competition of the 2018-2019 Mano season, began November 23, 2018. 8 teams will compete for the title. The first (league) phase is a double round robin (14 matches). The top 4 finishers will face off in a single round robin (3 matches). The two winners will play in a final on April 7, 2019.

Source for all match articles, unless otherwise specifically stated, is 21iguales.com.  21iguales.com will also keep an ongoing phase table at its main Parejas site.

This table is the most up to date of any I've found.

Match linescores will be provided from match articles when available. Full match linescores can be found at 21iguales.com Twitter feed.  Track back to the date and match and follow from beginning to end. The feed is also available at the Main site of 21iguales.com while the matches are in progress.
Source for all highlights and full match videos, unless otherwise specifically stated, is EITB.

At present, EITB is providing all highlights, in chronological order:

We begin at Week 7 as that was when the 2019 calendar year began. Coverage of the first six weeks is available at 21Iguales.com, and the Baiko Pilota  (formerly Asegarce) and ASPE websites. Full match video coverage of all available matches can be found at EITB.

For all available full match videos

"buscar" (search--top right side of page): "binakako" (without the quotes). Look for "2019 Binakako Txapelketa." Matches are usually the second or first match on the video.

Full match videos of earlier finals going back to 2000:

 "buscar" "Binakako Txapelketako finalak" (without the quotes)

Selected full match videos before 2000:

"buscar" "Gure bideoteka" (without the quotes) and scroll until you find them.

For complete print and video coverage of the 2016-17 competition 

Links to all matches available (by week).

--------------------------------------

Week 7; Week 8; Week 9; Week 10; Week 11; Week 12; Week 13; Week 14; Semi-final Round 1; Semi-final Round 2; Semi-final Round 3;

Final

--------------------------------------

Week 14

Injury report:

February 4: Oliazola II suffers serious left quadriceps tendon injury in a practice session--out 4 months, will be replaced by Arteaga II for Week 12(Deia), by Victor for Week 13 (baikopilota), and Week 14 (21iguales.com)

*Short highlight montage that explains which teams move on* (EITB)

February 24, 2019

Atano III, Donostia (San Sebastian) (1) (2)

Altuna III-Martija (#4) (8-6 +4) 22

Bengoetxea VI-Imaz (#7) (4-10 -55) 18 (EITB--match begins at 48:45)

Highlights (EITB)

Match article 

3-0; 3-1; 6-1; 6-2 (B VI makes fantastic save) 6-4; 7-4; 7-5; 11-5; 11-6; 12-6; 14-7; 16-7; 16-15; 17-15; 17-16 (B VI makes another great save) 20-16; 20-18; 22-18

EITB scoring:

Altuna III +10 -7; Martija +3 -3

Bengoetxea VI +6 -6; Imaz +2 -3

Balls in play: 470. Time of match 56:09

By the time this last match of the League phase was played, A-M's equation was simple. Win and move on. Lose and go home. And with that in mind they did just what they needed to do. But it wasn't easy. B-I, playing for nothing but pride, gave A-M all they could handle late into the match. Trailing 7-16, B-I suddenly caught fire, scoring 8 consecutive points, but at that point, A-M held firm, never surrendering the lead, and finishing with a 5-1 flourish. Bengoetxea VI showed why he will be missed in the post season, making two almost impossible saves (see above), showing great hustle and desire even as this train wreck of a competition ends for his team. He made some errors on easy kill shots that might have changed the outcome, but then so did Altuna III (who made more errors than in his previous 3 matches combined). In fact almost half the points in the match were the result of errors. But in the cauldron of the last few points, A-M got the job done. An early 5 match losing streak left them at 2-5. On January 19, 2019 (Week 9), A-M were crushed by Oliazola II-Albisu at Bilbo (Bilbao) 22-9, in a match were Oliazola II was +15 -1. Their record was 3-6, their season seemingly over. They then won their last 5 consecutive matches, beginning with a 22-20 win over Irribarria-Zabaleta. Two weeks later they had their best performance of the competition, steamrolling League winners Elezkano-Rezusta 22-8. During the 5 matches Altuna III averaged (various sources) +9 -3. In the win over I-Z he was +11 -3. Against E-R he was +10 -2 (source for both: 21Iguales.com). A-M are a good team that is playing well at the right time. They know they can win against their semi-final opponents. It will be interesting to see how well they do. 

February 23, 2019

Labrit, Iruna (Pamplona) (1) (2)

Ezkurdia-L. Galarza (#6) (7-7 -4) 22

Artola-Mareizkurrena II (#5) (7-7 +5) 21 (EITB--match begins at 55:09)

No highlights available

Match article 

Linescore (21Iguales Twitter) (winners always listed first)

1-0; 1-1; 2-1; 2-2; 3-2; 3-3; 3-4; 4-4; 4-6; 6-6; 6-7; 7-7; 9-7; 9-8; 10-8; 10-9; 13-9; 13-10; 15-10; 15-11; 16-11; 16-12 (E-R eliminated due to point diffential even if they win); 16-15; 17-15; 17-17; 18-17; 18-18 18-19; 19-19; 21-19; 21-21; 22-21

Scoring (EITB)

Ezkurdia +7 -6; L. Galardis +1 -2

Artolola +10 -10; Mariezkurrena +3 -4

Balls in Play: 525. Time of match: 65:33

In one of the most exciting and entertaining (if not artistic) matches of the competition, E-G outlasted A-M by the minimum. In the space of about 30 minutes, each team, as it tuned out, eliminated the other from contention for the last Semi-final League place. E-G were eliminated due to point differential when A-M scored their 12th point. At that point A-M had a 3 point run (16-12--16-15) and there was every reason to believe they would close out the match. But it didn't happen that way. E-G, with nothing left to play for, held on to their lead, and even increased it to 21-19. But then an Ezkurdia error and Artola service ace set up the final point, one of the best points of the entire competition. As the crowd roared the point consumed 66 balls in play. Finally Ezkurdia finished the match with a perfect cross court kill shot, a shot that ultimately ended the Semi-final League aspirations of A-M. In the over 2 minutes of that final point, everyone forgot about the 22 errors made in the match, over half the total points. What they will remember for a long time to come is the quality of that point. This was easily the best BP match of the week (see the Match of the Week on the right side of the blog). 

---------------

Auzoeta, Ataun (1) (2)

Irribarria-Zabaleta (#2) (9-5 +64) 22 Victor (substituting for Oliazola II-Albisu (#3)(8-6 +10) 18. 

No full match video is available at this time.

No highlights available.

Selected linescore (baikupilota Twitter) (winners always listed first)

1-2; 4-4; 6-6; 9-12; 9-14; 11-17; 14-17; 16-17; 19-17; 21-18; 22-18

Match article 

For a while Victor-Albisu's Semi-final League chances were in jeopardy after this loss. Wins by Artola-Mariezkurrena II and Altuna III-Martija would have V-A outside looking in just a week after a famous victory over Elezkano-Rezusta seemingly saved their season. As it worked out, V-A ended up with that playoff place when the dust settled. For I-Z, it was a tremendous confidence building win, built on the foundation of an 11-1 run at the very end. Statistically the match was exactly even, except for 4 more errors by Albisu than Zabaleta.  A win like this over a Semi-final League opponent is the best possible way for I-Z to end the League phase. 

February 22, 2019

Zubikoa, Onati (1) (2)

Elezkano II-Rezusta (#1)(10-4 +55) 22 Urrutikoetxea-Aretxabaleta (#8) (3-11 -79) 14 (EITB--match begins at 43:31--Basque)

Fronton TV (Castilian)

No highlights available

Linescore (winners always listed first)

4-0; 4-6; 11-6; 11-8; 12-8; 12-10; 13-10; 13-12; 14-12; 14-14; 22-14 (21iguales Twitter)

EITB scoring:

Elezkano II +16 -0 Rezusta +0 -5

Urrutikoetxea +7 -2 Aretxabaleta +2 -4

Balls in play: 428; Time of match: 53:37

Match article 

E-R regained some confidence going into the post season. They had lost their previous 2 matches and were actually behind Irribarria-Zabaleta's point differential. Their seemingly inevitable 1st place League finish was suddenly in doubt. But Danel Elezkano (one of this Players of the Week--see the right side of the blog) was having none of it. He had a phenomenal mach (+16 -0) and took over the match when it was tied at 14. E-R scored the last 8 points of the match to win easily and clinch the League phase. 

Interestingly, three of the four Semi-final League qualifiers are coming in with great confidence because of the way they won their final match. The Semi-final League, a 3 week, single round robin, will determine the finalists in the competition. It begins on March 10. 

-----------------------------

Final League phase table

(1) Elezkano II-Rezusta (10-4 +55)

(2) Irribarria-Zabaleta (9-5 +64)

(3) Oliazola II-Albisu (8-6 +10)

(4) Altuna III-Martija (8-6 +4)

5 Artola-Mariezkurrena (7-7 +5)

6 Ezkurdia-L. Galarza (7-7 -4)

7 Bengoetxea VI-Imaz (4-10 -55)

8 Urrutikoetxea-Aretxabaleta (3-11 -79)