Main Nue--FFPB Championnat de France Par Equipes (Pairs)--Info About Competition--List of Winners Back to 2007--Qualification Week 2

The 2019 FFPB (Federation Francaise de Pelote Basque) Championnat de France par Equipes (pairs) Tournament began on March 10, 2019 and will end with a final on May 5. There will be two competitions, Group A and Group B. 20 players are  involved. FFPB has provided a "dossier" (.pdf format, 9p.) explaining how the tournament works and who the players in each group are.
The competition begins with a round robin League in both groups. The fifth place finishers in each group are eliminated. Then the 1st place finisher in Group B plays against the 4th place finisher in Group A. The winner plays in the Group A Semi-finals as the #4 team. The loser plays in the Group B Semi-finals as the #2 team. This is a twist that makes the competition very interesting. A Group B team has a chance to be promoted within the space of one competition. The semi-finals will be #1-#4 and #2-#3 in each group. The winners meet in Finals on April 28 (Group A) and May 5 (Group B).

Player profiles at Esku Pilota
Player profiles at Pilota Ttiki

Group A:

Augusti Waltary-Peio Guichandut (defending Champions)

Peio Larralde-Bixintxo Bilbao

Mathieu Ospital-Baptiste Ducassou (runner up and Champion respectively of recently concluded FFPB Main Nue Individuel Competition)

Julien Etchegaray-Ximun Lambert

Antton Monce-Thierry Harismendy

Group B:

Phillipe Bielle-Bixentxe Cubiat

Alexis Inchauspe (winner of Group B Main Nue Individuel)-Antton Amulet

Laurent Lambert (runner up of Group B Main Nue Individuel)-Cedric Lucu

Vincent Elgart-Mickael Palomes

Mattin-Olcomendy-Ion Iturbe

Note: Elgart and Iturbe were Group A players in the Individuel competition. Harismendy and Amulet did not play in the Individuel competition. Pascal de Ezcurra, Gregory Aguirre, and Mikael Darmendrail (all Group B Indviduel) are not playing in this championship.

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NOTE: RECORD OF PREVIOUS CHAMPIONSHIPS (2007-2018) IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST.

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Qualification Round: Week 1; Week 2; Week 3; Week 4; Week 5 and Barrage: April 13, 2019: Group B #1 v Group A #4

Semi-Finals

Finals: Group A; Group B

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Competition preview article (Pilota Ttiki)

Qualification Round 2

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Table as of March 17, 2019

Group A:

Ospital-Ducassou (2-0 +15)

Larralde-Bilbao (1-0 +21)

Monce-Harrismendy (1-1 -5)

Waltary-Guichandut (0-1 -2)

Etchegaray-X. Lambert (0-2 -29)

Group B:

Elgart-Palomes (2-0 +28)

Bielle-Cubiat (1-0 +1)

Olcomendy-Iturbe (1-1 -3)

Inchauspe-Amulet (0-1 -5)

L. Lambert-Lucu (0-2 -21)

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

March 17, 2019

Chilar, Souraide (1) (2)

Group A

Ospital-Ducassou (2-0 +15) 40

Etchegaray-X. Lambert (0-2 -29) 27

(Pilota Ttiki Youtube--condensed full match video)

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

0-3; 2-5; 6-10; 9-12; 12-12; 14-14; 16-16; 22-17; 22-21; 28-25; 30-27; 40-27

Partial scoring (FFPB)

Ospital 4 service aces; Etchegaray 2

E-L stayed in the match until about half way through, when O-D opened a small lead. It was still close after 57 points, but then O-D finished with a 10-0 run that turned the match into a rout. Etchegaray, according to the Pilota Ttiki match article, was not completely recovered from the influenza that caused him to miss the E-L's first match. Fatigue might have had something to do with the way the match ended, though there was no mention of it. Interestingly, Ducassou and Ospital were back to an orthodox serve defense in this match. Last week Ducassou played at the middle of the fault line to handle Waltary's lethal low hard serve while Ospital played deep and to the left. In this match they held Etchegaray to 2 service aces.  

O-D have put themselves in a strong position in this tournament. We should know more about how strong they are after their next match next Sunday March 24 at Saint-Pee-Sur-Nivelle against Larralde-Bilbao. It could very well be a preview of  the Final in April. E-L have a difficult assignment against defending Champions Waltary-Guichandut at Mauleon on the 23rd. Another loss will most likely doom their chances of advancing.

Group B

Elgart-Palomes (2-0 +28) 40

L. Lambert-Lucu (0-2 -21) 20

(Pilota Ttiki Youtube--condensed full match video)

Match article for both matches (Pilota Ttiki)

Match article for both matches (FFPB)

Selected linescore: (Pilota Ttiki and FFPB)

6-3; 13-3; 20-9; 22-9; 32-14; 40-20

Partial scoring (FFPB)

Elgart 9 service aces; L. Lambert 2

L-L lost a heartbreaker last week, one they probably feel they should have won. This week E-P dominated from beginning to end winning the first half of the match 20-9, the second half 20-11. As the linescore shows, E-P built the lead throughout. Elgart spearheaded the attack with 9 service aces. He now has 21 aces in his team's first two matches. Based on their record and point differential, E-P appear to be the class of the B Group, and have a good chance for an opportunity to compete in the Group A Semi-finals. More will be known after their next match next Saturday at Mauleon against Bielle-Cubiat, the only other team in the Group with a winning record at the moment.

March 16, 2019

Arcangues (1) (2)

Group A

Larralde-Bilbao (1-0 +21) 40

Monce-Harismendy (1-1 -5) 19

(Pilota Ttiki Youtube--condensed full match video)

Selected linescore (winners always listed first)

0-3; 4-4; 10-4; 19-12; 20-13; 28-16; 28-18; 38-18; 40-19

Partial scoring (FFPB)

Larralde 12 service aces, Monce 2

If anyone had any doubts about L-B's fitness coming back from foot and shoulder injuries that knocked them out of the Main Nue Individual competition, they shouldn't now. L-B crushed M-H with two large runs, a 10-1 early run that erased a 3-0 M-H lead, and then a late 10-0 run that blasted the match wide open. Larralde had his serve going and had a +10 advantage in that department over Monce. They won the first half of the match 20-13 and the second half 20-6, announcing to one and all that they are fully fit and ready to go. We'll find out how ready next week (see above).

Group B

Olcomendy-Iturbe (1-1 -3) 40

Inchauspe-Amulet (0-1 -5) 35

(Pilota Ttiki Youtube--condensed full match video)

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

2-7; 10-7; 10-10; 10-17; 12-20; 15-23; 23-23; 28-23; 32-25; 38-32; 39-32; 39-35; 40-35

Partial scoring (FFPB)

Inchauspe 8 service aces, Olcomendy 6

This was the closest and most intriguing match of the weekend. The losers built an early lead, lost it, built it again, and lost it again. The winners, once they took control of the match and maintained that control (32-25--39-32), were home free, or so they thought. I-A fought back with 3 straight points to make things interesting, but it was too little too late. Olcomendy, according to the FFPB match article, was the catalyst for his team, combining 6 service aces with around 6 direct points (xareats--shots into the dugout meshwork). Iturbe was also much improved over last week, according to the Pilota Ttiki match article. This match was just the tonic to remove the bad taste of their loss to Elgart-Palomes last week. Inchauspe, who had a taste of the A Group substituting for Etchegaray last week in a heavy defeat, found the B Group no easier. O-I are idle next week, while I-A will play foot of the table L. Lambert-Lucu in what could be an elimination match.

Match article for both matches (Pilota Ttiki)

Match article for both matches (FFPB)

UPCOMING:

WEEK 3

MARCH 23, 2019

MAULEON

GROUP A:

WALTARY-GUICHANDUT (0-1 -2) v ETCHEGARAY-X. LAMBERT (0-2 -29)

GROUP B:

BIELLE-CUBIAT (1-0 +1) v ELGART-PALOMAS (2-0 +28)

MARCH 24, 2019

SAINT-PEE-SUR-NIVELLE

GROUP A:

LARRALDE-BILBAO (1-0 +21) v OSPITAL-DUCASSOU (2-0 +15)

GROUP B:

INCHAUSPE-AMULET (0-1 -5) v L. LAMBERT-LUCU (0-2 -21)

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

Previous Championships:

2018:

Group A:

Waltary-Guichandut 40 Larralde-Iturbe 36

Full match video (Audiense Audiovisuel via FFPB)

Match article (FFPB)

"Dossier" (FFPB--.pdf format, 9p., which contains all competition match scores).

Pilota Ttiki also covered the entire competition, with match articles and condensed match videos Their coverage begins March 19. At the bottom of the article click on "precedent" and page through articles about the competition, using the "dossier" as your guide to dates of matches. When there are match videos, Pilota Ttiki links to them from the bottom of the match articles. They are also available at Pilota Ttiki Youtube (CTRL-F Championnat elite pro par equipes 2018).

Group B:

Bielle-Palomes 40 Elgart-Cubiat 22

Full match video (condensed) (Pilota Ttiki)

Match article (Pilota Ttiki)

2017: 

Group A: Larralde-Bilbao 40 Waltary-Guichandut 38

Full match video (Audiense Audiovisuel via FFPB)

Match article (FFPB)

"Dossier" (FFPB--.pdf format, 12p. ,which contains all competition match scores)

Full competition context, with final linescore graph and linescore (pelotelive.free.fr)

Group B: Inchauspe-Amulet 40 L. Lambert-Palomes 29

Competition context  (pelotelive.free.fr) (no match video available)

Match article (Pilota Ttiki)

2016: 

Group A: Waltary-Bilbao 40 Bielle-Ducassou 23

Full match video (Audiense Indivduel)

Match article (FFPB)

Competition context (pelotelive.free.fr)

Annotated linescore: (pelotelive.free.fr)

Group B: Inchauspe-Amulet 40 L. Lambert-de Ezcurra 23

Full match video (Esku Pilota)

Match article (FFPB)

Competition context: (pelotelive.free.fr)

2015:

Group A: Larralde-Bilbao 40 Etcheverry-Ducassou 10

Full match video (Bixintxo Bilbao Youtube)

Match article (FFPB)

Competition Context (pelotelive.free.fr)

Group B: Inchauspe-Saldubehere 40 Elgart-Bonetbelche 37 (no match video)

Match article (FFPB)

Competition context (pelotelive.free.fr)

2014: Larrechea-Harismendy 40 Sorhuet-Ducassou (substituting for T. Etxeto) 19 (no match video)

Match article (FFPB)

Dossier--results of all matches (FFPB)

2013: Waltary-Harismendy 40 Larrechea-X. Lambert 25 (no match video)

Match article (FFPB)

Dossier--results of all matches (FFPB)

2012: Ibarola-Harismendy 40 Bielle-Ocafrain 37 (no match video) Source: FFPB 2013 Assemblee Generale Ordinaire Exercice 2012 (P. 9)

2011: Waltary-X. Lambert 40 Ibarola-Jeannots 21 (no match video) Source: FFPB 2012 Assemblee Generale Ordinaire Exercice 2011 (P. 9) Match article (Naiz--Basque--note: Naiz has score 40-20.

2010: Ibarola-Ocafrain 40 Waltary-Etxeto 39 (no match video) Match article (Naiz--Basque)

2009: Ibarola-Ocafrain 40 Sorhuet-Etxeto 34 (no match video) Match article (Naiz--Basque)

2008: Ibarola-Ocafrain 40 Sorhuet-Ezkurra 32 (no match video) Match article (Naiz--Basque)

2007: Waltary-Etxeto 40 Sorhuet-Ocafrain 19 (no match video) Match article (Naiz--Basque). Agusti Waltary becomes the first non-native Basque to win this competition.

Since 2007: (avant-front; arriere-back)

Waltary (av) has played in 7 Finals and has won 5. 

Ibarola (av) played in 5 finals and won 4 (3 consecutive wins from 2008-2010). Ocafrain (ar) played in 5 Finals and won 3. 

Sorhuet (av) played in 4 Finals without a win. 

Harismendy (ar) won 3 consecutive Finals (2012-2014).

Larralde (av) has played in 3 Finals and won 2.

Etxeto (ar) played in 3 Finals and won 1.  

Ducassou (ar) has played in 3 Finals without a win.     

Bilbao (ar) has won 2 Finals. 

Larrechea (av) played in 2 Finals and won 1.
X. Lambert (ar) has played in 2 Finals and won 1. 

Guichandut (ar) has played in 2 Finals and won 1

Bielle (av) has played in 2 Finals without a win.

Iturbe (av), Etcheverry (av), and Jeannots (ar) have all played in 1 Final without a win. 

Mano--Binakako Txapelketako/Campionato Parejas--2018-2019--Semi Final League--Round 2

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

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

Semi-Final League Round 2

Injury report:

February 4: Oliazola II suffers serious left quadriceps tendon injury in a practice session--out 4 months,  will be replaced by Victor for the duration of the Competition

March 17, 2019

Bizkaia, Bilbo (Bilbao) (1) (2)

Irribarria-Zabaleta (#2) (2-0 +16) 22 

Elezkano II-Rezusta (#1) (1-1 +0) 12 (EITB--match begins at: 1:10:40)

Highlights (EITB)

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

1-0; 1-1; 2-1; 2-2; 5-2; 5-6; 7-6; 7-7; 9-7; 9-8; 13-8; 13-9; 18-9; 18-10; 19-10; 19-11; 20-11; 20-12; 22-12

Scoring (EITB):

Irribarria +12 -3 Zabaleta +0 -3

Elezkano II +3 -6 Rezusta +3 -4

Balls in play: 481

Irribarria 136 Zabaleta 109; Elezkano II 118 Rezusta 118

Time of match: 53:47

Match article (21iguales)

Match article: baikopilota links to article from Gara and La Rioja

Match articles: Aspepelota.eus links to articles from Mundo Deportivo, navarra.com, Diario de Noticias, and Berria

Note that some of these articles may be proprietary or require free registration.

This was a match very much anticipated, a possible prologue to the Final on April 7. It was close for the first half, but then I-Z pulled away with a 13-4 run for an easy victory. At the heart of the victory was an excellent performance by Iker Irribarria (+12 -3). His front court opponent, Danel Elezkano (Elezkano III) had a poor day at the office (+3 -6), giving I-Z a +12 advantage in the front court. That was more than enough. E-R made 10 errors. They must now play Altuna III-Martija next week at Donostia (San Sebastian). The winner moves on to the final. The loser goes home.

March 16, 2019

Labrit, Iruna (Pamplona) (1) (2) (3)

Altuna III-Martija (#4) (1-1 -3) 22

Victor (substituting for Oliazaola II)-Albisu (#3) (0-2 -13) 19 (EITB--match begins at 56:15)

Fronton TV (Castilian) full match video

Highlights (EITB)

Linescore (winners always listed first) (EITB)

0-2; 1-2; 1-3; 10-3; 10-5; 11-5; 11-9; 12-9; 12-10; 13-10; 13-12; 14-12; 14-16; 15-16; 15-17; 16-17; 16-18; 19-18; 19-19; 22-19

Scoring and statistics (EITB)

Altuna III +11 -3 Martija +2 -0

Victor +12 -5 Albisu +4 -4

Balls in play: 459

Altuna 115 Martija 116; Victor 115 Albisu 113

Time of match: 63:27

Match article (21Iguales)

Match article: (baikopilota.eus)

Match article: La Rioja via baikopilota.eus)

Match article: (Mundo Deportivo)

Match articles (Berria, Noticias de Gipuzkoa, Tolosaldeko Ataria) linked to from aspepelota.eus

In one of the most exciting and entertaining matches of the entire competition, Alt-M eliminated V(O)-Alb. But it was not easy. A 9-0 run put the winners ahead 10-3 and it seemed the match was all but over. But V(O)-Alb fought back and, with a 13-4 run, took a 14-16 lead. Then came the most important point of the match. It consumed 64 balls in play and lasted 2 minutes and 59 seconds. An Altuna III winner made it 15-16. Had V(O)-Albisu won the point, they would have been very difficult to beat. Then an 18 ball point was finished by a Victor winner. 15-17. The next point, 40 balls in play, finished by another Altuna III winner made it 16-17. Altuna III and Victor exchanged errors to make the score 17-18. Altuna III then finished the match with 3 winners, while Victor, whose winner gave his team their final point, also had an error, to go with one by Albisu. The final point consumed 29 balls in play and ended with a Victor winner that was low. The final 11 points consumed 200 balls in play, the entire match 459. In the end the 9 V(O)-Alb errors proved fatal. But this was as hard fought a match as you will see in a long time. V(O)-Alb finish next week with a meaningless match v Irribarria-Zabaleta in Iruna (Pamplona).   

Semi-Final Table

Irribarria-Zabaleta (#2) (2-0 +16)

Elezkano II-Rezusta (#1) (1-1 +0)

Altuna II-Martija (#4) (1-1 -3)

Victor-Albisu (#3) (0-2 -13)

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

For the semi-finals, we have comprehensive statistics from a single source (EITB), something very rare in BP competitions. It allows us to do preliminary comparisons between players. Through the first two rounds of the Semi-final League:

Front Court

Irribarria +20 -4=+16

Altuna III +22 -10 = +12

Victor +18 -10=+8

Elezkano II +15 -7=+8

Back Court

Martija +3 -1=+2

Albisu +8 -8=0

Rezusta +4 -5 =-1

Zabaleta +2 -6 =-4

Teams:  

Altuna III-Martija: +25 -11=+14

Irribarria-Zabaleta: +22 -10=+12

Victor-Albisu: +26-18=+10

Elezkano II-Rezusta: +19 -12=+7

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

Final League 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)

Pala/Pala Larga--Mundo Parejas--Jornada 3--March 15, 2019

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.

InnPala Player pages

NOTE: PREVIOUS WINNERS SINCE 2007 LISTING HAS BEEN MOVED TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST

=========================
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)

END OF FIRST HALF OF LEAGUE PHASE

Cumulative First Half Table

Player-(match wins-losses: joko w-l, league points)

Delantero (front)

Fusto  (2-1; (2-3,3-2,3-2); 160)

Necol  (2-1; (3-2,1-3,3-1); 160)

Gaubeka(1-2; (2-3,3-1,2-3); 160)
Garate (1-2; (3-2,2-3,1-3); 120)

Zaguero (back)

Ibai Perez (3-0; (3-2,3-1,3-2); 200)

Urrutia    (2-1; (3-2,3-2,2-3); 160)

Ibargarai  (1-2; (2-3,2-3,3-1); 160)

Gordon     (0-3; (2-3,1-3,1-3); 80)

A quick look at the overall table shows just how competitive the League phase has been through its first half. 6 matches have been played. 4 have gone the full 5 jokos. Two of those went down to the final point. The other two ended 10-6 and 10-8. Ibai Perez, after a sub-par play in series in which he was 0-2 (1-6 jokos), has a perfect 3-0 record and, more importantly, leads all player with 9 jokos won. Urrutia, after losing the latest 5 joko match, is still very much in the running for a place in the finals. Ibargarai, who lost his first two matches and was in serious trouble, had a big win on March 15 and immediately brought himself back into contention. Gordon is the only back man out of contention at the moment, but he is just one big win away from getting right back into it.

Among the front court there is a logjam at the top, with the veterans Fusto and Gaubeka where they expected to be in a long court tournament, and Necol, after a damaging loss, coming right back with a big win. Garate trails, but any kind of win next week gets him back into contention. All in all, this is a terrific competition. Fans of this championship can only hope the second half is as compelling as the first.

March 15, 2019

Jornada (Day) 3

Promotion Poster (InnPala Twitter)

Both matches: Full match video (EITB: N-I v Ga-Go (0:00-54:50); F-IP v G-U (54:52--2:09:02 on video)

Match article on both matches: (Mundo Deportivo)

Match article for both matches (InnPala Fronton Facebook--also 7 photos)

Necol (2-1, 7-6, 160)-Ibargarai (1-2, 7-7, 160) 3

Garate (1-2, 6-8, 120)-Gordon (0-3, 4-9, 80) 1

(10-4, 10-9, 7-10, 10-3) (37-26)

(InnPala Twitter--linescore and photo)

Linescore (match winners always listed first) (EITB)

Joko (set) 1: 0-1; 1-1; 1-2; 9-2; 9-4; 10-4

J2: 1-0; 1-2; 2-2; 2-5; 5-5; 5-7; 8-7; 8-8; 9-8; 9-9; 10-9 

J3: 1-0; 1-3; 2-3; 2-4; 4-4; 4-6; 6-6; 6-9; 7-9; 7-10

J4: 2-0; 2-1; 3-1; 3-2; 9-2; 9-3; 10-3

Scoring (EITB):

Necol +13 -3; Ibargarai +8 -9

Garate +8 -5; Gordon +7 -11 (Note: individual scoring adds to 37-27)

Balls in Play: 289

Necol 74

Ibargarai 73

Garate 61

Gordon 81

Time of match: 48:16

This week fans got to see the two matches, as EITB was on the job, providing the excellent TV coverage we have become accustomed to. There is something special about long court Pala, and it is great to be able to watch and see back to a past when much more of it was played. 

Last week Dan Necol talked about the positives of his team's 1-3 loss. He mentioned that the joko won could be important. Some might have felt he was trying to "make lemonade out of  lemons," but of course, he was correct. Professional sportsmen must have a short memory, must always see the positive in every situation, and bring their best game to the fronton. When the best play the best on a roster that is this concentrated, there are going to be good and bad days for everyone. In this match, which was pretty much a must win situation, both he and Ibargarai, who was in the same place among the back court players as Necol was in the front, outmatched Garate-Gordon from beginning to end. N-I established their dominance during an 8 point run that easily won the first joko. In the second joko they came back from 2-5 and 5-7 deficits to win again. G-G fought hard to win J3, scoring 4 of the last 5 points. But any momentum they might have gained was neutralized by a 6 point N-I run that settled the issue early in the 4th joko. Necol had a big day (+13 -3) including a very impressive behind the back shot late in the match, as well as some more orthodox two wall shots. Ibargarai provided good support in the back. All in all, this match was just what the Doctor ordered for N-I.  

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

Fusto(d) (2-1, 8-7, 160)-Ibai Perez (3-0, 9-5, 200) 3

Gaubeka (1-2, 7-7, 160)-Urrutia (2-1, 8-7, 160) 2

(10-8, 6-10, 10-3, 8-10, 10-7) (44-38)

(InnPala Twitter--linescore and photo)

Linescore (match winners always listed first) (EITB)

J1: 0-1; 1-1; 1-3; 3-3; 3-5; 4-5; 4-7; 9-7; 9-8; 10-8 

Fusto +4 -0 Ibai Perez +2 -2; Gaubeka +6 -2 Urrutia +0 -2

125 balls in play: Fusto 34 Ibai Perez 30; Gaubeka 34 Urrutia 27

J2: 0-2; 1-2; 1-5; 2-5; 2-7; 3-7; 3-8; 6-8; 6-10

Fusto +1 -4 Ibai Perez +1 -1; Gaubeka +5 -1 Urrutia +0 -3

63 bip; Fusto 13 Ibai Perez 16; Gaubeka 16 Urrutia 18

J3: 2-0; 2-2; 8-2; 8-3; 10-3

Fusto +5 -0 Ibai Perez +3 -1; Gaubeka +2 -1 Urrutia +0 -1

91 bip; Fusto 27 Ibai Perez 22; Gaubeka 27 Urrutia 15

J4: 0-2; 1-2; 1-3; 4-3; 4-4; 6-4; 6-6; 8-6; 8-10

Fusto +3 -2 Ibai Perez +0 -2; Gaubeka +4 -1 Urrutia +2 -4
94 bip: Fusto 21 Ibai Perez 26; Gaubeka 24 Urrutia 23

J5: 0-3; 2-3; 2-4; 5-4; 5-5; 6-5; 6-6; 8-6; 8-7; 10-7

Fusto +3 -2 Ibai Perez +4 -1; Gaubeka +4 -2 Urrutia +1 -1 (Note: individual EITB scoring on this joko adds to 10-8, and for the match to 44-39 (see below)).

137 bip: Fusto 33 Ibai Perez 37; Gaubeka 34 Urrutia 33

Scoring:

Fusto +16 -8; Ibai Perez +10 -7

Gaubeka +21 -7; Urrutia +3 -11

Balls in Play: 510

Fusto 128

Ibai Perez 131

Garate 135

Urrutia 116

Time of match: 70:05

This was an amazing, 70 minute struggle that, except for the 3rd joko, G-U controlled much of. But they lost the lead late in the 1st joko and early in the 5th, and so came up a bit short. Between those lost leads, they saved the 4th joko and the match by coming back from an 8-6 deficit to win. Two points highlighted the match for me. In the 3rd joko, the 3-2--4-2 point featured a wonderful battle at the front between the  two most senior players on the roster, one over 40 and the other nearing it. F-IP won that point, and cruised the rest of the way in that set. The other was the 2-4--3-4 point in the 5th joko, a 30 ball point that Fusto won with raw power, sending a shot which found the back wall that Urrutia was unable to return. Rebote shots are inherently difficult in Pala because of the implement, and almost impossible from the back of a 54 meter court. That point helped F-IP overcome the 2 point deficit and go on to take a 5-4 lead, which they were able to hold on to to win the match. Both Fusto and Gaubeka had the same strategy, which was to use the entire court. Fusto scored 10 of his 16 points with high and deep shots. Gaubeka did the same, scoring 10 of his 21 points with the same type of shots. They pretty much neutralized each other. The difference came in the back, where Ibai Perez had an excellent match, showing great mobility and shot making that yielded him 10 winners. In the 5th joko Urrutia seemed to be a bit unsure about the big court, faulting after his team had opened up the joko at 3-0. He  faulted badly at other times during the match, once missing the front wall entirely. This is not particularly surprising. Placing serves from an area that is barely, if at all, even present on a short court, has to be a difficult assignment. 

With all this, the score was tied at 6-6 after Gaubeka won a point with a deep shot. The next point, a 12 ball point, was won by F-IP when G-U seemed to have a miscommunication. Gaubeka tried to return a ball that seemed on its way off the court, while Urrutia, who was behind him, did not tell him to let it go. That was followed by a service ace. A 16 ball point won by G-U cut their deficit to 8-7, but then Fusto settled the matter with two high and deep winners. Finally, the 510 ball struggle was over. 

------

Table:

Player-(match wins-losses: joko w-l, points)

Delantero (front)

Fusto (2-1; 8-7; 160)

Necol (2-1; 7-6; 160)

Gaubeka (1-2; 7-7; 160)

Garate (1-2; 6-8; 120)

Zaguero (back)

Ibai Perez (3-0; 9-5; 200)

Urrutia (2-1; 8-7; 160)

Ibargarai (1-2; 7-7; 160)

Gordon (0-3; 4-9; 80)

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

SCHEDULE FOR THE 6 WEEK ROUND ROBIN LEAGUE PHASE 

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.

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

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

Remonte--Sagardoaren Txapelketa (Tourneo Sidra) Round 2 Week 1-March 14, 16, 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, 2019 ;  Round 2--Week 1: March 14, 16, 2019 ; Round 2--Week 2: March 21, 23, 2019 ; Round 3--Week 1: March 28, 30, 2019 ; Round 3--Week 2: April 4, 6, 2019

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

Final

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

2019 full tournament match results

Round 2--Week 1; March 14, 16, 2019

March 16, 2019

Group B

Goikoetxea V-Barrenetxea IV (B-A) (Oliazume Zar) 40 

Etxarri-Ion (A-A) (Altzueta) 28 (A-B 1-0 A-A 0-1)

Selected linescore (winners always listed first)

20-20; 31-20; 40-28

Scoring:

Goikoetxea V +13 -6 Barrentxea IV +15 (including 8 service aces) -5 (including 3 service faults)

Etxarri +7 -9 Ion +9 (4a) -3

Note: individual scores add to 40-27

Match preview

Match article

G-B (Oilume Zar) scored a major victory over E-A  (Altzueta), leap frogging over them (and the idle Ansa II-Agirrezabala--Setien) to the top of the table. The 28 points yielded E-A (the only A-A team in the competition) 0 points. The key, according to the match article, was an 11-0 run from the midpoint of the match that gave G-B a 31-20 lead. From there they cruised home. As he has been on more than one occasion, Barrenetxea IV was the offensive catalyst, with Goikoetxea V playing a secondary, but crucial role. Barrenetxea IV has as good a serve than anyone on the roster, and his 8 service aces allowed him to outscore his front court partner. Goikoetxea V kept the points going ("hit back and be as solid as possible" [google translate]). Etxarri had a poor day at the office (+7 -9) and a solid performance by Ion was not enough to keep his team in the match. 

Table

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

Group B

Oialume Zar (Goikotxea V-Barrenetxea IV B-A) (1-1 +6)

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

Altzueta (Etxarri-Ion A-A) (1-1 +4)

Gurutzeta (Ezkurra II-Garces (B-B) (0-1 +2)

UPCOMING: PROBABLY MARCH 23, 2019

GROUP B:

SETIEN (ANSA II-AGIRREZABALA (B-A) (1-0 +4) v GURUTZETA (EZKURRA II-GARCES (B-B) (0-1 +2)

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

March 14, 2019

Group A

Urriza-Zaldua (A-B) (Gaztanaga) (1-1 +3) 40

Uterga-Labaka (A-B) (Bereziartua) (0-2 -1)  24 

Selected linescore (winners always listed first)

10-6 (+4); 16-10 (+6); 20-12 (+8); 25-15 (+10); 30-17 (+13); 35-20 (+15); 40-24 (+16)

Partial scoring:

Urriza +26 -3 Uterga +14 -3

Match preview

Match article

Last week, the match article said that Urriza was "overwhelmed" by Segurola-Endika and he was beaten by a net +6 by Segurola. This week, in an elimination match, the only one doing the "overwhelming" was Urriza. He has been in a bit of a slump since winning the Buruz Buruko (Singles) championship in late January, going 0-4 in matches since then. But in this match he led from the front with and incredible +26 -3. His strategy, according to the match article, was to attack Bereziartua's back court player, Jagoba Labaka (recipient of the 2018 "Best Player" Group B award). Labaka had difficulty with the rebotes (rebound shots) and Urriza took full advantage. In discussing Irribarria-Zabaleta's Semi-final win over Altuna III-Martija in Mano, I touched on how domination comes in different forms. In that match the winners dominated by fending off continuous challenges by the losers and never letting them get the lead in a fairly close match. This match was domination from the first point to the last. From the 10-6 lead they established early, U-Z widened the lead throughout the match. They won each half of the match by the same score: 20-12. When it was over, U-Z had their fate in their own hands. Beat Larre Gain (Juanenea-Azpiroz) next week and they will move on to the Semi-final League in spite of the poorest possible start. U-L have been eliminated from the Semi-final League. 

Table:

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

Group A

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

Petritegi (Segurola-Endika B-A (1-0 +4)

Gaztanaga (Urriza- Zaldua A-B (1-1 +3)

Bereziartua (Uterga-Labaka A-B (0-2 -1)

UPCOMING: MARCH 21, 2019

GROUP A

PETRITEGI (SEGUROLA-ENDIKA (B-A) (1-0 +4) v LARRE GAIN (JUANENEA-AZPIROZ (B-B) (1-0 +4)

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

End of the League Round 1 (February 28-March 9)

Table: 

Expanation of League phase points, League Round 1 (video table and match scores, to music: 1 minute 31 seconds (Oriamendi2010 Facebook) (added March 15, 2019)

Group A

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

Petritegi (Segurola-Endika B-A) (1-0 +4)

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

Gaztanaga (Urriza- Zaldua A-B) (0-1 -1)

Group B 

Altzueta (Extarri-Ion A-A) (1-0 +4)

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

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

Gurutzeta (Ezkurra II-Garces B-B) (0-1 +2)

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

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.