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!!!

Thursday, July 1, 2021

AN INDEX TO THE 2021 SUMMER PARTIDO SEASON TOURNAMENTS IN HEGOALDE (SOUTH BASQUE-SPAIN) AND IPPARALDE (NORTH-BASQUE--FRANCE)




I: HOSSEGOR MASTERS 2ND SEMI-FINALS (UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME)

NOTE: SCROLL BELOW THE SOURCES INFORMATION AND YOU WILL FIND LINKS TO COMPLETED MATCHES AS I FIND THEM. FOR THOSE WHO WISH WATCH LIVE STREAMS, CONSULT THE WEB LINKS BELOW FOR TIMES (WHICH ARE GIVEN IN LOCAL TIME). CONSULT A TIME CONVERTER TO FIND OUT WHAT TIME THAT IS IN YOUR LOCALITY.

MATCH VIDEOS.  I WILL NOT BE GIVING ANY SPOILERS (EXCEPT WHEN THERE ARE ONLY ARTICLES), ONLY THE PLAYERS AND LINKS 

Note: H=Hegoalde-South Basque-Spain; I=Iparralde-North Basque--France

Latest Matches (Links to full match videos): see below for SPOILER INFORMATION ABOUT THESE MATCHES. These unspoiled matches will be linked here for the present week and then replaced by next week's matches. The video links will be kept at the archive below, BUT THAT ARCHIVE WILL HAVE SPOILERS (I.E. SCORES), SO IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW THE SCORES OF THE NEW MATCHES, DON'T  SCROLL TO THE ARCHIVE BEFORE WATCHING THE MATCH.

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Essential Sources

Jai Alai News Facebook

If you follow no other source, follow the posts at Jai Alai News Facebook.It is the most authoritative Jai Alai site I have seen. It will keep you up to date on the Summer Partidos, day by day. It often links to full match videos. Note that the source language is Spanish. There are easy ways to set your browser to auto translate to the Language you are interested in. If you can't figure out how to do this, do a Youtube or Web search that will show you how.

OR

translate.google.com and cut and paste.


FORMAT OF THE SUMMER PARTIDOS:

2 SETS TO 15 WITH A TIE BREAKER TO 5. IN FRANCE 5 OVER SERVES ARE ALLOWED BEFORE FAULTING. ALL UNDER SERVES ARE IMMEDIATE FAULTS. I AM NOT SURE WHAT THE SERVICE RULES ARE IN SPAIN. CAROM SERVES ARE ALLOWED IN ALL TOURNAMENTS. 

Point System for the Ipparalde (North Basque) partidos.

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

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

Note: for those of you who may not be familiar with some of the up and coming young puntistas (espcially in Iparralde, but also Hegoalde) to refresh your memory (or see for the first time), last winter I did a compilation Up and Comers Blog Post of video links to many of them in action in recent Tournaments. 
It links to matches of 24 young players. Enjoy 


Hegoalde (South Basque--Spain) Tournaments

For Jai Alive (one of the two organizations that promotes matches and tournaments, a good source is Jai Alive Facebook page (unfortunately, I have been unable to find a web site for the promotion). 

It is not as exhaustive as JANF, but will keep you up to date on the Tournaments it promotes. Language: Spanish.

Jai Alai World Tour

Whether JAWT will be promoting any Partido Jai Alai this summer is unknown at this time. They promoted a couple of Tournaments late in 2020 but no information appeared on their web site. 

For Hegoalde Tournaments, EITB usually televises finals.
EITB.tv/es/
Mouse over:
Categorias
Programas
WXYZ
Zesta Punta

OR

EITB.tv/es/
Top right "Buscar" (Zesta Punta) 
This will take you directly to their Jai Alai Collection
Language: Basque
Quality: Commercial
Scoreboard: always available'
Match statistics: sometimes
First Tournament is Markina-Xemien
July 3, 16, 18

=========

LEKEITO MASTERS

H: SUNDAY AUGUST 29--LEKIETO MASTERS FINAL (no video for these matches)

GROUP A:

JOKIN ARBE-IMANOL LOPEZ 2
INAKI GOIKOETXEA-MIKEL MANCISIDOR 0
(15-7, 15-8) (30-15)

ARBE-LOPEZ WIN LEKEITO MASTERS

This was Jokin Arbe's 6th Tournament win and 4th Championship. Markina-Xemien Masters (H), Mitruku Masters (H), Hossegor Super Pro Tournament (I), and Lekeito Masters (H). 

GROUP B:

Alex Goitia-Daniel Mandiola 30; Julen Bastera-Jon Ibarluzea 20

Goitia-Mandiola win Leikeito Masters
--------


H: SUNDAY AUGUST 22--LEKEITO MASTERS SEMI-FINALS

 GROUP A: 

JOKIN ARBE-IMANOL LOPEZ 2 
ALEX HORMAETXEA-AIMAR ALDAZABAL 0
(15-14, 15-11) (30-25)

INAKI GOIKOETXEA-MIKEL MANCISIDOR 0
DIEGO BEASKOETXEA-JULEN DEL RIO 1
(12-15, 7-9)

GOIKOETXEA-MANCISIDOR WIN BY DEFAULT AFTER DEL RIO SUFFERS A HAMSTRING INJURY AND CANNOT CONTINUE.

GROUP B:

Julen Bastera-Jon Ibarluzea 25; 
Aaron Gonzalez-Uriel Arellano (substituting for Zugaitz Sallaberry) 19

Alex Goitia-Daniel Mandiola 25;  
Urko Lekerika (Leke's brother)-Inigo Unda 18
There is no known video for any of these matches at this time.

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

GERNIKA  GRAND SLAM

MONDAY AUGUST 16: GERNIKA GRAND SLAM FINAL 

H: AUGUST 16--GERNIKA GRAND SLAM--"CURTAIN RAISER" AND FINAL (2 FULL MATCH VIDEOS)

THESE ARE BOTH ON ONE STREAM AND ARE EITB 1 COMMERCIAL QUALITY VIDEOS 


FINAL

ARITZ-ERKIAGA-UNAI LEKERIKA (LEKE) v
XABIER BARANDIKA-IMANOL LOPEZ match begins at 53:57 on the video)

ERKIAGA-LEKERIKA 2; BARANDIKA-LOPEZ 0
(15-14, 15-13) (30-27)

Aritz Erkiaga-Unai Lekerika Win Gernika Grand Slam

Scoring (EITB)

Erikiaga +11 -8; Lekerika +5 -8
Barandika +7 -8; Lopez +4 -5
Note: These scores add to 29-27

Total Score: +27 -29 (.482)

Balls in Play: 479
Erkiaga 114; Leke 127; Barandika 104; Lopez 134

Total Non-Error % (BIP - errors) / BIP (450/479) = .939

Time of the Match: 88:55
Average Balls per Point: 8.4
Average Total Time per Point: 93.6 seconds (EITB did not provide playing time data). 

Match articles


Munduko Pilota Batzarra (Castilian or Basque)

Jai Alai News Facebook (accompanied by 23 photos)  (Castilian) (Scroll to the bottom of this blog post for a Google Translate English translation for those who don't use Facebook.

"CURTAIN RAISER"

INAKI GOIKOETXEA-JON ZABALA v 
JOKIN ARBE-NICOLAS ETCHETO (match begins at 0:00 on the video)

GOIKOETXEA-ZABALA 2; ARBE-ETCHETO 0
(15-5, 15-5) (30-10)

Scoring: (EITB)

Goikoetxea +14 -0; Zabala +4 -1
Arbe +8 -8; Etcheto +1 -4

Total Score: +27 -13 (.675)

Balls in Play: 234
Goikoetxea 79; Zabala 47; Arbe 48; Etcheto 60

Total Non-Error % (BIP - errors) / BIP (221/234) = .944

Time of the Match: 47:31

Average Balls per Point: 5.8
Average Total Time per Point: 71.3 seconds (EITB did not provide playing time data).

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SATURDAY AUGUST 14: GERNIKA GRAND SLAM 

H: AUGUST 14: GERNIKA GRAND SLAM 2 SEMI-FINALS (2 FULL MATCH VIDEOS

THIS IS AN EITB COMMERCIAL QUALITY VIDEO, BOTH MATCHES ARE ON THE SAME VIDEO


ALEX HORMAETXEA-JON ZABALA v 
XABIER BARANDIKA-IMANOL LOPEZ (Match begins at 0:00 on the video)

BARANDIKA-LOPEZ 2
HORMAETXEA-ZABALA 0
(15-14, 15-9) (30-23)

ARITZ ERKIAGA-UNAI LEKERIKA (LEKE) v
JEAN OLHARAN-IBON ALDAZABAL (Match begins at 1:26:00)

ARITZ ERKIAGA-LOPEZ 2
OLHARAN-I. ALDAZABAL 1
(7-15, 15-8, 5-4) (27-27)

Match articles 

Baleike (Zumaia) (Basque)

Munduko Pilota Batzarra (Castilian or Basque)

Jai Alai News Facebook (Castilian) (Scroll to the bottom of this blog post for a Google Translate English translation for those who don't use Facebook

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SATURDAY AUGUST 7: GERNIKA GRAND SLAM

H: AUGUST 7: GERNIKA GRAND SLAM LEAGUE ROUND ROBIN DAY  3 (2 FULL MATCH VIDEOS

THESE ARE EITB (COMMERCIAL QUALITY) VIDEOS


GROUP A:

INAKI GOIKOETXEA-NICOLAS ETCHETO v
XABIER BARANDIKA-IMANOL LOPEZ (Match begins at 1:47:35 on the video)

BARANDIKA-LOPEZ 2
GOIKOETXEA-ETCHETO 0
(15-14, 15-13) (30-27)

BARANDIKA-LOPEZ ADVANCE TO THE SEMI-FINALS BASED ON THEIR STRAIGHT SET WIN OVER GOIKOETXEA-ETCHETO. G-E ARE ELIMINATED BECAUSE OF THEIR STRAIGHT SET LOSS TO B-L. OLHARAN-I. ALDAZABAL FINISH 2ND AND ALSO ADVANCE TO THE SEMI-FINALS. (SEE MATCH ARTICLES BELOW FOR EXPLANATION).

SCORING (EITB) 

BARANDIKA + 9 -6; LOPEZ +9 -2
GOIKOETXEA +18 -4; ETCHETO +1 -8

TOTAL SCORE: +37 -20 (.649)

BALLS IN PLAY: 618
BARANDIKA 123; LOPEZ 187; GOIKOETXEA 155; ETCHETO 153

TOTAL NON-ERROR PERCENT (BALLS IN PLAY -ERRORS/BALLS IN PLAY) (598/618): .968

TIME OF THE MATCH: 92:29
AVERAGE BALLS PER POINT: 10.9
AVERAGE TOTAL TIME PER POINT: 97.4 SECONDS ((Note: EITB did not provide playing time per point, which would be considerably less). 

GROUP B:

ALEX HORMAETXEA-JON ZABALA v
DIEGO BEASKOETXEA-JULEN DEL RIO (Match begins at 0:00 on the video)

HORMAETXEA-ZABALA 2
BEASKOETXEA-DEL RIO 1
(9-15, 15-11, 5-3) (29-29)

HORMAETXEA-ZABALA ADVANCE TO THE SEMI-FINALS; BEASKOETXEA-DEL RIO ARE ELIMINATED.

SCORING (EITB)

HORMEATXEA +11 -2; ZABALA +7 -4
BEASKOETXEA +15 -4; DEL RIO +8 -7

TOTAL SCORE: + 41 -17 (.707)

BALLS IN PLAY: 408
HORMAETXEA 80; ZABALA 124; BEASKOETXEA 102; DEL RIO 102

NON-ERROR PERCENT (BALLS IN PLAY-ERRORS/BALLS IN PLAY) (391/408): .958

TIME OF THE MATCH: 84:27

AVG BALLS PER POINT: 7.0
AVG TOTAL TIME PER POINT: 84.7 SECONDS (Note: EITB did not provide playing time per point, which would be considerably less).

Match articles for both matches


Munduko Pilota Batzarra (Castilian and Basque)

Jai Alai News Facebook (Castilian) (Scroll to the bottom of this blog post for a Google Translate English translation for those who don't use Facebook. 

Final League Standings

(Wins, Losses, Point differential)

Group A:

Group A:

Barandika-Lopez.........,............1-1  +2
Olharan-I. Aldazabal.................1-1  -5
Goikoetxea-Etcheto...................1-1  +3

Group B: 

(Aritz) Erkiaga-Lekerika (Leke)..... 2-0 +24
Hormaetxea-Zabala................... 1-1 -11
(Diego) Beaskoetxea-Del Rio......... 0-2 -13

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SATURDAY JULY 31: GERNIKA GRAND SLAM

H: July 31: Gernika Grand Slam League Round Robin Day 2 (Scores and match article links only)

GROUP A: 

INAKI GOIKOETXEA-NICOLAS ETCHETO 2 (0-0--1-0)
JEAN OLHARAN-IBON ALDAZABAL 1 (1-0--1-1)
(15-9, 11-15, 5-1) (31-25)

GROUP B:

*=Earned a place in the Semi-finals

ARITZ ERKIAGA-UNAI LEKERIKA (LEKE)* 2 (1-0--2-0)
ALEX HORMAETXEA-JON ZABALA 0 (0-0--0-1)
(15-11, 15-8) (30-19)

Match Articles for both matches:

Baleike (Zumaia) (Basque)


Munduko Pilota Batzarra (Castilian, with a link to Basque)

Jai Alai News Facebook (Castilian) (Scroll to the bottom of this blog post for a Google Translate English translation for those who don't use Facebook. 

Standings after 2 Rounds:

(Wins-Losses, Point differential)

Group A:

Goikoetxea-Etcheto...................1-0  +6
Olharan-I. Aldazabal.................1-1  -5
Barandika-Lopez.........,............0-1  -1

Group B: 

(Aritz) Erkiaga-Lekerika (Leke)*.... 2-0 +24
(Diego) Beaskoetxea-Del Rio......... 0-1 -13
Hormaetxea-Zabala................... 0-1 -11

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SATURDAY JULY 24: GERNIKA GRAND SLAM

H: July 24: Gernika Grand Slam: League Round Robin Day 1


GROUP B:

DIEGO BEASKOETXEA-JULEN DEL RIO v ARITZ ERKIAGA-UNAI LEKERIKA (LEKE) (match begins at 0:00)

ERKIAGA-LEKERIKA (0-0--1-0) 2
BEASKOETXEA-DEL RIO (0-0--0-1) 0
(15-11, 15-6) (30-17)

GROUP A

JEAN-OLHARAN-IBON ALDAZABAL v XABIER BARANDIKA-IMANOL LOPEZ (match begins at: 1:19:59)

OLHARAN-I. ALDAZABAL (0-0--1-0) 2
BARANDIKA-LOPEZ (0-0--0-1) 1
(13-15, 15-13, 5-4) (33-32)

MATCH ARTICLE FOR BOTH MATCHES (Jai Alai News Facebook--Castilian) Scroll to the bottom of this blog post for a Google Translate English translation for those who don't use Facebook. There are links to 7 photos at the bottom of the match article

MATCH ARTICLE (Baleike--Zumaia) (Basque)

MATCH ARTICLE (Munduko Pilota Batzarra) (Castilian)

10 photos from the Group B Match (Jai Alai News Facebook)

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

MUTRIKU MASTERS

FRIDAY JULY 23: MUTRIKU MASTERS FINAL

H: July 23: Mutriku Masters Final:  I have not been able to find any match video for this match.

JOKIN ARBE (SUBSTITUTING FOR JON GOENAGA--DUE TO COVID)-AIMAR ALDAZABAL 2

XABIER BARANDIKA-MIKEL MANCISIDOR 1
(15-13, 7-15, 5-1) (27-29)

Arbe is now 3-0 for the summer and 2-0 in Championship matches.

GOENAGA-ARBE--A. ALDAZABAL WIN MUTRIKU MASTERS. 

MATCH ARTICLE (Jai Alai News Facebook--Castilian)
Scroll to the bottom of this blog post for a Google Translate English translation for those who don't use Facebook.

First Match (Friendly)

Antxon-Uranga 2; Urreizti-Aratz Mendizabal (Goixerri II) 1
(15-9, 12-15, 5-2) (32-26)

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

MARKINA-XEMEIN MASTERS

SUNDAY JULY 18: MARKINA-XEMEIN MASTERS FINALS (there was no match video for either of these matches)

A:

JOKIN ARBE-IMANOL LOPEZ 2
DIEGO BEASKOETXEA-UNAI LEKERIKA (LEKE) 0
(15-14, 15-8) (30-22)

ARBE-LOPEZ WIN MARKINA-XEMEIN TOURNAMENT A

MATCH ARTICLE (Jai Alai News Facebook--Castilian)
Scroll to the bottom of this blog post for a Google Translate English translation for those who don't use Facebook. At the bottom of the match article there are links to 6 match photos.

B.

Alex Goitia-Jon Ibarluzea 30; Jon Goenaga-Elkoro (substituting for Daniel Mandiola) 24

Goitia-Ibarluzea win Tournament B

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

MUTRIKU MASTERS

SATURDAY JULY 17: MUTRIKU MASTER--BOTH SEMI-FINALS (there was no match video for either of these matches)

XABIER BARANDIKA-MIKEL MANCISIDOR 2
INAKI GOIKOETXEA-ARATZ MENDIZABAL (GOIXERRI II) 0
(15-14, 15-8) (30-22)

JON GOENAGA-AIMAR ALDAZABAL 0
IKIATZ MEDIZABAL (GOIXERRI)-UNAI LEKERIKA 1
(15-12, 4-2) 

I-L LOSE THE MATCH DUE TO A BICEP INJURY TO GOIXERRI IN THE 2ND SET. HE CANNOT CONTINUE AND THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE, SO THEY FORFEIT THE MATCH

NOTE: GOIXERRI HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH A TORN BICEP TENDON. HE IS SCHEDULED FOR SURGERY TO REPAIR THE INJURY AND WILL BE OUT A MINIMUM OF 3 MONTHS (Jai Alai News Facebook) (ADDED JULY 20, 2021)

MATCH ARTICLE FOR BOTH MATCHES (Munduko Pilota Batzarra via Jai Alai News Facebook--Castilian and Basque, Scroll to the bottom of this blog post for a Google Translate English translation for those who don't use Facebook)

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

MARKINA-XEMEIN MASTERS

FRIDAY JULY 16: MARKINA-XEMEIN MASTER SECOND SEMI-FINAL (there was no match video for either of these matches)

GROUP A:

JOKIN ARBE-IMANOL LOPEZ 2 
INAKI GOIKOETXEA-JON ZABALA 0
(15-11, 15-13) (30-24) 

MATCH ARTICLE (Jai Alai News Facebook--Castilian)
Scroll to the bottom of this blog post for a Google Translate English translation for those who don't use Facebook

GROUP B:

Goenaga-Elkoro (substituting for Daniel Mandiola) 30; Antxon-Atain II 29

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JULY 3: MARKINA-XEMEIN MASTER 1ST SEMI-FINAL

GROUP A:

DIEGO BEASKOETXEA-UNAI LEKERIKA 2
ARITZ ERKIAGA-IBON ALDAZABAL 0
(15-7, 15-12) (30-19)

MATCH ARTICLE (Jai Alai News Facebook--Castilian)
Scroll to the bottom of this blog post for a Google Translate English translation for those who don't use Facebook

There is no video for this match at this time.

GROUP B:

Alex Goitia-Ibon Ibarluzea 30; Aaron Gonzalez-Danel Mandiola 19

There is no video for this match at this time.

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

Iparralde (North Basque--France)

Three different major Tournaments are on tap this summer. The entire summer schedule is called the Cesta Punta Summer League

1. Gant d'Or (Golden Glove); 2. St. Jean de Luz; 3. Pau 

All three, as far as I know, have the same format. Master Tournaments (4 for Gant d'Or and St. Jean de Luz, 2 for Pau, followed by a SLAM Tournament for each that features the #1-#4 fronts-backs, Each Tournament will have 2 semi-finals followed by a Final. 

Note: Gant d'Or Matches are always played on MONDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS, St. Jean de Luz on TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS, and Pau on FRIDAYS.   

Context for all three sets of Tournaments


Click on "Competitions" for complete information on Schedules, Scores, Player information, and Standings. 

CANAL +
Language: French
Quality: Commercial
Scoreboard: always available
Match Statistics: in the past only for the first 2 sets and for the 2nd set only if there is a tie-breaker.

LOCATION OF FULL MATCH VIDEOS:



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

HOSSEGOR GRAND SLAM (JULY 28-AUGUST 25)
Each Masters Day consisted of a "Curtain Raiser "Quiniela and a Partido. There was no video for any of these matches

Winners of the 2 Grand Slam Tournaments

Grand Slam 1: AARON GONZALEZ-YANN MILLAT
Grand Slam 2: JOKIN ARBE-AIMAR ALDAZABAL (SUBSTITUTING FOR THEO LABORDE)

HOSSEGOR GRAND SLAM MASTER SUPER PRO FINALS TOURNAMENT

AUGUST 25--HOSSEGOR GRAND MASTER SUPER PRO FINAL (no video available)

JOKIN ARBE-AIMAR ALDAZABAL 2
AARON GONZALEZ-YANN MILLAT 0
(15-11, 15-11) (30-22)

This was Jokin Arbe's 4th Tournament win and 3rd Championship . It was Aimar Aldazabal's 2nd Championship.

"Curtain Raiser" (Pala Larga Hossegor Tournament Final)

This is an InnPala Fronton Facebook Video

(10-7, 10-9, 10-5) (30-21)

--------

AUGUST 23: 2ND SEMI-FINAL

JOKIN ARBE-AIMAR ALDAZABAL 2
JULIEN MORESMAU-PIERRE ETCHEVERRY 0
(15-5, 15-3) (30-8)

 AUGUST 18: 1ST SEMI-FINAL

AARON GONZALEZ-YANN MILLAT 2
RICARDO ALBERDI-PIERRE DELPUECH 0
(15-11, 15-12) (30-23)

+++++++++

AUGUST 16: GRAND SLAM 2 FINAL

JOKIN ARBE-AIMAR ALDAZABAL (SUBSTITUTING FOR THEO LABORDE) 2; 
RICARDO ALBERDI-PIERRE DELPUECH 0
(15-7, 15-14) (30-21)

ARBE-A. ALDAZABAL WIN MASTER 2

This was Jokin Arbe's 3rd Tournament Championship

QUINIELA

Win: Arturo (?) Marty-Paul Dubrana; 2nd Place: Domingo Marquepucheu-? Daugareil

--------

AUGUST 11: GRAND SLAM 2 2ND SEMI-FINAL

RICARDO ALBERDI-PIERRE DELPUECH 2
DOMINGO MARQUEPUCHEU-JON  ZABALA 1
(15-13, 12-15, 5-4) (32-32)

QUINIELA was a school boy match

--------

AUGUST 9: GRAND SLAM 2 1ST SEMI-FINAL

JOKIN ARBE-THEO LABORDE 2
ALEXI ZABALETA-AIMAR ALDAZABAL 0
(15-11, 15-7) (30-18)

QUINIELA:

Win: Domingo Marquepucheu-? Harismeny; no 2nd Place listed

+++++++++

AUGUST 4: GRAND SLAM 1 FINAL

AARON GONZALEZ-YANN MILLAT 2
JULIEN MORESMAU-PIERRE ETCHEVERRY 0
(15-7, 15-7) (30-14)

AARON GONZALEZ--YANN MILLAT WIN 1ST MASTER

Match article (facsimile of Sud-Ouest match article (French)

QUINIELA

Win: Domingo Marquepucheu-R. Lignau; no 2nd place listed

--------

AUGUST 2: GRAND SLAM 1 2ND SEMI-FINAL

JULIEN MORESMAU-PIERRE ETCHEVERRY 2
MAXIME BENETRIX-MIKEL MANCISIDOR 1
(8-15, 15-13, 5-4) (28-32)

QUINIELA

Win: Domingo Marquepucheu-Arturo (?) Marty; no 2nd place listed

--------

Tournament Preview: (facsimile of Sud-Ouest match article (French)

JULY 28: GRAND SLAM 1 1ST SEMI-FINAL

AARON GONZALEZ-YANN MILLAT 2
DOMINGO MARQUEPUCHEU-JULEN DEL RIO 0
(15-9, 15-13) (30-22)

QUINIELA:

Win: No information given

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

PAU CUP 

Note: All  Master 1 matches are Canal + commercial quality streams available at Cesta Punta Pro Tour Youtube (see the link above)

Pau Cup SLAM Tournament:

I: SEPTEMBER 3: PAU CUP SLAM TOURNAMENT FINALS (1 FULL MATCH VIDEO AND 1 SCORE ONLY 

THIS IS A CESTA PUNTA PRO TOUR YOUTUBE OF A CANAL + COMMERCIAL QUALITY VIDEO

GROUP A:


ERKIAGA-LOPEZ 2
GOIKOETXEA-PORTET 0
(15-6, 15-12) (30-18)

Match article for this match with a summary of the major Winners for the Summer (Raymond Cazadebat, Section Paloise Pelote). (French. Note: This article will not be archived at the Section Paloise. It is translated by Google into English below all of the scores.)

GROUP B: 

Iban Etcheberry-Tom Berthon 2, Bixente Gonzalez-Aize Iturralde 1
(7-13, 13-12, 5-4) (25-29)

Source: Raymond Cazadebat (Section Paloise Pelota)

Etcheberry-Berthon win teh Pau Cup SLAM

This is Iban Etcheberry's 2nd Tournament win and 1st SLAM win.
It is Tom Berthon's 2nd Tournament win and 1st SLAM win.

--------

I: FRIDAY AUGUST 27--PAU CUP SLAM 2ND SEMI-FINALS (1 FULL MATCH VIDEO AND 1 SCORE--FORTHCOMING
  
THIS IS A CESTA PUNTA PRO TOUR YOUTUBE VIDEO OF A CANAL + COMMERCIAL QUALITY BROADCAST

GROUP A:


GOIKOETXEA-PORTET 2
LADUCHE-T. BASQUE 0
(15-14, 15-8) (30-22)

Match Article: see Google English Translation at the bottom of the post, as this article will not be archived at the Section Paloise Pelota site

GROUP B:

Bixente Gonzalez-Aize Iturralde 2 
Emeric Libois (substituting for Theo Etchegaray)-Paul Montamat 0
(13-9, 13-10)

Source: Raymond Cazadebat (Section Paloise Pelota)

--------

I: AUGUST 20--PAU CUP SLAM 1ST SEMI-FINALS (1 FULL MATCH VIDEO AND 1 SCORES ONLY)

THIS IS A CESTA PUNTA PRO TOUR YOUTUBE VIDEO OF A CANAL + COMMERCIAL QUALITY BROADCAST

GROUP A:


ERKIAGA-LOPEZ 2
ITHURRIA-LEKERIKA 0
(15-12, 15-14) (30-26)

GROUP B:

Iban Etcheberry-Tom Berthon 2; Maxime Benetrix-Zugaitz Sallaberry 1
(13-10, 8-13, 5-4) (26-27)

+++++++++

Pau Cup MASTER 2: 

Winners of the 2 Master A Tournaments:

Master 1: ARITZ ERKIAGA-MANEX URTASUN
Master 2: INAKI GOIKOETXEA-IMANOL LOPEZ

FRIDAY AUGUST 13: MASTER 2 FINALS (1 FULL MATCH VIDEO, 1 SCORES ONLY)

GROUP A:

THIS IS A CESTA  PUNTA PRO TOUR YOUTUBE VIDEO OF A CANAL + COMMERCIAL QUALITY VIDEO

GROUP A: 


GOIKOETXEA-LOPEZ 2
BARANDIKA-T. BASQUE 0
(15-10, 15-14) (30--24)

GOIKOETXEA-LOPEZ WIN MASTER 2.

Winners of the 2 Master B Tournaments:

Master 1: Iban Etcheberry-Paul Montamat
Master 2: Maxime Benetrix-Tom Berthon 

GROUP B: 

Maxime Benetrix-Tom Berthon 2; Emeric Libois (substituting for Clement Garcia)-Aize Iturralde 0
(13-3, 13-6) (26-9)
There was no match video

Benetrix-Berthon win Master 2

This was Maxime Bentrix' 1st Championship

--------

FRIDAY AUGUST 6: MASTER 2 2ND SEMI-FINALS (1 FULL MATCH VIDEO, 1 SCORE ONLY)

THIS IS A CESTA PUNTA PRO TOUR YOUTUBE VIDEO.

GROUP A: 


BARANDIKA-T. BASQUE 2
OLHARAN-MINVIELLE 1
(15-10, 11-15, 5-0) (31-25)

GROUP B:

Maxime Benetrix-Tom Berthon 2; Johan Sorozabal-Hugo Ibar 0
(13-7, 13-8) (26-15)

--------

FRIDAY JULY 30: MASTER 2 1ST SEMI-FINALS

GROUP A:


GOIKOETXEA-LOPEZ 2
LADUCHE-LEKERIKA 
(15-7, 15-7) (30-14)

Note: this video is mis-labeled as "Final Master 1 Pau Cup CestaPunta Summer League. It is actually the 1st Semi-final of  Master 2. There is a technical flaw in the first 5 seconds of the video. It is then resolved.

GROUP B: 

Clement Garcia-Aize Iturralde 2; Thomas Urrutia-Zugaitz Sallaberry 1
(13-9, 6-13, 5-3) (24-25)

There was no video available for this match.

+++++++++

Pau Cup MASTER 1: 

FRIDAY JULY 23: MASTER 1 FINAL

GROUP A: 

ARITZ ERKIAGA-MANEX URTASUN (FULL MATCH VIDEO)

ERKIAGA-URTASUN 2
P. TAMBOURINDEGUY-LABORDE 1
(10-15, 15-14, 5-0) (30-29)

ERKIAGA-URTASUN WIN MASTER 1

GROUP B: 

Iban Etchebarry-Paul Montamat 2; Bixente Gonzalez-Antton de Bettelu 1  
(9-13, 13-8, 5-3) (27-24) 

There was no video for this match.

Etcheberry-Montamat win Master 1 

This is Paul Montamat's 2nd Championship.

--------

FRIDAY JULY 16: MASTER 1 SECOND SEMI-FINAL

GROUP A: 


ERKIAGA-URTASUN 2
ITHURRIA-PORTET 0
(15-14, 15-14) (30-28)

GROUP B: 

Bixente Gonzalez-Antton de Bettelu 2; Hugo Pierrou-Gorka Sorozabal 0
(13-11, 13-10) (26-21)

There was no video for this match.

--------

FRIDAY, JULY 9: MASTER 1 FIRST SEMI-FINAL

GROUP A:


P. TAMBOURNIDEGUY-LABORDE 2
J. TAMBOURINDEGUY-I. ALDAZABAL 1
(11-15, 15-13, 5-3) (31-31)

NOTE: THE FULL MATCH VIDEO WAS UPLOADED RECENTLY. IT INCLUDES THE ORIGINALLY MISSING MATCH SEGMENT. (ADDRESS CHANGED JULY 10, 2021)

Note: Theo Laborde will be substituting for Txabi Inza through August at least. Inza suffered a non-playing hand injury that has sidelined him.

GROUP B: 

Iban Etcheberry-Paul Montamat 2; Theo Etchegaray-Baptiste Othaburu 0
(13-7, 13-5) (26-12)
There was no video coverage of this match.

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

SAINT-JEAN-DE-LUZ

Note: Saint-Jean-de-luz matches are Canal + commercial quality streams available at St. Jean de Luz Youtube (see the link above)

Saint-Jean-de-Luz SLAM Tournament

I: THURSDAY AUGUST 26--SAINT-JEAN-DE-LUZ SLAM FINALS (1 FULL MATCH VIDEO AND 1 SCORES ONLY)

GROUP A:

THIS IS A SAINT-JEAN-DE-LUZ YOUTUBE VIDEO OF A CANAL + COMMERCIAL QUALITY BROADCAST


ERKIAGA-LOPEZ 2
GOIKOETXEA-PORTET 1
(15-11, 12-15, 5-2) (32-28)

ERKIAGA-LOPEZ WIN SAINT-JEAN-DE-LUZ SLAM FINAL

GROUP B:

Johan Sorozabal-Zugaitz Sallaberry 2; Bixente Gonzalez-Aize Iturralde 
(13-11, 13-9) (26-20)
There is, as yet, no video for this match. 

J. Sorozabal-Sallaberry win Group B SLAM Tournament

Johan Sorozabal and Zugaitz Sallaberry win their second Tournament Championship after defeating the same opponents in the Gant d'Or SLAM Group B Final on Monday August 23.

--------

I:  TUESDAY AUGUST 24--SAINT-JEAN-DE-LUZ SLAM TOURNAMENT 2ND SEMI-FINALS (1 FULL MATCH VIDEO AND 1 SCORES ONLY)

GROUP A: 

THIS IS A SAINT-JEAN-DE-LUZ YOUTUBE VIDEO OF A CANAL + COMMERCIAL QUALITY BROADCAST


ERKIAGA-LOPEZ 2
ITHURRIA-LEKERIKA 0
(15-6, 15-10) (30-16)

GROUP B:

Johan Sorozabal-Zugaitz Sallaberry 2; Thomas Urrutia-Gorka Sorozabal 1
(13-5, 9-13, 5-0) (27-18)

--------

I: AUGUST 19--SAINT-JEAN-DE-LUZ SLAM 1ST SEMI-FINALS (1 FULL MATCH VIDEO, 1 SCORES ONLY)

THIS IS A SAINT-JEAN-DE-LUZ YOUTUBE VIDEO OF A CANAL + COMMERCIAL QUALITY BROADCAST

GROUP A:

INAKI GOIKOETXEA-JEROME PORTET (SUBSTITUTING FOR ERIC IRASTORZA) Note: This match is mis-labeled at the site. It is the match listed above.

GOIKOETXEA-PORTET 2
OLHARAN-T. BASQUE 0
(15-13, 15-12) (30-25)

GROUP B:

Bixente Gonzalez-Aize Iturralde 2; Maxime Benetrix-Tom Berthon 0
(13-9, 13-10) (26-19)
There was no video for this match.

+++++++++

Saint-Jean-de-Luz MASTER 4

Winners of the 4 Master A Tournaments:

Master 1: KEVIN ITHURRIA-IBON ALDAZABAL
Master 2: JEAN OLHARAN-UNAI LEKERIKA (LEKE)
Master 3: KEVIN ITHURRIA-IMANOL LOPEZ
Master 4: ARITZ ERKIAGA-JEROME PORTET (SUBSTITUTING FOR ERIC IRASTORZA

I: AUGUST 17--SAINT-JEAN-DE-LUZ MASTER 4 FINALS (1 FULL MATCH VIDEO, 1 SCORES ONLY))

THIS IS A CANAL + COMMERCIAL QUALITY VIDEO FROM SAINT-JEAN-DE-LUZ CESTA PUNTA YOUTUBE

GROUP A:


ERKIAGA-PORTET  2
J. TAMBOURINDEGUY-T. BASQUE 1
(12-15, 15-11, 5-4) (32-30)

ERKIAGA-PORTET WIN MASTER 4

GROUP B:

Winners of the 4 Master B Tournaments:

Master 1: Bixente Gonzalez-Paul Montamat
Master 2: Johan Sorozabal-Zugaitz Sallaberry
Master 3: Bixente Gonzalez-Aize Iturralde
Master 4: Thomas Urrutia-Gorka Sorozabal

Thomas Urrutia-Gorka Sorozabal 2; Maxime Benetrix-Hugo Ibar 0
(13-7, 13-4) (26-11)
There was no video available for this match.

Urrutia-G. Sorozabal win Master 4

Thomas Urrutia has won 3 Tournaments. Gorka Sorozabal has won 2.

--------

I: AUGUST 12: SAINT-JEAN-DE-LUZ MASTER 4 2ND SEMI-FINALS (1 FULL MATCH VIDEO, 1 SCORES ONLY)

THIS IS A SAINT-JEAN-DE-LUZ YOUTUBE VIDEO (OF A CANAL + COMMERCIAL QUALITY VIDEO)

GROUP A:


Aritz Erkiaga-Portet 2
Barandika-Minvielle 0
(15-14, 15-7) (30-21)

GROUP B:

Benetrix-Hugo Ibar 2; Hugo Pierrou-Antton de Bettelu 1
(7-13, 13-11, 5-2) (25-26)
There was no match video available for this match.

--------

I: AUGUST 10: SAINT-JEAN-DE-LUZ MASTER 4 1ST SEMI-FINALS (1 FULL MATCH VIDEO AND 1 SCORE)

THIS IS A SAINT-JEAN-DE-LUZ YOUTUBE VIDEO (A CANAL + COMMERCIAL QUALITY VIDEO)

GROUP A:


J. TAMBOURINDEGUY-T. BASQUE 2
LADUCHE-URTASUN 0
(15-9, 15-6) (30-15)

GROUP B: 

Thomas Urrutia-Gorka Sorozabal 2, Iban Etcheberry-Tom Berthon 0
(13-9, 13-8) (26-17)
There was no video available for this match. 

+++++++++

Saint-Jean-de-Luz MASTER 3

I: AUGUST 5: SAINT-JEAN-DE-LUZ MASTER 3 FINALS (1 FULL MATCH VIDEO AND 1 SCORE)

THIS IS A SAINT-JEAN-DE-LUZ CESTA PUNTA YOUTUBE VIDEO

GROUP A:


ITHURRIA-LOPEZ 2
P. TAMBOURINDEGUY-LEKERIKA (LEKE) 0
(15-5, 15-11) (30-16)

Ithurria-Lopez Win Master 3

This was Ithurria's 2nd Saint-Jean-de-Luz Master Final win.
This was Lopez' 2nd Master Final Win. His other was at Markina-Xemien in Hegoalde.

GROUP B:

Bixente Gonzalez-Aize Iturralde 2; Johan Sorozabal-Baptiste Othaburu 1
(11-13, 13-7, 5-1) (29-21)

There was no video available for this match. 

Gonzalez-Iturralde Won Master 3 Group B

This was Bixente Gonzalez' 3rd Championship

--------

I: AUGUST 3: SAINT-JEAN-DE LUZ MASTER 3 2ND SEMI-FINALS (ONE FULL MATCH VIDEO, 1 SCORES ONLY)

THIS IS A SAINT-JEAN-DE-LUZ YOUTUBE VIDEO

GROUP 1:


ITHURRIA-LOPEZ 2
GOIKOETXEA-I. ALDAZABAL 0
(15-11, 15-11) (30-22)

GROUP B:

Bixente Gonzalez-Aize Iturralde 2, Substitute (?)-Paul Montamat 0
(13-5, 13-4) (26-9)

--------

I: JULY 29: SAINT-JEAN-DE-LUZ MASTER 3 1ST SEMI-FINALS (1 FULL MATCH VIDEO, 1 SCORE ONLY)

THIS IS A SAINT-JEAN-DE-LUZ YOUTUBE VIDEO

GROUP A: 


P. TAMBOUIRINDEGUY-LEKERIKA 2
OLHARAN-LABORDE 1
(9-15, 15-13, 5-0) (29-28)

This was Olharan's 1st loss of the Summer.

GROUP B: 

Johan Sorozabal-Baptiste Othaburu 2; Theo Etchegaray-Zugaitz Sallaberry 1
(12-13, 13-5, 5-3) (30-21) 

There was no video available for this match.

+++++++++

Saint-Jean-de-Luz  MASTER 2

I: JULY 27: SAINT-JEAN-DE-LUZ MASTER 2 FINALS (1 FULL MATCH VIDEO)

GROUP A:


JEAN OLHARAN-UNAI LEKERIKA (LEKE) 2
ARITZ ERKIAGA-THIBAULT BASQUE 0
(15-10, 15-9) (30-19)

OLHARAN-LEKERIKA WIN MASTER TWO

This is Olharan's 2nd Championship. He also won (with Jerome Portet) Gant d'Or Master 1 (see above)

Group B:

Johan Sorozabal-Zugaitz Sallaberry 2; Clement Garcia-Baptiste Othaburu 0
(13-12, 13-8) (26-20)

There was no video for this match

J. Sorozabal-Sallaberry win Master 2

--------

THURSDAY, JULY 22: MASTER 2 2ND SEMI-FINALS

GROUP A: 

INAKI GOIKOETXEA-THEO LABORDE  (FULL MATCH VIDEO)

ERKIAGA-BASQUE 2
GOIKOETXEA-LABORDE 1
(15-9, 13-15, 5-1) (33-25)

GROUP B:

Clement Garcia-Baptiste Othaburu 2; Hugo Pierrou-Tom Berthon 0
(13-12, 13-4) (26-16)
There was no match video available for this match

--------

TUESDAY, JULY 20: MASTER 2 1ST SEMI-FINALS

GROUP A:


OLHARAN-LEKERIKA 2
J. TAMBOURINDEGUY-URTASUN 0
(15-9, 15-13) (30-22)

Match article (French)

GROUP B:

Johan Sorozabal-Zugaitz Sallaberry 2; Iban Etcheberry-Gorka Sorozabal 0
(13-5, 13-6) (26-11)
There was no match video or match article for this match.

+++++++++

Saint-Jean-de-Luz MASTER 1 

THURSDAY, JULY 15: MASTER 1 FINALS

GROUP A:


ITHURRIA-I, ALDAZABAL 2 
BARANDIKA-LOPEZ 1
(15-11, 9-15, 5-2) (29-26)

ITHURRIA-I. ALDAZABAL WIN MASTER 1

GROUP B:

Bixente Gonzalez-Paul Montamat 2; Maxime Benetrix-Aize Iturralde 1
(13-6, 11-13, 5-1) (29-20)
There was no match video for this match.

Gonzalez-Montamat win Master 1

This is Bixente Gonzalez' 2nd Championship

--------

TUESDAY, JULY 13: MASTER 1 SECOND SEMI-FINAL

GROUP A:


ITHURRIA-I. ALDAZABAL 2
LADUCHE-MINVIELLE 0
(15-11, 15-13) (30-24)

Note: the identifying information on the video lists the wrong players. The above players listed are the correct players.

GROUP B: 

Bixente Gonzalez-Paul Montamat 2; Thomas Urrutia-Hugo Ibar 1
(13-12, 10-13, 5-1) (28-26)
There is no video available for this match:

--------

THURSDAY, JULY 8: MASTER 1 FIRST SEMI-FINAL

GROUP A:


BARANDIKA-LOPEZ 2
P. TAMBOURINDEGUY-PORTET 0
(15-7, 15-11) (30-18)

Note 1: This match is mis-titled at the Youtube site. It is  not the July 1 match. It is the July 8 Master 1 Semi-Final.

Note 2: Jerome Portet is substituting for Eric Irastorza. How long Irastorza will be out of action is unkown at this time.

GROUP B:

Maxime Benetrix-Aize Iturralde 2; Theo Etchegaray-Antton de Bettelu 1
(6-13, 13-6, 5-2) (24-21)
There was no video  coverage of this match

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

GANT D'OR

Note: All Gant d'Or matches will be available at the Gant d'OR Facebook Video Page. The Latest videos are at the top right side of the page.

If you are directed to the Gant d'Or main facebook page after a requested sign in to Facebook, simply scroll down to "Videos" and click on "see all".

GANT D'OR SLAM FINALS

I: MONDAY AUGUST 23--GANT D'OR (BIARRITZ) SLAM FINALS

GROUP A: 

THIS IS A GANT D'OR FACEBOOK FULL MATCH VIDEO OF NOA 3 COMMERCIAL BROADCAST 


ERKIAGA-LOPEZ 2
ITHURRIA-T. BASQUE 0
(15-14, 15-9) (30-23)

ARITZ ERKIAGA-IMANOL LOPES WIN THE GANT D'OR GROUP A CHAMPIONSHIP

MATCH ARTICLE (Jai Alai News Facebook) (Castilian) NOTE: THERE ARE SPOILERS IN THIS LINK. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW, DON'T USE THE LINK.(Scroll to the bottom of this blog post for a Google Translate English translation for those who don't use Facebook and do want to know.

GROUP B:

THIS IS A GANT D'OR FACEBOOK FULL MATCH VIDEO 


Sorozabal-Sallaberry 2; B. Gonbzalez-Iturralde 1
(10-13, 13-7, 5-1) (28-21)

Johan Sorozabal-Zugaitz Sallaberry win the Gant D'or Group B Championship.

This is Johan Sorozabal's 2nd Championship. This is Zugaitz Sallaberry's 3rd Championship. 

+++++++++

GANT D'OR MASTER 4

Winners of the 4 Master A Tournaments:

Master 1: JEAN OLHARAN-JEROME PORTET
Master 2: ARITZ ERKIAGA-DAVID MINVIELLE
Master 3: INAKI GOIKOETXEA-THIBAULT BASQUE
Master 4: JEAN OLHARAN-THIBAULT BASQUE

AUGUST 18--GANT D'OR (BIARRITZ) MASTER 4 FINALS (2 FULL MATCH VIDEOS)

THESE ARE GANT D'OR FACEBOOK VIDEOS. THE GROUP A FINAL IS A NOA 3 COMMERCIAL QUALITY VIDEO

GROUP A: 


OLHARAN-T. BASQUE 2
ITHURRIA-LEKERIKA 1
(15-12, 13-15, 5-4) (33-31)

OLHARAN-T. BASQUE WIN MASTER 4

GROUP B:

Winners of the 4 Master B Tournaments:

Master 1: Bixente Gonzalez-Hugo Ibar
Master 2: Clement Garcia-Gorka Sorozabal
Master 3: Thomas Urrutia-Aize Iturralde
Master 4: Bixente Gonzalez-Zugaitz Sallaberry


Gonzalez-Sallaberry 2; J. Sorozabal-Berthon 1
(10-13, 13-8, 5-3) (28-24)

Gonzalez-Sallaberry Win Master 4

This was Bixente Gonzalez' 4th Championship

--------

AUGUST 16--GANT D'OR (BIARRITZ) MASTER 4 2ND SEMI-FINALS (2 FULL MATCH VIDEOS)

THESE ARE GANT D'OR FACEBOOK VIDEOS

GROUP A:


OLHARAN-T. BASQUE 2; ERKIAGA-LABORDE 0
(15-8, 15-5) (30-13)

GROUP B:


J. Sorozabal-Berthon 2; Pierrou-Othaburu 0
(13-0, 13-6) (26-6)

--------

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 11: GANT D'OR (BIARRITZ) MASTER 4 1ST SEMI-FINALS (2 FULL MATCH VIDEOS)

THESE ARE GANT D'OR FACEBOOK VIDEOS

GROUP A:

ITHURRIA-LEKERIKA (LEKE) 2
BARANDIKA-I. ALDAZABAL 0
(15-9, 15-12) (30-21)

GROUP B:


Gonzalez-Sallaberry 2; Benetrix-Montamat 0
(13-7, 13-11) (26-18)

+++++++++

Gant d'Or MASTER 3

MONDAY AUGUST 9: GANT D'OR MASTER 3 FINALS (2 FULL MATCH VIDEOS)

THESE ARE GANT D'OR FACEBOOK VIDEOS. THE GROUP a FINAL IS A COMMERCIAL QUALITY  NOA 3 BROADCAST

GROUP A:


GOIKOETXEA-T. BASQUE 2
LAUCHE-LOPEZ 0
(15-12, 15-12) (30-24)

GOIKOETXEA-T. BASQUE WIN MASTER 3

GROUP B:


Urrutia-Iturralde 2, Garcia-Berthon 0
(13-9, 13-5) (26-14)

Urrutia-Iturralde win Master 3. This is Aize Iturralde's second Championship.

--------

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 4: GANT D'OR MASTER 3 2ND SEMI-FINALS (2 FULL MATCH VIDEOS)

THESE ARE GANT D'OR FACEBOOK VIDEOS

GROUP A: 


LOPEZ-LADUCHE 2
P. TAMBOURINDEGUY-URTASUN 0
(15-8, 15-8)  (30-16)


Urrutia-Iturralde 2, Etchegaray-G. Sorozabal 1
(13-5, 9-13, 5-2) (27-20)

--------

MONDAY, AUGUST 2: GANT D'OR MASTER 3 1ST SEMI-FINALS (2 FULL MATCH VIDEOS)


GROUP A:

GOIKOETXEA-BASQUE 2
J. TAMBOURINDEGUY-PORTET 0
(15-13, 15-7) (30-20)

 GROUP B:

Garcia-Berthon 2, Etcheberrry-de Bettelu 0
(13-9, 13-8) (26-17)

+++++++++

Gant d'Or MASTER 2

WEDNESDAY, JULY 28: GANT D'OR MASTER 2 FINALS (2 FULL MATCH VIDEOS)

THESE ARE GANT D'OR CESTA PUNTA FACEBOOK VIDEOS. THE GROUP A FINAL IS A NOA 3 COMMERCIAL QUALITY VIDEO

GROUP A:

INAKI GOIKOETXEA-MANEX URTASUN (GREEN)  (Note: the video begins in the middle of the first point of the match)

ERKIAGA-MINVIELLE 2
GOIKOETXEA-URTASUN 0
(15-6, 15-13) (30-19)

ERKIAGA-MINVIELLE WIN MASTER TWO

This is Aritz Erkiaga's 2nd Championship. He also won Pau Cup Master 1. (See above). Inaki Goikoetxea is now 1-3 this summer.

GROUP B: 


Garcia-G. Sorozabal 2; Etchegaray-Iturralde 0
(13-12, 13-9) (26-21)

Garcia-G. Sorozabal win Master 2

--------

MONDAY, JULY 26: 2ND SEMI-FINALS (2 FULL MATCH VIDEOS)

Clement Garcia-Gorka Sorozabal 2; Maxime Benetrix-Baptiste Othaburu 0
(13-7, 13-9) (26-16)

--------

WEDNESDAY, JULY 21: 1ST SEMI-FINALS (2 FULL MATCH VIDEOS)

Group A: 


ERKIAGA-MINVIELLE 2
P. TAMBOURINDEGUY-LOPEZ 0
(15-11, 15-9) (30-20)

Group B: 


Etchegaray-Iturralde 2; Pierrou-Ibar 0
(13-9, 13-9) (26-18)

+++++++++

Gant d'OR MASTER 1 

MONDAY JULY 19: FINALS (2 FULL MATCH VIDEOS)

GROUP A:


OLHARAN-PORTET 2; ITHURRIA-MINVIELLE 0
(15-3, 15-10) (30-13)

OLHARAN-PORTET WIN MASTER 1 

GROUP B:


Bixente Gonzalez-Hugo Ibar 2; Johan Sorozabal-Antton de Bettelu 1
(7-13, 13-12, 5-3) (25-28)

Gonzalez-Ibar win Master 1

--------

MONDAY JULY 12: 2ND SEMI-FINALS

GROUP A: 


OLHARAN-PORTET 2
LADUCHE-I ALDAZABAL 0
(15-9, 15-11) (30-20)

GROUP B:


J. Sorozabal-de Bettelu 2; Urrutia-Montamat 1
(13-8, 9-13, 5-2) (27-23)

--------

WEDNESDAY JULY 7: 1ST SEMI-FINALS

GROUP A:


ITHURRIA-MINVIELLE 2
J. TAMBOURINDEGUY-LEKERIKA 1
(15-8, 10-15, 5-2)

GROUP B:


Gonzalez-Ibar 2; Libois-Sallaberry 1
(6-13, 13-5, 5-4) (24-22)
 
=========

CESTA PUNTA PLAY IN (JUNE 14-JULY 6) FINAL

Note: there was no coverage (no match ups or scores) of the preliminary Group B competition.

July 6: Cesta Punta Play in Final--This is a St. Jean de Luz Cesta Punta Youtube of a commercial Canal + broadcast


Laduche-Urtasun 2; Olha-Laborde 0
(15-12, 15-13) (30-25)

2nd Division Final (no video)
Hugo Pierrou-Paul Montamat 2; Emeric Libois-Baptiste Othaburu 1
(10-13, 13-2, 5-2) (28-17)

July 5 

This is a Biarritz Cesta Punta Facebook Video 

(15-2, 15-8) (30-10)
 
This is a Biarritz Cesta Punta Facebook Video 

2. 2nd Division (Espoirs) Semi-Final:

(13-11, 13-7) (26-18) 


July 1
(Elimitoire Series, 1 July) (Note: this match was played at St. Jean de Luz and streamed by Canal +)

2nd Division Espoirs Semi-Final (no video available)
Emeric Libois-Baptiste Othaburu 2; Clement Berge-Damien Ourthe 0
(13-8, 13-9) (26-17)

June 30

This is a Biarritz Cesta Punta Facebook Video

(15-5, 15-12) (30-17) 

June 28

This is a Biarritz Cesta Punta Facebook Video

Ludovic Laduche-Jerome Portet (Green) 2; Iban Etcheberry-Manex Urtasun (Red) 0 (Note: Cesta Punta Pro Tour Results has the colors switched)
(15-11, 15-5) (30-16) 

June 23

This is a Biarritz Cesta Punta Facebook Video

(15-7, 15-11) (30-18)

June 21

This is a Biarritz Cesta Punta Facebook Video

(15-10, 15-8) (30-18)  

June 16

This is a Biarritz Cesta Punta Facebook Video

(15-12, 15-12)) (30-24)

June 14

This is a Biarritz Cesta Punta Facebook Video

(15-10, 15-10) (30-20)


Context:
Scores

Players

Standings Note: the standings for this Tournament have been removed from the CCPT website, another example of poor website design. The link now points to all players who will play in all CCPT Summer Tournaments. If you track back the scores and give the winning team's players 4 points for each 2-0 win, 3 points for each 2-1 win, 1 point for each 1-2 loss, and 0 points for each 0-2 loss can figure out  the standings.

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

JULY 3: GUETHERY-LAPURDI--GRAND CHISTERA (OUTDOOR JAI ALAI (HEGOALDE--SOUTH BASQUE--SPAIN v IPARRALDE-NORTH BASQUE--FRANCE)

LUDOVIC LADUCHE-CHRISTIAN ZAMORA-ERIC IRASTORZA 2 
INAKI GOIKOETXEA-AGIRRE-IMANOL LOPEZ 0

PHOTOS AND A FEW VERY SHORT VIDEO CLIPS (Jai Alai News Facebook)


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

MATCH ARTICLES

Iparralde

Pau Cup SLAM FINAL (September 3, 2021

Dream final in Pau this Fridays

 

Pau SLAM results on Friday

Espoirs Final: Etcheberry and Berthon beat Gonzalez and Iturralde 2-1 (7-13, 13-12, 5-4).  

Final Pros: Erkiaga and Lopez beat Goïkoetxea and Portet 2 to 0 (15-6, 15-12).

 

The other results of the Summer League

Biarritz Slam Final

Erkiaga and Lopez beat Ithurria / Olharan and Basque 2-0 (15-14, 15-9).

Slam Final of Saint Jean de Luz

Erkiaga and Lopez beat Goïkoetxea and Portet 2 to 1 (15-11, 12-15, 5-2).

​

 

After Olharan's withdrawal in the semi-final, one could not ask for a better field for the first final of the Slam of the Cesta-punta Pau-Cup. Four world champions on the cancha of the jai-alai of Pau - the two galactic in opposition - for the gain of the 3rd trophy of the Summer-League, it is the assurance of a final at an exceptional level of play. We saw technical prowess in the semi-finals, long exchanges where the sharp reading of the opposing game brought the pelota to life with raised attacks and breathtaking defenses in stunts. There is no doubt that the stake will allow us to witness a new sporting summit.

 

 

Aritz Erkiaga and Imanol Lopez, the first titled in Barcelona in 2018, the second five times among professionals, form a duo of the most successful and efficient; they took away the first two trophies of the summer of 2021, the Golden Glove of Biarritz and the Internationals of Saint Jean de Luz; they are aiming for the pass of three with that of the Cesta-punta Pau-Cup.

Iñaki Goïkoetxea and Jérôme Portet also put forward first-rate references; the former has won seven world championship titles, the best record to date; the second, Palois from the junior category is the youngest of the four; he was titled among the hopes in Mexico, he has just crossed a threshold and is asserting himself as a serious contender for the next national selections. The duo only lost in the decisive round of the final of Saint Jean de Luz against the opponents of the day. This final will also have a taste of revenge. We will have to be very strong to win on Friday.


Pau Cup SLAM 2nd Semi-final (August 27, 2021)

Goïko and Portet will play the final

We were divided in the Section for this second semi-final of the Slam of the Cesta-punta Pau-Cup; on the cancha, on one side his rear Jérôme Portet was applying for a second final with the phenomenon Goïkoetxea seven times world champion; on the other hand Thibault Basque, number one in the Summer-League with Jean Olharan, had to deal with Ludovic Laduche in the absence of forward Palois in isolation; if this duo won, Olharan had the possibility of regaining his place in the final. 

We therefore fully appreciated the performance of each training. The stakes were high; the discussions lasted with rare technical feats hailed by the public. We knew Basque to be irreproachable in his mastery of the rear position and efficient as soon as the opening presented itself. His opposite, Portet, will have supported the comparison; fair and precise in his strikes, taking the initiative, excellent in defense, even cornered against the back wall, the Pau showed that he had taken a step forward by getting in tune with his galactic before. They will lead the first round before the equalizer of the opponents at 9, 10, 12 and 14 with a good Laduche who had to show his talent. The last goal intercepted, Goïko adjusted an unstoppable cortada to take the decisive point. 

The second round like the previous one will be balanced up to 9-8; after which, a few balls delivered or badly adjusted from Laduche enabled Goïko to decide irresistibly on the following points; Portet will even allow himself to adjust a winning two-wall attack from cuadro 9. A second Slam final is offered to the winners against the Spaniards Erkiaga and Lopez who have already put in their pockets the international trophies of Saint Jean de Luz, the Golden Glove of Biarritz 2021; They are showing their intention to make the Summer League three pass by completing with the Cesta-punta Pau Cup next Friday.

+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

Hegoalde

Gant d'Or SLAM Final (August 23, 2021)

ERKIAGA AND LOPEZ, GOLDEN GLOVE (GANT D'OR) CHAMPIONS
ITHURRIA-BASQUE vs ERKIAGA-LOPEZ: 14-15, 9-15
Final of the Biarritz Gold Glove, with 1.200 fans filling the seats of the mythical fronton Euskal Jai. Great day for the Basque ball, albeit with a last minute drawback. Jean Olharan's covid positive, best striker of Iparralde temparade. Last minute replaced by xiburutarra Kevin Ithurria, third best striker of the course.
Erkiaga and Lopez set out as clear favorites, forming a couple in a basket-tip tournament, after three years without playing together. In 2009 they won the Golden Glove, and they did it again tonight, twelve years later. But it cost them their thing, especially in the first set. Ithurria and Basque have given battle, and they have almost come to surprise.
The Greens, Aritz and Imanol have started off well, winning 0-3, but the Coloradoes have made five so many in a row getting ahead on the scoreboard, with good Maule-Lextarre striker finishes. It has cut Erkiaga (5-4) difference with a cut, but Basque has put the greens back two so many above, after boating and sending the ball to txik-txak (6-4). Erkiaga and Lopez have tied Six and seven, and with live ball they started hurting. From that cardboard, they've been set ahead. Great so much from Ispaster's forward to achieving 7-9, with a stunning two bounce walls. Lopez broadens the lead, placing the ball next to the bounce wall and the left wall (7-10). The lead has come to four, but a couple of Lopez mistakes and a couple of Ithurria sides, ha Turn the set upside down.
Aritz didn't hit a strike, giving away one to Ithurria, and it was a Basque ball that led the Coloradoes to tie 14. Great tension. Last so much. In the ball game Erkiaga and Lopez manage to impose, it seems that Basque has been able to touch a ball with the basket but the judges do not point out foul, and in the end it is Aritz Erkiaga who clears all doubts and finishes the set. 15-14.
Iparralde's couple have fought on the first set, they have been worthy opponents for Hegoalde's super dupla, but David hasn't been able to handle Goliath, and with live ball, little could do in the second game. At first they've held on the scoreboard (2-2, 3-4), Erkiaga has started the set somewhat cold, but Ithurria and Basque have accused the fatigue of playing to the max. Great set of Lopez, showing his authority, dominating, running the game, getting hard balls and even finishing. Ithurria has signed a couple of so many quality, both sideways and bounce, but there was nothing to do. The game has ended with a ball that after hitting the bounce wall has gone wide, and caught both Basque and Ithurria on hold. 9-15 final, favorites win, but the Coloradoes have shown great level and they've managed to put excitement in the first half of the game.
Aritz Erkiaga revalidates last year's title (with Minvielle) and gets his third txapela. In addition, it has received from the Mayor of Biarritz, Maider Arosteguy, the award for Best Ballotari. Second Grand Slam category championship on the line this season, and second title for the great Ispaster striker. He's already won at Gernika and Biarritz, now the goal is to get the ticket for the final of San Juan de Luz. Tomorrow he plays the semi final with Lopez at Campos Berri (21:30 h) against Ithurria and Lekerika.
Imanol Lopez has won the first big title of the season, and his fifth Golden Glove. He had won four in a row, from 2007 to 2010, and eleven years later, he returns to the top of the Biarritz podium.
Congrats to the champions!

Hegoalde 

Gernika Grand Slam FINAL (August 16) (Match article)

ERKIAGA FINALLY CROWNS IN THE CATHEDRAL!!! 

* A great Lekerika helps Ispaster's ′′ Arista ′′ to get his first big title in Gernika
15-14, 15-13
Game 1: Goikoetxea-Zabala vs Arbe-Etxeto: 15-5, 15-5
Deserved victory for Aritz Erkiaga (Ispaster, 1987) and Unai Lekerikabeaskoa (Gernika-Lumo, 1994) at Gernika's Grand Slam. They've been the championship's best, winning all their matches and also doing so with a cheerful and vibrant game, transmitting the nicest thing in the basket-tip to the public, as they've shown, once again, in the final. The Cathedral has been ′′ filled ′′ again, maximum capacity permitted, 800 people, on matinee schedule. Jai Alai is gaining ground, adding new fans. Whoever sees it, likes it, and wants more. And now, in addition to the fronton, also substantially improved TV broadcast (ETB). Yet another window to spread the most international Basque sport.
But let's get to the point. Erkiaga-Lekerika, Colorado, against Barandika and Lopez, in blue. Match match on paper. First so much has been for the blues. Dominion in the ball and two sideswalls of Barandika. But Gernika's striker has very soon made a double pass (1-1). Note that the entire game has a maximum of five pasas (as of the sixth pass, all are foul). At the start of the game there has been no clear dominance of the game, and the many alternated, now on one side, now on the other. As of 4 equal Erkiaga and Lekerika have opened some gap, thanks in part to errors of their rivals (8-4) but Barandika and Lopez have managed to draw (8-8). To highlight a little blue, well worked, with side auction of Barandika. The 9 equal has been the work of Erkiaga. One two bounce walls. Ispaster's ′′ Artist ′′ was starting to shine his unique qualities. Lopez has responded to him with a perfect txula (9-10) and there has even been some controversy in pointing out the judge ′′ boat ′′ in Leke's basket, a decision that the Coloradoes has disagreed with (10-12). With 11-13 on the scoreboard, Erkiaga has decided to step up. Going behind on the scoreboard and at a pivotal moment in the game, he has shown to have a lot of cold blood, and tremendous quality. He's managed to get caught up, finishing, nothing more and nothing less than a bounce cut! (12-13). The Blues have managed to get there first in the absence of so much (13-14). Coloradoes were being dominated, Lekerika, laced between the left and the bounce wall, putting impossible balls... and again Erkiaga, se risk with a side marking a perfect two walls from seven. Fourteen equal, great tension. The script is repeated. They dominate the blues but Erkiaga gets another ace out of his sleeve. Nothing else with flipping and sideways, he gets scared of his rivals. He can do anything, he has the ability to do it. In the end, he decides to finish the both by pulling inside. 14-15 and great ovation to the master of cheerful paintings.
The second set has started even. They've tied all the cartons up to seven. But from there, the Coloradoes have taken a slight advantage. So much of Erkiaga from txik-txak (9-7), Barandika's txula (9-8), Lekerika's right hand picking the ball and passing over Lopez (10-8). Dominion of the blues, but it's Lekerika who hurts, and so much, with the right (11-8). Already with three so many lead, Erkiaga has stuck ′′ fondazo ", damaging the basket. But after the arrangement, Ispaster's has continued to play at the same level. Barandika passes (12-9), both bounce of Aritz (13-9), two right-wing walls of Barandika (13-10), another good forward gernikarra, entering a run boat and finishing with a two walls (13-12). The game is tight again, and more after a txula from Lopez (13-13). The Zumaiarra is claimed and asks, looking at the public, that no one gives them up. Fans ask for the playoff. It's a great final and no one wants it to end. But the Coloradoes don't accept the deal. Erkiaga throws a cut, Lopez asks for it but Barandika comes in, who has thrown in the whole game balls. This one can't (14-13).
There's a while left until the Jai Alai party ends and with it the five festivals in a row of ′′ Sold Out ". The feeling is that this sport is going up. Ballotaris, crowd, show and excitement. And there's a young boy, who is called Unai Lekerikabeaskoa, already idol in Gernika, who apart from a big balloon, is a square-gizon and with a large two right-wing walls from behind, decides the title and txapela.
Second Grand Slam for Leke (already won in 2018 with Goikoetxea) and first for Erkiaga. Gernika's is the most coveted title today, and Aritz deserved it already. But just like this title gives Erkiaga, Erkiaga, with his game and with this txapela, has given the rank of Gernika's majestic pediment. One and the other were meant to be found, and in the end, they found each other. It's a unique ballotari. And his humble character doesn't remove Aritz being among the best and most beautiful ballots of all time.
CONGRATULATIONS ERKIAGA AND LEKERIKA
GORA HAIL ALAI

Gernika Grand Slam Semi-finals (August 14) (Match article for both matches)

HEART ATTACK NIGHT, EXPECTED FINAL
Monday / Monday, 12:00 h (ETB-1 h)
Friendly Basque League-L ÓPEZ match
Game 1: Arbe-Etxeto vs Goiko-Zabala
Semi-Finals result:
15-14, 15-9
7-15, 15-8, 5-4
Barandika-Lopez and Erkiaga-Lekerika will see faces tomorrow at noon, matinee time (American style) in the Gernika Grand Slam final. A championship with which the audience has vibrated, from the first day, let's wait until final day, in each of the functions. Singles in the stands, basket-pointe desire, the ′′ no entrance ′′ sign in all functions, and a Grand Slam, sportively speaking, exciting to more not power. Perhaps the best of those who have organized since the resurgence of Jai Alai.
Watching yesterday's games, you have to be very bold to point out a favorite for the final. Xabi Barandika played a game. He pulls the easy ball with the right, bounced wonders, has an incredible defense and when he touched him, finishing and well. They were very favorite against Hormaetxea and Zabala. Two balls that have moved ′′ their audience ′′ to Jai Alai Gerniqués, putting great atmosphere always on the fronton. Bermeotarra and Markinarra started badly. With 1-6 and 2-9 it looked like we were going to witness a walk in the blues. But it all changed mid set. Jon Zabala started getting a lot of tough balls (Bullet championship piece), Alex risked and hit his beautiful side, and Lopez failed quite a few more balls than he's got us used to. The Coloradoes managed to draw 13. Earlier in 11-13, Barandika wore an incredible txula and left, but Zabala managed to do so much back. The match brought madness to the bleachers, and more 14-14. At the end he was the ′′ Marshal ′′ Lopez who with a low setback, avoided Hormaetxea's entry and put a bad ball to Bullet, to get the set, 14-15.
In the second set, Barandika and Lopez imposed their law, without scares, and won with authority, 9-15. Still, the last one lifted all 800 fans from their seats. Two walls of Bounce Hormaetxea. LLega Barandika (what legs! ), cut tug, Zabala knee fixture and get a good one. The crowd is going crazy. There's Barandika. Pick up right and perfect txik-txak. Agur jaunak.
As for Game, what to say? What were two games, not one. In the first, absolute dominance of Jean Dominique Olharan and Ibon Aldazabal. Erkiaga and Lekerika play a lot. So much. But they need ball alive. And with the dead (or in this cold case), Berriatua's recordman dominated and Leke couldn't pass Olharan. Pau's striker is placed in box seven and if not airborne, enters a boat-run with tremendous ease. He did everything. Auction recital. Two walls from right, top to bottom. Coasted inside. Left off right. Txik Txak. Two amazing cut from frame eight. ′′ Jean Do ′′ in pure state and powerlessness of the Coloradoes. 3-6, 5-8, and 7-15. Aritz Erkiaga, Ispaster's ′′ Artist ′′ was missing, and Lekerika dominated.
But in the second game all change. With the ball rolling, the ball stoked, and held on without breaking. Great set of Lekerika. He messed with the right and made many so many: cut (1-1), arranged (4-2), chopped (5-2), another right (7-4) and a two beautiful walls from far back (8-4). Very good also the cut that Erkiaga bounce (9-4), and the two walls in the next softer, going into air and breaking the ball wide (10-4). Olharan answered him with another two walls in the following (10-5 ) and 11-6 was spectacular. Tremendous bounce from Aritz, a ball that carries Aldazabal on the ground... in the end the ball comes to Olharan, and Leke can't take it to good. The Coloradoes came missing so much after two so many in a row from Ispaster (13-8, 14-8) and the last one was also a work of the ′′ Artist ". Aldazabal carries an incredible botecorrido (adding his almost two meters tall, plus the stretched arm, plus the basket, plus the jump he hit), Olharan also entering botecorrido balls carrying poison. In the end, it finishes Pau's, but Erkiaga links and finishes the set with a beautiful two right-wing walls. Tremendous ovation of the stands and a lot of tension, facing the final playoff.
0-1, start off right Olharan and Aldazabal. 1-1, Berriatua's pull up. 2-1, so much of Lekerika, itching the ball. 3-1, two walls of Olharan, to the back. 3-2. Olharan pulls in, so much. 3-3, dominate the blues, and Olharan ends up behind the so much. 3-4, itch and go from Lekerika. Or what's the same, his backhand touches wall left accidentally and goes against it. Bad time for mistakes. 4-4, Lekerika rectifies and makes so much right.
Last so much. Erkiaga is about to take out. The whole audience stands up, and many don't even sit down to watch the final end. The two couples have the ball to finish the game. The Blues almost sentenced but spectacular Aritz, running back, pulling his strength to the ground and bringing a txula to good. Ispaster's left Lekerika two balls ahead, so he could finish with the right. Great defense of the blues. In the end, the big game and the tremendous both end in the most unfair way. Ball opens wide, runs Aldazabal and gets polling, but half-dropping. He doesn't have many options. Bring on good and deliver Aritz, or risk it. As he can throw a two walls, surprise Erkiaga because if he's good it's impossible for him to come. But no, the ball falls to the canopy under cover, and Aldazabal, surrendered, falls to the ground.
An end that does not underscore the great match of Berriatua's zaguero that alongside ′′ Magician ′′ Olharan, has managed to put Aritz Erkiaga and Unai Lekerikabeaskoa on the ropes.
The latter arrive in pain, but undefeated in the final. Three wins from three (2-0, 2-0 and 2-1). Barandika and Lopez, with two wins (2-0, and a loss (2-1), but for a single, and due to a mistake, decisive but punctual.
THE FINAL:
No secrets. Tactically Erkiaga and Lekerika need the ball to heat up. Barandika and Lopez, quite the opposite. Go changing, get new, dominating, Aritz not going in and Leke doesn't hurt right.
Two gernikarras in the final, Xabi Barandika and Unai Lekerikabeaskoa. Friends and ballaris inseparable, from fans to their Florida debut. Even today, they live in the same house in the US, but however close they are, as said in the punctist slang, there will be tremendous ′′ cats ′′ on the court. For Barandika it would be her first txapela in Gernika, and for Leke, the second (2018, with Goiko).
Aritz Erkiaga also wants to leave his name written in the palm of this championship, and Lopez gets his third title. Zumaiarra just opened as a father this week, and what better gift for his daughter Aitana, Mexican mother and fruit, in part, of the internationality of our sport, than the Grand Slam Txapela in La Cathedral de la Ball.
Most important: that the final be the great colofon of such a vibrant championship.
Good luck everyone!


Gernika Grand Slam League Round Robin Day 3 (August 7) 
Match article for both matches)

HORMAETXEA-ZABALA AND BARANDIKA-LOPEZ, TO SEMI-FINALS!
Goiko-Etxeto's defeat allows Olharan-Aldazabal pass

Hormaetxea-Zabala defeat Beaskoetxea-Del Rio
9-15 15-11, 5-3
Barandika -Lopez defeat Goikoetxea-Etcheto
15-14, 15-13

13-15 Basque Football League Friendly Game
Chronicle: World Ball Meeting
The crowd tucked back yesterday to Gernika's participating Grand Slam ballots on their final league match day. The decisive tournament match day, with a new filling on the Jai Alai fronton, got away with the semi-finals of Alex Hormaetxea and Jon Zabala and Xabier Barandika and Imanol Lopez. The latter's blunt victory also allowed the semi-finals of Jean Dominique Olharan and Ibon Aldazabal, which will face Erkiaga and Lekerika next week.
The first set of Alex Hormaetxea and Jon Zabala's match against Diego Beaskoetxea, and Julen del Rio started with a clear lead for the Blues, who managed to scratch a 1-5 partial as soon as the match began. Although the Coloradoes knew how to respond quickly and tie with a 5-5, Beaskoetxea and Del Rio dominated the rest of the set, sentencing the first half with a 9-15.
The game dynamics completely changed in the second set as the Reds dominated the Blues with a very successful Hormaetxe in the lead. With a 7-2 starting partial, but comeback by Beaskoetxea and Del Rio with a 8-8, the Red couple managed to tie the match with a 15-11.
The playoff set was played, but finally Hormaetxea and Zabala imposed on Beaskoetxea, Del Rio (5-3), sealing a match they cooked from more to more and getting a gap in the semi-finals of Gernika's Grand Slam.
In the second match of the match day Goikoetxea and Etxeto saw faces with Barandika and Lopez. All four baskets demonstrated a high level of competition from the beginning of the encounter, with a first set of so many longs. It's mandatory to mention the 6-4 both, a very intense ball in which the ball touched the front end more than fifty times and ended with a Goiko auction. The first set, equal, was finally for Barandika-Lopez (14-15).
Even though Goiko and Etxeto dominated virtually the entire second half of the game, Barandika and Lopez didn't give up and came back a 13-10 without receiving a bit until the win (13-15). Therefore, those in blue not only did they get ranked, but they did it as group heads, ahead of Olharan and Aldazabal, who also move to the semi-finals.
In the semi-finals, the matches are as follows:
North League friendly match

Group A:
1 · Writing - Lopez: 1-1 1-1 n
2 · Olharan - Aldazabal: 1-1
3 · Goikoetxea - Etcheto: 1-1
Group B:
1 · Erkiaga - Lekerika: 2-0
2 · Hormaetxea - Zabala: 1-1
3 · Beaskoetxea - Del Rio: 0-2

Gernika Grand Slam League Round Robin Day 2 (July 31 Match Article for both matches)

GOIKO AND ETXETO PRESENT THEIR CANDIDATURE!
Second league match day, Grand Slam by Gernika.

Group A: Goikoetxea-Etcheto beat Olharan-I. Aldazabal 15-9, 11-15, 5-1
Group B: (Aritz) Erikiaga-Unai Lekerika (Leke) beat Hormaetxea-Zabala 15-11, 15-8
Great atmosphere at Gernika's Jai Alai. There was no ′′ filling ", because it's not allowed, but if ′′ aforazo ". All the paper sold and above all, many young people to witness the matches of the second match day of the league. He highlighted the large number of Zabala fans moving from Markina-Xemein and surroundings.
And yes, there were doubts, from both Goiko and Etxeto. From the Zumaiarra, because in this season you still hadn't seen him at his level. And from Getaria's backyard, because he had been out of competition for a year. But yesterday, both one and the other, it took little time to clear all doubts.
First surname Iñaki Osa and second Goikoetxea played his fourth game of the week last night. He came from competing in Biarritz (Monday and Wednesday) and Pau (Friday), and that, in his own words, has favored him. The game load has allowed him to catch up, which cost him so much at the beginning of the season. Yesterday he did everything right, played comfortable, at pleasure. Enjoyed on the court. It was he who dominated the game, made the opposite uncomfortable, and finished well the many (sides inside, rebounds and cuts). Olharan, almost couldn't get into play, at least in the first set. Only at the end of the first game could the Blues get a little into the game, and do three so many in a row, going from 14-6 to 15-9. (Those can be worth gold! ))
The second set was more equalized and the two couples tied up to cardboard six. Pau's striker throws a tough ball by supporting both feet on the left wall (mark of the house) and on the next ball throws a soft cut to get ahead 6-7. The blues started there to take advantage on the scoreboard and Etxeto , who to be the first game played very well, accused some fatigue in this second sleeve. With 8-13 on the scoreboard, the set wasn't going to escape the blues. At the end Goiko and Etxeto 11 Olharan and Aldazabal 15.
In the playoff, some other blues error, an itch and go from Etxeto that went inside luckily, and two other Goiko walls were enough to decide the match (5-1).
Things are very tight in Group A and everything will be decided on the next day. If Goikoetxea and Etxeto beat Barandika and Lopez, the latter are eliminated. If Barandika and Lopez win 2 to 0, they qualify and Olharan-Aldazabal. There would be only triple draw if Barandika and Lopez beat Goiko and Etxeto by two sets to one. In that case I would have taken the calculator, and watched the average.
The ones who are already ranked in Group B are Aritz Erkiaga and Unai Lekerikabeaskoa. They've won both games without fitting any set against. Yesterday they surpassed 11-15 and 8-15 Hormaetxea and Zabala, which they wanted, they pawned, but they couldn't. And that the bermeotarra came in to quite a few Aritz... but when it's risking, many can be done, but also make more mistakes. The Blues Erkiaga and Lekerika were much safer than the Colorado ones and convey a lot of confidence on the court. There were so many beautiful, many of them from Hormaetxea, but in this report we will highlight two RE-BO-TA-ZOS backwards Erkiaga. First in the first set (both 13 of the blues) and the other in the second (both 10). Two balls that traveled stuck to the left wall, with great strength, and ended up on the bounce wall, passing through Hormaetxea overhead and leaving bridge to Zabala. Teacher's play.
Hormaetxea and Zabala will be played in the semi-finals, life or death, next Saturday, against Beaskoetxea & Del Rio. Whoever wins, passes. The loser is eliminated.
The first of each group will face the second of the other group in the semi-finals.
Good luck to all!

Gernika Grand Slam League Round Robin Day 1 (July 24 Match Article for both matches)

ERKIAGA AND OLHARAN... BUT WHAT ART DID YOU HAVE...
* Incidents: Full capacity, 800 people in Gernika's Jai Alai
11-15, 6-15
15-13, 13-15, 4-5
The tip basket is sport, but it's also art. ′′ Ballet with Bullets ′′ is called by Americans, since they saw how the Basque ballots, with a basket tied in their right hand, were able to do ′′ ballet ′′ between ′′ bullets ". This sport is not trained, but is ′′ rehearsal ". And the tip basket is art, thanks to ballaris like Aritz Erkiaga and Jean Olharan. Because in other artistic disciplines, Ispaster and Pau's would be at the level of Monet, Giacommeti or Gaudi. At the Grand Slam premiere, the two played barbaric, and drove the crowd crazy.
In the first game, four ballots were gathered, including two right-wing zagueros (backs), who like to play with live ball. The meeting started well. Two walls of Diego, txik-txak of Aritz, another two walls of Beaskoetxea, a txula of Lekerika. Live ball, entertaining match, not much balling though. Del Rio was throwing tremendous right-wing to the ball, but the Blues were always high. Tremendous 6 equal for the blues. Del Rio pulls right, Erkiaga enters box eight and marks a perfect two side walls. It looks so easy when Aritz does it! The set has been matched until 11-11. Then Lekerika has made a bit of a dive, the coloradoes have made a couple of mistakes, and Ispaster's ′′ Artist ′′ has finished the first sleeve with another play mark of the house: two side walls and so much.
In the second, little have stood the coloradoes. From the match on cardboard three, the blues have been opening more and more hollow. It's been an Erkiaga exhibition-very fine physically -, so many especially sideways, also bounce and txik txak, to end the match with a cut. 6-15. It's still Grand Slam's first game, but Erkiaga-takes five wins in a row-and Lekerika, they sound strong for the title.
Game, equal to or better than the first. But totally different. Much tougher, more balled. Two setbacks. Sometimes Lopez commanded, and sometimes Aldazabal dominated the zumaiarra. Surely, the worst opponent in the lag for Lopez, on the fronton of Gernika (57 meters), is Ibon Aldazabal. Because it hits him so much or more than him and can dominate him, even if he makes more mistakes too. Against virtually every other zaguer, Lopez is the one who dominates the game.
But the party star has been ahead, it's Pau's, and his name is Jean Dominique Olharan. What has this kid played! What balls he got! And HOW MANY!!! The ballgame is nice when there are good finals, but so is, both or more, when a ball like Olharan helps his booster so much, and gets so many ′′ impossible ′′ balls. It's been a real barbaric and the crowd has gone home, ′′ drunk ′′ ball. Barandika has avoided Olharan, loading the whole game to Aldazabal. But Berriatua's has endured, and well. The first set has been very matched, and the thirteen equal of the blues will surely be the summer's both:
After a tough ball, Olharan gets a frank ball in box six, throws two walls aside but makes a mistake. Barandika touches txik txak but Pau's striker lifts the ball. Air in Barandika, throws a perfect left but... amazing! Olharan arrives! Quickly roll and pull to good. Bounce Lopez, Olharan is in box four, he has the ball left in the wide and has to jump in to air. For a moment, stop being a ′′ pointer ′′ to become a ′′ comeback. With his feet in the air, he removes the ball, and not only leads to good, but makes a perfect leave, to do so much. Eight hundred people standing and clapping, as the ballotaris congratulate him from the court, lifting the basket, as a sign of respect.
The match for the blues, but the set, for the colorados. After a cut to Aldazabal's Txapa (14-13), Barandika has finished the game with a bit behind (15-13).
Second set has been blue. The Coloradoes have begun with several errors (0-4, 1-5), and although they have come even closer to a bit (7-8), they have not been able to with the game of Olharan and Aldazabal. Berriatua's ′′ Whip ′′ has thrown three perfect ballots, in the last few, practically to txula (11-14). And although their set has been complicated (13-14), at the end, they managed to force the playoff (13-15 ).
Five so many. Kale or bale. There is no margin of error... or yes. The set starts with a Lopez ball, which touches left wall and goes to the backrack. 0-1.
Olharan tries to get air into another tough but impossible ball. 1-1.
So much from Lopez right. 2-1.
Aldazabal stick. 3-1.
Again Lopez, the ball touches him back to left wall, open dangerously, can go good or bad, Olharan, very forced, tries to enter, but stick. 4-1.
The playoff set looked like it was going to blow off what had been a great match. But no. The Blues have approached two so many after a Barandika (4-2) mistake. And at that time, and with the match lost, Jean Dominique Olharan has reappeared.
After a hard ball, Lopez puts a bad right ball. Aldazabal sees it's going to be so much and yells ′′ yours yours!" to their striker. This one puts an amazing ball in a boat soon, stuck to the wall and into the seven. Well from there, throw a two unbeatable side walls. Tremendous ovation. But the exhibition hasn't ended. On the next one, again sideways, pulls in, passes to Xabi and can't get Imanol. Four alike. Great tension on both the court and the stands. Get Olharan, Barandika air, backwards backwards, Olharan is just right and the colorados have the match ball. In table six, franca-franca... it's Lopez who asks for it. Throw down two walls, but wrong. He can't open the ball, Olharan, and it ends in txik-txak. 4-5.
Very good show at the start of the Grand Slam, happy the fans who have ′′ filled ′′ the capacity of the fronton, and also happy all the fans who are able to follow the Championship this year, on the first channel of Euskal Telebista.
Barandika and López are difficult to qualify. They have to win, yes or yes, Goikoetxea and Etxeto, and wait to see what happens in the other game.
Erkiaga and Lekerika will be classified if they beat Hormaetxea and Zabala. They're favorites in principle, but Aritz will have to take away the sack well, if he doesn't want to suffer against the Berman.

Mutriku Masters Final (July 23 Match Article)

ARBE AND AIMAR, MUTRIKUN CHAMPIONS
Last night the final of Mutriku Master Series was played on the Miruaitz fronton of Mutriko. Good atmosphere on the fronton to enjoy this holiday season from Madalenas that haven't been celebrated this year, at least from ball games.
The Jokin Arbe Markinarra has reached the final without playing semi-finals. Jon Goenaga has played from mutriku as this has tested positive for Covid. The semi-finals lost the two strikers, Goiko and Goixerri, both are injured, and that's why Arbe's involvement. Current head champion and Markina-Xemein Master Series.
Well yesterday, Arbe got another title. With Aimar Aldazabal winning Barandika and Manzisidor.
In the first set just, by two points, 13-15. Second, they easily lost, 15-7. But when there's a tie everything lights up in the unhinged, and those five are the ones that are really worth. Finally blue win, 1-5.
In the first match, Antxon and Uranga won 9-15, 15-12 and 2-5 over Urreizti and Mendizabal.
Injuries and casualties have been this year at Mutriku's tip basket championship, but the people, as always, have responded wonderfully to the call of our sport, filling the fronton. The wounded and those who are on leave for covida, heal as soon as possible!
Aupa Mutriku and the mutrikuarras! Long live the Jai Alai!

Markina-Xemein Masters Final:  (July 18 Match Article)

ARBE AND LOPEZ (WIN AGAINST GERNIKA'S (TEAM--BEASKOETXEA-LEKERIKA)

Final match result of Basque League
14-15 8-15 

Final of Markina-Xemein Master Series, with another full at University, within permitted capacity (600 people). Local pelotari Jokin Arbe, current Individual Champion, has achieved its biggest win in pairs: winning in Markina's always respectful and imposing square. He's done it playing two games, the semi-finals and the final: not being too conservative, but not risking more than he should. He did what he had to do, and very well. Lopez has come back to make differences. Rather, it's the pelotari that makes differences.

The game has been serious. Without too many flourishes. A final. Diego has started, going in to the kick out and throwing down a good two walls. The many already from the start were balled. Perfect cut of Beaskoetxea in 3-2. After 3 equal, both Arbe's bounce ′′ to pass ′′ and another side inside, 3-5. Lopez, with its incredible ease to delay the ball backwards, put a txula in from table twelve, 3-6. Two walls of Lekerika, 4-6, Lekerika chopped, 5-6. Lopez, which already in the semi-finals injured his ankle, turns to twist and falls to the floor (6-6) entering to locker room but can go on. Ties have happened until 10-10, and then, strange thing, Lopez has failed three easy balls. At the key time of the game, the audience doubted Lopez. Will it be the ankle that doesn't allow you to move well? The audience may hesitate, but Imanol is a puntista that always, always, is sure of itself. He has tremendous temple, doesn't get nervous, and the colorados, even 14-12 up on the score, haven't been able to finish the set. The last one, 14 equal, has been beautiful. After a good ball, Lopez drops a good right-wing bounce; he carries another ball that looked like he was going to pass over him, but besides hitting, which was already difficult, puts him back. Blues go on dominating, Lekerika takes a bounce ball, and it's Arbe, who goes backwards, finishes the both behind Txik-Txak. Great ovation from attendees to all four ballots.

Lopez is the great dominator of the lag, but the duel with Lekerika has been very nice. With two very different styles of play, one launching missiles, mostly backwards, and the other, going to the ball, going into a right-wing run boat and using that hand to lower the ball... nice show of the two. Although the gernikarra, already in the final stretch of the game, has surrendered and opted to finish, in vain.

Still, the set has started off well for the Coloradoes, with two so many in a row from Beaskoetxea (left to take out rest, and a cut from afar), and a Lekerika two  walls (he's put three in, and one has failed). After 3-3 and 4-4, Beaskoetxea has thrown out a very hasty cut but it sounded ′′ the gossip ", 4-5. Lopez fires a ball quite up and scores a two walls to get two so many ahead, 4-6. Something like it in 4-8. The zumaiarra comes to hit a ball in the wide, and makes so much right. Colorado's want to close the gap. Beaskoetxea throws two walls right, but Arbe arrives and finishes the much cut, 4-9. The 6-9 has been from Lekerika, right, Arbe has gotten the 6-10 for the blues with a side in, 6-10. Another Lekerika two walls, 7-10. Two walls of Arbe, Diego arrives and so much colorado, 8-10. It seemed like Gernika's had options again but Lopez has put things back in place, right back again, 8-11. Lekerika has gutted, but failing a two walls and a cut off. The match was already decided. He's finished it, of course, the ′′ Marshal ′′ Lopez. He launched a real backwards missile, Lekerika jumps over the wall, gets backwards polling, but it was impossible to ′′ stop ". He tried to throw the ball almost nonstop but the ball hasn't followed the trajectory of the basket. Instead of going to the front end, it has fallen to the ground. 8-15.

Lopez, after losing in San Juan de Luz, has taught a ball lesson at University. He, like everyone who isn't in the US, comes from a long break. But already with four games, he has shown himself far superior. And this afternoon, with a great Jokin Arbe, last year's thorn was pulled, when alongside Hormaetxea, he fell against Beaskoetxea and Lekerika in the final.

In the festival's first game, nice and entertaining show of the four ballots, and Alex Goitia's victory-this guy has tremendous starter, as demonstrated in Miami-and Ion Ibarluzea. Second champions have been proclaimed by 30 so many to 24 against Goenaga and Elkoro.

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Mutriku Masters: both Semi-finals (July 17 Match articles)

ARANDIKA-MANCISIDOR AND GOENAGA-AIMAR, AT THE END OF MUTRIKU
The basket-tip day of the JAI ALAI WORLD TOUR held last night in Mutriku was bittersweet. Of the four sets played, three were very close. Unfortunately, in the last one the puntista Ekaitz Mendizabal “Goixerri” injured his biceps and the game he was playing with Unai Lekerika against Jon Goenaga and Aimar Aldazabal had to be suspended, when the score was 4-2 in his favor.

Therefore, the couples that have qualified for the final of the Mutriku Master Series, which will be played next Friday, July 23, at the Miruaitz pediment, are Barandika-Mancisidor and Goenaga-Aimar.

"It was a shame," Aimar Aldazabal said yesterday about Goixerri's injury. "The first set was very close, we lost 15 to 12 but the four of us played a very nice game and the public enjoyed it," continued the basket player.

As for the first game, the last minutes of the first set were the most intense. In fact, Xabi Barandika and Mikel Mancisidor proved their worth in those last moments against Iñaki Osa Goikoetxea and Aratz Mendizabal, as they came down on the scoreboard by a three-point lead over those in red (13-10). "We have been able to equalize and in the end, in both 14-14, we were lucky and it ended in our favor," said Barandika.

In the second set, Barandika and Mancisidor tightened their rivals more and won more loosely (8-15).

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

Markina-Xemein 2nd Semi Final (July 16) Match article

ARBE AND L ÓPEZ, TO THE FINAL OF MARKINA!!
Antxon-Atain II 29-30 Goenaga-Elkoro
Master Series Semifinal: GOIKOETXEA-ZABALA vs ARBE-L ÓPEZ: 11-15, 13-15
Full at Ball University on Carmen Day. Master Series semi-final, with one match, open theory. The encounter began with some errors, such as a lack of Goiko's take-out (he did three in the game), but also with auction inside the zumaiarrra in the rest. The game was already starting to catch pace, with long ballers, but the blue-side finish: 1-4, 2-6, the last play, which was the 3-9. for the Blues. Goiko pulls out, Arbe enters the air, and almost nonstop the ball, from a fairly high position, executes a perfect left, surprising Goiko and the entire audience. Tremendous ovation. ′′ I can't compete in terms of force against these ballots, but I've found myself cool in the technical aspect ", the markinarra said at the end of the match. Great meeting of Jokin. I finish this first set by scoring another three of the rest of the looting (two left and one two walls), and one left more bounce. Goiko and Zabala came close to a bit (10-11), the zaguero Markinarra got a bit of txik-txak, but the set went to Arbe and Lopez.
On the second set, more of the same. The Blues were always 2-3 so many ahead, but at all times it was seen that the Coloradoes could turn around. Must highlight Zabala's match too. It's not easy to play on a day like this, with so much pressure, but the Markinarra completed a great match. He did more than well, released tremendous right-wing, put three so many txula to Lopez, and was deservedly ovated at several moments of the encounter. Lopez came from losing in San Juan de Luz and played in Markina, without hardly resting. It wasn't noticed. He plays barbaric, and it's amazing how easily he gets balls that for any other ballotari they're complicated or impossible. The crowd had fun with some so many, maybe not very orthodox, but entertaining. In 5-8, Arbe enters Goiko's outlet, throws away, comes Goiko, finishes ′′ with everything ′′ wide, surprisingly Arbe touches and strikes good, comes Zabala from behind and releases a right that goes up the bounce .. Big ovation for all four. The Coloradoes tied 11 and 12 so many, but in 13-14 Goiko took the take and that's where the game ended. It was the first game of summer for the big Zumaiarra figure and although he didn't play badly, he looks like he needs two or three more games to bring brighter to his game. It can't be in Markina.
Tomorrow, Sunday (18:00), interesting ending:
Friendly game of Basque Football League
Open match. Gernikarras are Markina's current champions, and almost repeated the final of 2020. Only instead of Hormaetxea, this year Arbe plays.
Alex Goitia-Ibarluzea in the first game against Goenaga-Elkoro. The latter won for just a few minutes Antxon and Atain II, qualifying for the second final. Elkoro replaced the injured Mandiola.

-----------

Markina-Xemein 1st Semi Final (July 3) Match article

TO DIEGO AND LEKE... BETTER NOT GIVE AWAY...
Aaron-Danel 19-30 Alex-Ibarluzea
15-7 15-12 

Pistoletail exit of the punctist season in Hegoalde with Markina University as the stage. It's not easy to start off right when the pelotaris living here barely have a chance to compete in winter, and the US needs a transition time to conform to the match format. Today, Ibon Aldazabal has been the most accused puntista of the lack of rhythm and made too many mistakes, especially in the first set. And with so many gifts, it's almost impossible to win a match, and more against Beaskoetxea and Lekerika.

The Gerniquese couple have been a real roller in the first set. Surely they've noticed something unchanged, but they work like a unique machinery. They talk a lot on the court, they've played super serious and almost made no mistakes. The opposite of the blues. Little to do Erkiaga to the colorado whirlwind. The luminous scored 8-1 without hardly seen balling and from there they went to 10-2 and 14-3. The Ispaster ′′ artist ′′ has entered the balls he could and eventually managed to hide the scoreboard, coming to the top 7.

If it had been a 30 s game before 30 s... the show was over. But sets are what they have. Last year it was Aritz and Ibon who ran over Diego and Leke in the first game, and then there was a return. This year hasn't happened, but at least in the second set there was a match. First because the score was helping. It hasn't been broken, like the first one. And secondly, because Aldazabal has come into play and with that, all four ballots have actually started competing. Diego has set 1-0 with a cut, and already in the first few bars you could tell something had changed. There was already balling, chopping, sides, left wall jumping and finishing. Erkiaga has believed in the chances of the blues. He put on the diver and carried the match backpack. Defending in late paintings, entering the deviled balls Lekerika threw and finishing: precious bounce backwards chopping the ball and leaving Leke bridge (4-5), left in the txoko and two walls that have sometimes been so much and others have been Beaskoetxea arrived and gave him the gift back.

Aldazabal has hit hard balls and the crowd has repeatedly cheered Lekerika with his tremendous left wall jumps. Excitement has been kept on the scoreboard (4-4, 5-5, 6-6, and 9-7). Tremendous much of Erkiaga in 10-9, first defending the so much and then finishing it in the txoko .. The Blues have tied again (10-10). At the decisive moment, Lekerika has unintentionally annoyed Aldazabal (both Colorado 11-10, and the two have shook hands), and Gernika's have been lucky with a Itch and Go (12-10). In 13-10 Beaskoetxea broke the basket taco on a bounce and had to change tools. It's not usually a good time for it. But there have been no scares. Erkiaga has made two more but the last auction went to the mattress (15-12). He had to risk it and so he did.

On Carmen's Day, July 16, we will meet the second runner-up: ARBE-LOPEZ or GOIKOETXEA-ZABALA.

In today's first game of function, Markinarras Alex Goitia and Ion Ibarluzea have been much more than Alavés Aaron González de Matauko and Danel Mandiola: 30-19


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

OTHER BLOGS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST

SPORTS

Baseball:

Steve Carlton and the 1972 Philadelphia Phillies--the Greatest Pitching Performance in Baseball History--Game by Game, Batter by Batter

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Cricket:

Domestic Cricket Links: 2021--: Links to scorecards, match reports, Full Match Videos and Highlights, statistics, and commentaries for the Domestic Cricket (just below International Level, many Internationals play domestically) in the 12 Full Member International Cricket Coucil. Links to hundreds of match videos. Countries covered so far: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, England, and New Zealand. Coming Shortly, Zimbabwe and Ireland. Coming in the Fall. Australia, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and West Indies

Football: 

Gridiron Football--NFL-AAFC--AFL before the Super Bowl--THE CHAMPIONSHIP YEARS--Video, Audio, Text Links (in progress: 1933-1951 at present.

Sumo Wrestling (statistics, results, wrestlers, etc. from the semi-monthly Tournaments going back to March 2020

Multiple Sports: Weekly Links Update (suspended as of now, but the entries are set up with links to play lists and you simply sort by "Newest Date Added" and you will find the most up to date links. A quick look at the last 3 entries will cover videos for the following sports (rules of sports you may not have heard of are "explained" in short youtube videos). Further back and there are more sports.

Association Football (Soccer) in Europe
Australian Rules Football
Baseball (MLB and 6 other countries)
Basketball (NBA and International)
Basque Pelota (including Jai Alai)
Valencian Pelota (Fronto, Escalia i Corda, Raspall)
Bowling (Candlepin, Duckpin, 10 pin)
Cricket (coverage of International matches)
Darts
Disk Golf
Fencing
Field Lacrosse
Gridiron Football (NFL Throwback)
Ice Hockey (NHL and KHL (Continental (Russian) League
Kendo (Japanese Fencing)
Korfball (co-ed on the same team, 11.5 foot basket, no backboard)
Mixed Martial Arts
NCAA Championships (various)
Olympics
Padel
Rugby League and Union (Europe, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand)
Spikeball
Tennis
Wrestling (Professional--Classic Matches from the 50s and 60s)

FILM: (links to 8 posts about various aspects of film)

HISTORY: (3 Harvey Goldberg Lectures (Private Proprty, Anti-Private Property, and Early English Capitalism--links to original audios. Each lecture blog also contains an annotated (with bibliography) transcript) (an ongoing project, there are about 60 more to go :)

Tuesday, March 2, 2021

Jai Alai/Cesta Punta--2021 Open de France Cesta Punta.(February 8--March 4, 2021)--FINAL--SEMI-FINALS--FINAL STATISTICS

NOTE: IF YOUR DEVICE/BROWSER DOESN'T RESOLVE THE VIDEO LINKS BELOW, THE EASIEST "FIX" IS TO USE THE BASE INTERNET ADDRESS OF THE OPEN DE FRANCE CESTA PUNTA FACEBOOK PAGE.



CLICK OR CUT AND PASTE

ALL MATCH VIDEOS, IN REVERSE ORDER, ARE AT THAT ADDRESS, OR CONSULT THE "VIDEOS" LINK. FOR INDIVIDUAL POINT LINKS I HAVE PROVIDED A "TIME STAMP" WHICH SHOULD HELP IF YOU HAVE TO USE THE ABOVE MAIN ADDRESS.

The Federation Francaise de Pelota Basque has announced a new competition, the 2021 Open de France Cesta Punta, to be held at St. Jean-de-Luz (Donibane Lohizune) (1--Frontons.net) (2--Wikipedia) and Biarritz (1--George Lopez Garcia--beautiful photos) (2--Wikipedia) from February 8-March 4, 2021.

FFPB Announcement (Open de France Cesta Punta Facebook) (French)

Google English Translation

Cesta Punta French Open 2021!

Following the government's recent declarations and the lack of long-term visibility on the holding of future competitions, the Federation Française de Pelote Basque, in consultation with his national coaches Fifi (Philippe) Etcheberry and Eric Irastorza, has decided to hold a French Open. Teams drawn will consist of a professional player, paired with a player from the training centre and placed on the ministerial list of high-level athletes / hopes.

Distributed into 4 Groups of 3 teams, the games will take place in a (double Round Robin) roundtrip format, respectively on the Biarritz and St-Jean-De-Luz frontons. At the end of the 1st phase, each Group 1st place team will be qualified directly for the semi-finals to take place in St-Jean-De-Luz, before competing in the final in Biarritz.

All partidos are scheduled to be broadcast live at 18 pm (6:00 pm) and 19 pm (7:00 pm--French Time (for time conversion to your Time Zone use thetimezoneconverter.com (Paris to your city), Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays on Facebook Live on the official page of the Cesta Punta Open 2021 tournament (on the main page or or on the "videos" page).These matches will also be available on demand after the live stream is over. The competition began on Monday, February 8.  and will end with a Final on March 4.

Each team has one professional and one promising amateur/young professional. There will be 4 groups of 3 teams each and the League phase will be a double Round Robin (corrected, February 11, 2021) within each group. Matches will be 2 sets to 15 points and a tie breaker to 5 if necessary. Over serves (pasas) are limited to 5 per match with a second serve allowed. Each pasa after the 5th pasa is an automatic fault. Under serves are automatic faults at all times. Each team is allowed to request one Time Out per Set. The Tournament is scheduled for 27 matches in 4 weeks. (Corrected February 11, 2021). The teams and schedules were drawn by lot.

League scoring:

Straight set win: 4 points (Corrected February 13)
Tie breaker win: 3 points (Corrected February 14)
Tie breaker loss: 1 point
Straight set loss: 0 points

========


Tournament article: (Sud Ouest) (French)

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

The Teams and Schedule (CPPT=Cesta Punta Pro Tour Group A or B, X=Xistera Kluba 2019) 

Group 1:

Iban Etcheberry (B) (age 22)--Txabi Inza (A) (37) 
Jon Tambourindeguy (A) (34)--Tom Berthon (B) (22) 
Clement Garcia (B) (19)--Thibault Basque (A) (24) 

Group 2:

Emeric Libois (1--X--3. Maila Aurrelariak (Front) #3)  (2--FFPB 2013 Poussin--Libois is in the white shirt on the left) (age 18-21)--Yann Millat (B) (27)  

Ludovic Laduche (A) (27)--Guillen Oyenart (B) (26) 
Maxime Benetrix (B) (18)--David Minvielle (A) (36) 

Group 3:

Kevin Ithurria (A) (29)  (July 2, 2019 St. Jean de Luz full match video--Ithurria is in Red)--Theo Laborde (A) (22)

Bixente Gonzalez (A) (22)--Jerome Portet (A) (25) 
Patxi Tambourindeguy (A) (38)--Hugo Ibar (B) (20) 

Group 4:

Jean Olharan (A) (31)--Antton de Bettelu (B) (26)
Thomas Urrutia (B) (19)--Julien Ihitsague (B) (28) 
Andoni Laloo (B) (24)--Aize Iturralde (B) (26) 

Note: Some of these young prospects (links to full match videos) are covered in my Up and Comers blog post. They are: 
Maxime Benetrix, Iban Etcheberry, Clement Garcia, Bixente Gonzalez, Thomas Urrutia (avants--fronts); Tom Berthon, Annton de Bettelu, Hugo Ibar, Aize Ithurralde, Theo Laborde. and Guillen Oyenart (arrieres--backs).

==========

Note: all video links are to OFCP 21 Facebook videos. At present the Tournament does not have a web site, only a Facebook site. Note: these are not commercial videos. But they are very good videos, in my opinion. The scores are called out in French and selected scores are shown on a mobile phone. In French: (sounded out, not spelled out): un-1; deu-2, twa-3; cot--4, sank--5, seese--6; set--7, wheat--8, noof (like roof)--9, dees (Chicago pronunciation)--10, ownz--11, dooze--12, trayz--13, cot-orz--14, canz--15. Hope that helps :) :)

FINAL--SEMI-FINALS---COMPLETE STATISTICS

Note: Complete Statistics are still under construction because Week 3 is still under construction.

==========

LEAGUE TABLE (3 WEEKS, 22 TOTAL MATCHES It appears the final day's two matches at Biarritz are missing from this table.

March 4

Biarritz

FINAL

Ithurria-Laborde (Red) (Group 3) 2
Laduche-Oyenart (Blue) (Group 2) 0
(15-11, 15-9) (30-20)


CONDENSED FULL MATCH VIDEO (Pilota Ttiki Youtube)

I have not yet found a match article. There may be one coming. There is now a match article for the two Semi-finals. See below.

Notable:

In the end, it was an easy victory for Kevin Ithurria (29 years old) and Theo Laborde (22) as they won the Innaugural French Open over Ludovic Laduche (27) and Guillen Oyenart (26). But it didn't come without a struggle. L-O came back from large deficits in both sets (12-5 and 6-1), only to stumble just as they were about to summit the peak. Only once in the entire match did L-O lead (8-9 in the second set). 

In the first set L-O had reached 12-11 on the back of a 6-0 run. The point that got them there (video) (33:36) was a long point that was punctuated by a nice Laduche leaping catch and two wall winner.  At that point Ithurria intercepted a Laduche serve and took the point. After an Oyenart error, Ithurria sealed the win with a cortada (side arm "fastball") that beat Laduche. 

In the second set, L-O used a 6-2 run to take the lead. But after that, 5 errors did them in. Ithurria finished a 7-0 run with a left wall winner to win the Txapela (beret the champions are crowned with). The set contained the two best points in the match. The 6-5--6-6 point (video) (53:16) featured a short but intense battle between the two forwards near the end of a 15 ball point. The 7-7--8-7 point (video) (58:44--after a Laduche Pasa) featured another great battle between the forwards. Laduche is a fearless player, as can be seen in the 13 ball 11-9--12-9 point (video) (64:02).  He executed 4 falling rebotes (rebounds) during the point, to no avail. 

As far as match strategy was concerned, the winners tried to get the pelota to Oyenart as often as possible, and got the results they were hoping for. The two fronts basically cancelled each other out, but Laborde (+0 -3), who played rock solid defense throughout the Tournament, played far better than Oyenart (+2 -16), an 11 point advantage that was too much to overcome. 

If you want to see a nice microcosm of the match, which features fine play by all, watch the longest point (27 balls in play), linked to below.

Condensed full linescores (match winners always listed first)

Set 1

1-0; 1-1; 2-1; 2-2; 4-2; 4-3; 6-3; 6-5; 12-5; 12-11; 15-11
2 equal scores, 0 lead changes, biggest run: 6 (6-5--12-5; I-Lab: 12-5--12-11; Lad-O)

Set 2

5-0; 5-1; 6-1; 6-6; 7-6; 7-7; 8-7; 8-9; 15-9
3 equal scores, 2 lead changes, biggest run: 7 (8-9--15-9; I-Lab)

Time Outs:

Set 1: Laduche-Oyenart: after 9-5
Set 1: Ithurria-Laborde: after 12-10
Set 2: Iturria-Laborde: after 7-6
Set 2: Laduche-Oyenart: after 12-9 

Full match scoring (mine, yours may be different)

Ithurria +8 -7; Laborde +0 -3
Laduche +8 -6; Oyenart +2 -16

Serve intercepts; immediate winners/errors (+/-)

Ithurria 5 (+2 -1)
Laduche 9 (+2 -1)

Pasas (over serves, 2nd serve allowed)

Ithurria 1
Laduche 3 

Total score: +18 -32 (.360)

Balls in play: 376

Non-error Percent: (BIP - errors) / BIP) (345/376): .918

BIP--points

0-4--21
5-9--13
10-14--9
15-19--3
20-24--3
25+--1
Longest point: 27 (video) (27:54): Set 1: (12-6--12-7) (Laduche serves)

Average BIP per point: 7.5

Time of the match: 69:39
Average Time per point: 84 seconds
Time of the match (minus set breaks): 62:45
Average Time per point (minus set breaks): 75 seconds

+++

March 1

Saint-Jean-de-Luz (Donibane Lohizune)

SEMI-FINAL 2

Group 2 Laduche-Oyenart (Blue) 2 
Group 4 Olharan-de Bettelu (Red) 0
(15-9, 15-9) (30-18)


Match article for both matches (Sud Ouest) (French). Also discusses why Ithurria left Dania to come back to the Basque Country and what he thinks of the French Open competition.

Notable: 

Ludovic Laduche played a superb match, and Guillen Oyenart, who had been error prone earlier in the Tournament, supported his partner with staunch defense,  leading their team to a relatively easy straight set win over Jean-Olharan-Annton de Bettelu. Ol-B led Set 1 2-0 and 3-2. They led Set 2 9-8. The rest of the match, they played in catch-up mode. 

7 point runs by the winners in each set, including the last 7 points of the match, were at the heart of the win. 5 Ol-B errors aided  L-Oy in the first run. 4 errors helped the second. The capitulation was completed by the  final 3 points, which took all of 7 balls and were punctuated by 3 errors. Ol-B's body language told the story far before that. Earlier, a 4 point run had given them a 9-8 lead. At that point L-Oy took a time out to settle themselves. When the match resumed, Laduche intercepted an Olharan serve and immediately converted with a dejada (drop shot) (video) (49:59) to even the score. Laduche then scored 2 of the next 3 points (sandwiched around a de Bettelu dropped catch) with an outside pass and a cortada (side arm "fastball"). At 12-9, O-B had no answers. L-Oy will meet Ithurria-Laborde in the Final at Biarritz on Thursday.

In spite of the lack of competitive tension throughout, the match did feature the best single point played in the Tournament so far. Video of that point is linked to below in the scoring section. Of the 30 balls that the point consumed, 8 were excellent saves, 2 by each of the four players. Olharan provided the most dazzling, a running save along the left wall with a throw that instantaneously followed the catch. The pelota didn't seem to be in the cesta more than a millisecond before it was out again, and the point continued.  

If you want to see a nice microcosm of the match, which features fine play by all, watch the longest point (30 balls in play), linked to below.

Condensed full linescores (match winners always listed first)

Set 1

0-2; 2-2; 2-3; 9-3; 9-4; 10-4; 10-5; 12-5; 12-7; 13-7; 13-9; 15-9 
2 equal scores, 1 lead change, biggest run: 7 (2-3--9-3; L-Oy)

Set 2

4-0; 4-1; 5-1; 5-3; 6-3; 6-4; 7-4; 7-5; 8-5; 8-9; 15-9
2 equal scores, 2 lead changes, biggest run: 7 (8-9--15-9; L-Oy)

Time outs:

Set 1: Laduche-Oynart: after 7-13
Set 2: Laduche-Oyenart: after 9-8

Other stoppages: 

Set 1: Laduche, for an equipment repair, after 3-3

Full match scoring (mine, yours may be different)

Laduche +12 -4; Oyenart +3 -6
Olharan +5 -6; de Bettelu +3 -9

Serve intercepts; immediate winners/errors (+/-)

Laduche 5 (+2 -0)
Olharan 8 (+0 -1)

Pasas (over serves, 2nd serve allowed)

Laduche 4
Olharan  1 

Total score: +23 -25 (.479)

Balls in play: 303

Non-error Percent: (BIP - errors) / BIP) (278/303): .917

BIP--points

0-4--24
5-9--15
10-14--5
15-19--3
30+--1
Longest Point: 30 (video) (21:42): Set 1: (7-12--7-13) (Olharan serves)

Average BIP per point: 6.3

Time of the match: 55:53
Average Time per point: 70 seconds
Time of the match (minus set breaks): 49:31
Average Time per point (minus set breaks): 62 seconds

+++

SEMI-FINAL 1 

Note: Txabi Inza suffered an injury in practice for this match on Saturday February 27. He was unable to play and was replaced by Group 2 Back David Minvielle.

Group 3: Ithurria-Laborde (Blue) 2
Group 1: Etcheberry-Minvielle (substituting for Inza) (Red) 1
(12-15, 15-10, 5-2) (32-27)


Match article: See above under Semi-final 2

Notable: 

At 7-10 in Set 2, after losing Set 1 12-15, the team of Kevin Ithurria and Theo Laborde looked like its glorious run was about to come to an end. They were playing a team that was put together at the last moment because of an injury to Txabi Inza. But the fact that he had a new partner didn't seem to effect 22 year old Iban Etcheberry in the least. He shredded I-L with +9 -4 in the first set and his team won easily. Set 2 began poorly for the match winners (0-4, including 3 errors). They were able to fight back to 7-7. At that point an Etcheberry 2 wall outside chula (pelota hits the back wall on the fly so hard or low that it can't be returned) made the score 7-8. Then both Etcheberry and David Minvielle forced Theo Laborde into errors on consecutive points. They threw precise left wall shots that handcuffed one of the best defensive players in the Tournament. They now seemed ready to pounce on their opponents.

But that isn't what happened. What happened was that 22 year old Laborde, who's confidence might have been shaken, responded with an outside pass (his only winner of the match). 8-10. Then came the moment that tipped the entire match. Ithurria, from out of nowhere, launched a perfect carom serve that beat Etcheberry all ends up as it passed him to the outside. It was the only time in the match Ithurria used that serve. 9-10. Then he launched a high reverse rebote (rebound) that caught the front corner perfectly, and flew out after one bounce. There was no chance to return it. 10-10. Then he handcuffed Minvielle with a perfect reverse low rocket chic chac (same as chula above except the pelota hits the back wall on the bounce). Minvielle did manage to get cesta to pelota, but he only could tip it. A harsh error perhaps, but also a forced error. 11-10. Then another long bounce chic chac by Ithurria. 12-10. By this time E-M were reeling. Three errors, two by Etcheberry, including the one that ended the set, where he intercepted a serve and threw it as hard as he could, smashing off the chapa (low metal front wall border that is out of bounds) well off the court, brought on the Tie Breaker. It was breathtaking, as you will see if you watch the sequence (video) (53:33)

7-10--15-10 (video) (53:33) (Etcheberry serves, after he had begun the point with a Pasa)

The Tie Breaker was almost anti-climactic after that. There was only one winner (by Ithurria of course) followed by a couple more Minvielle forced errors. Soon after, it was all over. In the end, Kevin Ithurria took the match in his hands at the most "clutch" moment possible, and delivered his team to the Final, which will be played Thursday, March 4, at Biarritz

If you want to see a nice microcosm of the match, which features fine play by all, watch the longest point (18 balls in play), linked to below.

Condensed full linescores (match winners always listed first)

Set 1

0-1; 1-1; 1-3; 2-3; 2-4; 3-4; 3-5; 4-5; 4-9; 5-9; 5-11; 8-11; 8-12; 9-12; 9-13; 11-13; 11-14; 12-14; 12-15
1 equal score, 0 lead changes, biggest run: 4 (4-5--4-9; E-M)

Set 2

0-4; 2-4; 2-5; 4-5; 4-6; 6-6; 6-7; 7-7; 7-10; 15-10
3 equal scores; 1 lead change, biggest run: 8 (7-10--15-10; I-L)

Tie Breaker

Tie Breaker Full Video (1:04:59--64:59)

1-0; 1-1; 3-1; 3-2; 5-2

Tie Breaker point by point:

Point number: Server, Balls in play; Score, Player +/-; comment. 
coin toss determined who served first.

1. Etcheberry (corrected March 3, 2021); 4; 1-0; Ithurria +; dejada (drop shot); Minvielle came first right then in about 80-85 feet and did get to it on the dead run, but couldn't hold on. 

2. Ithurria; 2; 1-1; Ithurria -; dropped catch

3. Etcheberry; 6; 2-1; Minvielle -; dropped catch (off a beautiful falling rebote by Ithurria--a forced error)

4. Ithurria; 7; 3-1; Minvielle -; dropped catch (off an almost perfect Ithurria left wall shot, Minvielle leaped and got it in his cesta, but couldn't hold on)

5. Ithurria; 2; 3-2; Ithurria -; dropped catch

6.  Etcheberry; 4; 4-2; Minvielle -; throws too high

7. Ithurria; 9; 5-2; Etcheberry -; dropped catch

Time Outs:

Set 1: Ithuria-Laborde, after the 4-8 point
Set 2: Etcheberry-Minvielle, after the 6-6 point

Full match scoring (mine, yours may be different)

Ithurria +10 (including 1 service ace) -7; Laborde +1 -5
Etcheberry +13 -11; Minvielle +2 -10

Serve intercepts; immediate winners/errors (+/-)

Ithurria 14 (+4 -0)
Etcheberry 11 (+3 -1)

Pasas (over serves, 2nd serve allowed)

Ithurria  1
Etcheberry 2

Total score: +26 -33 (.441)

Balls in play: 332

Non-error Percent: (BIP - errors) / BIP) (299/332): .901

BIP--points

0-4--30
5-9--21
10-14--4
15+--4
Longest Point: 18 (video) (11:01): Set 1: (3-5--4-5) (Etcheberry serves)

Average BIP per point: 5.6

Time of the match: 70:53--1:10:53
Average Time per point: 72 seconds
Time of the match (minus set breaks): 57:32
Average Time per point (minus set breaks): 59 seconds

Saturday, February 27, 2021

Jai Alai/Cesta Punta--2021 Open de France Cesta Punta.(February 8--March 4, 2021)--WEEK 3

NOTE: IF YOUR DEVICE/BROWSER DOESN'T RESOLVE THE VIDEO LINKS BELOW, THE EASIEST "FIX" IS TO USE THE BASE INTERNET ADDRESS OF THE OPEN DE FRANCE CESTA PUNTA FACEBOOK PAGE.


CLICK OR CUT AND PASTE

ALL MATCH VIDEOS, IN REVERSE ORDER, ARE AT THAT ADDRESS, OR CONSULT THE "VIDEOS" LINK. FOR INDIVIDUAL POINT LINKS I HAVE PROVIDED A "TIME STAMP" WHICH SHOULD HELP IF YOU HAVE TO USE THE ABOVE MAIN ADDRESS.

The Federation Francaise de Pelota Basque has announced a new competition, the 2021 Open de France Cesta Punta, to be held at St. Jean-de-Luz (Donibane Lohizune) (1--Frontons.net) (2--Wikipedia) and Biarritz (1--George Lopez Garcia--beautiful photos) (2--Wikipedia) from February 8-March 4, 2021.

FFPB Announcement (Open de France Cesta Punta Facebook) (French)

Google English Translation

Cesta Punta French Open 2021!

Following the government's recent declarations and the lack of long-term visibility on the holding of future competitions, the Federation Française de Pelote Basque, in consultation with his national coaches Fifi (Philippe) Etcheberry and Eric Irastorza, has decided to hold a French Open. Teams drawn will consist of a professional player, paired with a player from the training centre and placed on the ministerial list of high-level athletes / hopes.

Distributed into 4 Groups of 3 teams, the games will take place in a (double Round Robin) roundtrip format, respectively on the Biarritz and St-Jean-De-Luz frontons. At the end of the 1st phase, each Group 1st place team will be qualified directly for the semi-finals to take place in St-Jean-De-Luz, before competing in the final in Biarritz.

All partidos are scheduled to be broadcast live at 18 pm (6:00 pm) and 19 pm (7:00 pm--French Time (for time conversion to your Time Zone use thetimezoneconverter.com (Paris to your city), Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays on Facebook Live on the official page of the Cesta Punta Open 2021 tournament (on the main page or or on the "videos" page).These matches will also be available on demand after the live stream is over. The competition began on Monday, February 8.  and will end with a Final on March 4.

Each team has one professional and one promising amateur/young professional. There will be 4 groups of 3 teams each and the League phase will be a double Round Robin (corrected, February 11, 2021) within each group. Matches will be 2 sets to 15 points and a tie breaker to 5 if necessary. Over serves (pasas) are limited to 5 per match with a second serve allowed. Each pasa after the 5th pasa is an automatic fault. Under serves are automatic faults at all times. The Tournament is scheduled for 27 matches in 4 weeks. (Corrected February 11, 2021). The teams and schedules were drawn by lot.

League scoring:

Straight set win: 4 points (Corrected February 13)
Tie breaker win: 3 points (Corrected February 14)
Tie breaker loss: 1 point
Straight set loss: 0 points

========


Tournament article: (Sud Ouest) (French)

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

The Teams and Schedule (CPPT=Cesta Punta Pro Tour Group A or B, X=Xistera Kluba 2019) 

Group 1:

Iban Etcheberry (B) (age 22)--Txabi Inza (A) (37) 
Jon Tambourindeguy (A) (34)--Tom Berthon (B) (22) 
Clement Garcia (B) (19)--Thibault Basque (A) (24) 

Group 2:

Emeric Libois (1--X--3. Maila Aurrelariak (Front) #3)  (2--FFPB 2013 Poussin--Libois is in the white shirt on the left) (age 18-21)--Yann Millat (B) (27)  

Ludovic Laduche (A) (27)--Guillen Oyenart (B) (26) 
Maxime Benetrix (B) (18)--David Minvielle (A) (36) 

Group 3:

Kevin Ithurria (A) (29)  (July 2, 2019 St. Jean de Luz full match video--Ithurria is in Red)--Theo Laborde (A) (22)

Bixente Gonzalez (A) (22)--Jerome Portet (A) (25) 
Patxi Tambourindeguy (A) (38)--Hugo Ibar (B) (20) 

Group 4:

Jean Olharan (A) (31)--Antton de Bettelu (B) (26)
Thomas Urrutia (B) (19)--Julien Ihitsague (B) (28) 
Andoni Laloo (B) (24)--Aize Iturralde (B) (26) 

Note: Some of these young prospects (links to full match videos) are covered in my Up and Comers blog post. They are: 
Maxime Benetrix, Iban Etcheberry, Clement Garcia, Bixente Gonzalez, Thomas Urrutia (avants--fronts); Tom Berthon, Annton de Bettelu, Hugo Ibar, Aize Ithurralde, Theo Laborde. and Guillen Oyenart (arrieres--backs).

==========

Note: all video links are to OFCP 21 Facebook videos. At present the Tournament does not have a web site, only a Facebook site. Note: these are not commercial videos. But they are very good videos, in my opinion. The scores are called out in French and selected scores are shown on a mobile phone. In French: (sounded out, not spelled out): un-1; deu-2, twa-3; cot--4, sank--5, seese--6; set--7, wheat--8, noof (like roof)--9, dees (Chicago pronunciation)--10, ownz--11, dooze--12, trayz--13, cot-orz--14, canz--15. Hope that helps :) :)

WEEK 2

==========

LEAGUE TABLE (3 WEEKS, 22 TOTAL MATCHES It appears the final day's two matches at Biarritz are missing from this table.

Photos from Week 3 (Annton Ado)



Explanations of the possibilities going into Week 3 (Open de France Cesta Punta Facebook) (French)

Google English translation (with a little "help" from me):

The final Week of League play begins Monday, February 23, before the final stages the next week. Qualifiers in Groups 3 and 4 have already been determined. Indeed Ithurria / Laborde (G3) and Olharan / de Bettelu (G4) dominated their Groups, with 3 straight set wins in 2 weeks and 12 League points. Nevertheless they should be careful keep up their intensity and play to win in the fourth and final game, in order to build confidence going into Semi-finals. The eliminated teams, Gonzalez / Portet, P. Tambourindeguy / Ibar, Laloo / Iturralde and Urrutia / Ihitsague will want to finish on a positive note.

Groups 1 and 2, which will meet the winners of Groups 3 and 4 respectively in the Semi-finals, will determine who advances next week. In Group 2, a playoff will be played between Benetrix / Minvielle and Laduche / Oyhenard to determine the winner of the Group. That is, unless Libois / Millat (already eliminated), play a spoiler role by beating Benetrix / Minvielle.

Group 1 is much tighter and all teams still have their say. Garcia / Basque, currently at 5 points, seem to have a slight advantage with 2 matches to play, while Etcheberry / Inza have 6 points with only 1 match to play. Tambourindeguy / Berthon, with 5 points and 1 match to play, are still "in the mix," but they will have to win and receive help to advance.

Team table at the end of week 2 (This is offered as a simplification of the official table).

Key:

Teams; Match Wins-Losses; Set Wins-Losses; Total points for and against; League Round Robin points

*=There are points totals that do not agree with those given in the official source data (Official Tables of OFCP). Where I could not verify the discrepancies, I stuck with the official numbers. Where I could verify the discrepancies, I incorporated the correct numbers into this table. For more, see the match reports where these discrepancies occurred (Week 1 and Week 2).

!=Have won the Group League and will advance to the Semi-finals

Group 1:

Etcheberry-Inza          2-1..4-4..85-88....6
Garcia-T. Basque         1-1..3-2..58-56....5
J. Tambourndeguy-Berthon 1-2..3-4..87-86....5

Group 2:

Benetrix-Minvielle       2-0..4-0..60-41....8
Laduche-Oyenart          2-1..4-2..83-70....8
Libois-Millat            0-3..0-6..58-90....0

Group 3:

Ithurria-Laborde!        3-0..6-0..90-58...12
Gonzalez-Portet          1-2..2-5..70-88*...3
P. Tambourindeguy-Ibar   0-2..1-4..47-61*...1

Note: Jan Belly replaced the injured Patxi Tambourindeguy for one match during Week 2

Group 4: 

Olharan-de Bettelu!      3-0..6-0..90-63...12
Laloo-Iturralde          1-1..2-3..50-57*...3
Urrutia-Ihitsague        0-3..1-6..70-90*...1

+++

Cumulative Statistics:

Cumulative Total Scores  (winners +) (errors -) 

Week 1: +200 -231 (.464)
Week 2: +175 -245 (.417)

TOTAL: +375  -476  (.441)

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

Cumulative Non-error percent (Balls in Play - errors / Balls in Play)

Week 1: (BIP - errors 2,690--Average per match 336) / (BIP 2,921--Average 365): .921 

Week 2: (BIP - errors 2,269--Average per match 284) / (BIP 2,515--Average 314): .902

TOTAL: (BIP - errors 4,959--Average per match 310) / (BIP 5,436--Average 340): .912   

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

Cumulative Serve Intercepts immediate (winners +) (errors -)

Week 1: +34 (Average per match 4.25) -17 (Average 2.13) (.667)

Week 2: +36 (Average 4.5) -9 (Average 1.1) (.800)

Total: +70 (Average 4.4) -26 (Average 3.3) (.729)

+++

Individual Player Statistics (through Week 2: 16 matches)

Fronts (Avants)

Fronts are sorted by net score (winners - errors). 

Key:

Player; # of matches played; winners +; errors -;  Intercept immediate winners + errors - ; Net score; +/- Net score this week

Olharan (G4)           3..+33 -10..+10 -0..+23..+11
Ithurria (G3)          3..+40 -19...+5 -2..+21..+15
J. Tambourindeguy (G1) 3..+34 -15..+10 -4..+19...+5 
Laduche (G2)           3..+33 -18..+13 -0..+15...+6
Gonzalez (G3)          3..+28 -22...+6 -3...+6...-2
P. Tambourindeguy (G3) 1..+11  -6...+5 -2...+5...--
Benetrix (G2)          2..+16 -14...+3 -0...+2...+1
Belly (G3)             1...+8  -6...+2 -0...+2...+2
Laloo (G4)             2..+15 -19...+0 -1...-4...-5
Garcia (G1)            2..+16 -22...+5 -4...-6...-6
Etcheberry (G1)        3..+20 -32...+6 -2..-12...-9
Urrutia (G4)           3..+20 -34...+4 -5..-14...-7
Libois (G2)            3..+11 -29...+3 -2..-18..-16

Backs (Arrieres)

Backs are sorted by number of errors (fewest to most)

Key:

Player; # of matches played; (winners +; errors -;  Net score;  +/- Net Score this week

Laborde (G3)            3....+8 -10...-2...-2
Ihitsague (G4)          3....+5 -10...-5...-1
Minvielle (G2)          2....+7 -13...-6...-2
Iturralde (G4)          2....+2 -13..-11...-2
T. Basque (G1)          2....+9 -15...-6...-6
Inza (G1)               3....+7 -16...-9...-7
Ibar (G3)               2....+5 -16..-11...-5
Millat (G2)             3....+6 -17..-11...-7
Portet (G3)             3....+7 -21..-14...-6
de Bettelu (G4)         3...+13 -27..-14...-7
Oyenart (G2)            3...+10 -30..-20...-7
Berthon (G1)            3....+8 -36..-28..-13

 ==========

*=Discrepancy between the official score and the real score. See individual match for more. In cases where more points were actually played than the official score, I have scored each player for all those points. Individual player scores will not add up to the total official scores.

Week 3

February 22--Day 9

Group 1

Saint-Jean-de-Luz

Match 2

Garcia-T. Basque (Blue) 2 (2-1) 8 points
J. Tambourindeguy-Berthon (Red) (1-3) 6 points
(15-8, 10-15, 5-3) (30-26)

FULL MATCH VIDEO (due to technical problems the match was divided into four files). This is the first time in 18 matches, 8 matches a week, that there has been a technical glitch. Considering the fact that this tournament has been filmed with a single camera, the fact that this was the first time any points were missed due to mechanical failure is amazing, in my opinion.

Part 1 (duration 36:30)
Part 2 (1:30)
Part 3 (8:18)
Part 4 (13:44)

Match article (Pilota Ttiki) (French)

Notable:

This was basically an elimination match. The only team that could not afford to lose it was J. Tambourindeguy-Berthon. They lost and were eliminated. The Group 1 League Championship match will be played on Thursday, February 25 at Biarritz. Etcheberry-Inza, with 8 League points, will play against Garcia-Basque, who now also have 8. In the 1st match they played Garcia-Basque won 2-1 (9-15; 15-11; 5-2). 

J. Tambourindeguy-Berthon finished 1-3, with 2 of the losses in Tie Breakers by a total of 3 points. This match was evenly contested but had many errors. Set 1 began with 9 errors in the first 10 points. Set 2 began with 10 errors in the first 12 points. It was better than the numbers indicated, mostly because G-Ba did what has been done to T-Be throughout the Tournament. They forced Tom Berthon to play in the back corner, a part of the concha (court) he has had difficulty with. He was severely tested and made, by my count, 17 errors. But many of those were due to the precise shots by both of his opponents. They were forced errors. At times Berthon lost confidence, and at other times Tambourindeguy felt forced to make more serve intercepts than he might otherwise have.

Berthon never stayed down for long. He fought hard and during one of the pivotal points of Set 2 (for video, see below under longest match points), he made 5 excellent catches deep near the the left wall. However, his opponents did not stop testing him. And in the Tie Breaker he cracked, dropping 4 catches. It was difficult to watch, but Cesta Punta has a steep learning curve at this level. One of the main reasons for this Tournament was to give the young up and comers in Iparralde (North Basque) a chance to get real and intense experience, with 4 high power matches in three weeks. I hope that Berthon is able to shake off the more negative aspects of his experience and, now knowing for sure what he needs to work on, improves. In my opinion, the raw talent and "hustle" is there. And he will most likely profit from having one of the greatest backs (Eric Irastorza) of this generation as a coach. 

Jon Tambourindeguy, once again, made great friends with the floor. This match, just for fun, I counted the number of falling rebotes he executed. The number was 14: 3, 8, and 3. I wonder how long it takes to recover from that kind of pounding.     
If you want to see a nice microcosm of the match, which features fine play by all, watch the longest point (23 balls in play), linked to below.

Note: Due to technical problems with the video, 2 points from Set 2 were missing. With the help of the announcer, I was able to ascertain who won those points, but not any number of balls in play for one and only a partial number for the other. All player statistics are based on 54 total points, rather than the 56 that were actually played.

Condensed full linescores (match winners always listed first)

Set 1

2-0; 2-1; 6-1; 6-2; 8-2; 8-3; 10-3; 10-4; 11-4; 11-6; 13-6; 13-7; 14-7; 14-8; 15-8
0 equal scores, 0 lead changes, biggest run: 4 (2-1--6-1; G-Ba)

Set 2

2-0; 2-1; 3-1; 3-3; 5-3; 5-5; 7-5; 7-9; 8-9; 8-10; 9-10; 9-12; 10-12; 10-15
3 equal scores, 1 lead change, biggest run: 4 (7-5--7-9; T-Be)

Tie Breaker

Tie Breaker full video (Part 4, 3:50)

0-1; 2-1; 2-2; 3-2; 3-3; 5-3

Tie Breaker point by point:

Point number: Server, Balls in play; Score, Player +/-; comment. 
coin toss determined who served first.

Tie Breaker full video (Part 4, 3:50)
https://www.facebook.com/OpenDeFranceCestaPunta/videos/444792963628221?t=230

0-1; 2-1; 2-2; 3-2; 3-3; 5-3

Tie Breaker point by point:

Point number: Server, Balls in play; Score, Player +/-; comment. 
coin toss determined who served first.

1. Garcia; 4; 0-1; Garcia -; dropped catch

2. J. Tambourindeguy; 2; 1-1; Berthon -; dropped catch

3. Garcia; 3; 2-1; Berthon -; dropped catch

4. Garcia; 8; 2-2; J. Tambourindeguy +; 2 walls

5. J. Tambourindeguy; 10; 3-2; Berthon -; dropped catch

6. Garcia; 4; 3-3; T. Basque -; dropped catch

7. J. Tambourindeguy; 2; 4-3; Berthon -; dropped catch

8. Garcia; 3; 5-3; Garcia +; chic chac (ball hits back wall on the bounce so low or hard it can't be returned)

Time Outs:

Set 1: Time Out for equipment repair--Garcia's cesta, after 11-6.
Set 2: Time Out requested by G-Ba after 7-9
Set 3: Time Out for equipment repair--J. Tambourindeguy's cesta, after 3-3

Full match scoring (mine, yours may be different)

Garcia +6 -6; T. Basque +0 -5
J. Tambourindeguy +13 -7; Berthon +0 -17

Serve intercepts; immediate winners/errors (+/-)

Garcia 9 (+0 -0)
J. Tambourindeguy 12 (+7 -2)

Pasas (over serves, 2nd serve allowed)

Garcia 2
J. Tambourindeguy 5

Total score: +19 -35 (.352)

Balls in play: 248

Non-error Percent: (BIP - errors) / BIP) (214/248): .863

BIP--points

0-4--34
5-9--12
10-14--8
Longest point: 11

1. Set 1: (video) (Part 1: 17:47) 12-6--13-6. Garcia serves.

2. Set 2 (video) Part 1: 35:11) 7-6--7-7. J. Tambourindeguy serves

3. Set 2 (video) Part 3 (5:15): 9-11--9-12. J. Tambourindeguy serves.

Average BIP per point: 4.6

Time of the match: (54 of the 56 points): 46:05
Average Time per point: 51 seconds

+++

February 22--Day 9

Group 2

Saint-Jean-de-Luz

Match 1

Laduche-Oyenart (Red) 2 (3-1) 12 points
Benetrix-Minvielle (Blue) 0 (2-1) 8 points
(15-11, 15-7) (30-18)


Match article (Pilota Ttiki) (French)

Notable:

The winners kept the losers at bay the entire match, never giving up the lead in either set. Set 1 was especially frustrating for Benetrix-Minvielle in that they got to within one point of the lead 5  times and were able to equalize the score once. Winners by Ludovic Laduche held them off  four times, and their own errors twice. Laduche had a masterful Set 1 (+9 -3). The other three players had a combined total of +3 -12. One of Laduche's best winners occured on the longest point of the match (see video below), when he chased down a Maxime Benetrix dejada (drop shot) thrown from the 8 line all the way to the about the 3 line, caught it and fired a picada (overhand shot) to the outside to win the point. Laduche also finished the set with  two 2 wall winners, the first on a serve intercept and the second to end the set (a 7 ball point).

Points 14 and 15 (video) (29:40). Benetrix serves.

In Set 2, L-O jumped out to a 6-2 lead and were never really threatened. Laduche made and outstanding play on his team's 11th point. Benetrix intercepted his serve and threw a two wall winner...only it wasn't. Laduche, charging down the concha (court) on the right side, was able to catch it on his backhand side and throw a perfect two wall winner of his own.

Point 11 (video) (47:16)

The match was crucial for both teams as they each entered with 8 League points, with M-B having one extra match to play. But they started poorly with 3 consecutive errors, and didn't score a winner until the 15th point of the set. Indeed, the first set began quite raggedly with 5 consecutive errors, and in the first 14 points, Laduche was the only player to score, with 4 of his team's 8 points. L-O finish their League play with 12 points. B-M must win their final match decisively enough to have a better net points score in order to advance. The two teams split  two matches, each winning in straight sets. 

If you want to see a nice microcosm of the match, which features fine play by all, watch the longest point (23 balls in play), linked to below.

Condensed full linescores (match winners always listed first)

Set 1

3-0; 3-2; 5-2; 5-4; 6-4; 6-5; 7-5; 7-6; 8-6; 8-8; 10-8; 10-9; 12-9; 12-10; 13-10; 13-11; 15-11
1 equal score, 0 lead changes, biggest run: 3 (0-0--3-0; L-O)

Set 2

1-0; 1-1; 6-1; 6-3; 8-3; 8-4; 9-4; 9-5; 11-5; 11-6; 14-6; 14-7; 15-7
1 equal score, 0 lead changes; biggest run: 5: (1-1--6-1; L-O) 

There was 1 Time Out requested, 1st set, after 10-9, by L-O  

Full match scoring (mine, yours may be different)

Laduche +14 -6 (including 1 service fault, an over serve); Oyenart +2 -8
Benetrix +2 -8; Minvielle +2 -6

Serve intercepts; immediate winners/errors (+/-)

Laduche 5 (+3 -0)
Benetrix 8 (+0 -0)

Pasas (over serves, 2nd serve allowed)

Laduche 5
Benetrix 3

Total score: +20 -28 (.417)

Balls in play: 284

Non-error Percent: (BIP - errors) / BIP) (256/284): .901

BIP--points

0-4--20
5-9--20
10-14--7
15+--1
Longest point: 16 (video) (13:03): Set 1: 5-4--6-4. Benetrix  serving (after a Pasa).

Average BIP per point: 5.9

Time of the match: 51:55
Average Time per point: 65 seconds