Jose Javier Albisu Perez maintains a blog called PelotaManoRemonte, which specializes in the history of the modalities in its title. It is a great place to start for those who may love to watch these modalities, but are unaware of that history. He tells the histories through biographies of great players. He has two condensed histories on his blog. Both are in Castilian. They are:
1A. A Brief History of Pala (in 3 chapters)
Chapter 1: (18th and 19th Centuries)
Chapter 2: (20th Century)
Chapter 3: (20th and 21st Centuries)
Included are several biographies of great Palistas down through the years.
1B. earlier version (in 4 chapters)
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
InnPala also contains a brief history of the sport by Jesus Azurmendi
2. A brief history of Remonte
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
3. Remonte--1909-1950
Albisu has also written books about Remonte history, including a recent one biography of Koteto Ezkurra, one of the best players in the history of the sport, who retired last October.
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Pala/Pala Larga--InnPala Rankings--February 16, 2019
New InnPala rankings were recently published at the InnPala website. Note: The rankings include the Liga Kutxabank competition which ended on January 12, 2019, and the Mundo Individual competition that ended on February 15.
As of February 16, 2019
Player information and photos
DELANTEROS (front) ZAGUEROS (back)
Gaubeka 108 Urrutia 96
Ibargarai 96
Necol 102
Fusto 84 Ibai P 84
Garate 66 Gordon 84
Landeta 60 Brefel 66
The ranking criteria are available at InnPala at this time (scroll past the rankings, which are current).
A Google Translate version of how the rankings are derived.
The company awards diamonds (*) (1 to 3) to the championships depending on their importance, duration, etc. Note: *** ranked tournaments are the major annual tournaments, to the best of my knowledge. These would by the Liga Kutxabank (pairs), the Mundial Individual (singles), the Mundo Parejas (pairs) and the Bizkaia Open (pairs). The rankings of the summer tournaments are unknown to me at this time.
The diamonds of each tournament are multiplied by the following points ladder:
1ยบ: 22 | 2nd: 18 | 3rd: 14 | 4th: 12 | 5th onwards: 10
In the individual world the points are awarded depending on the elimination in which each paddler has fallen
The pelotaris that do not compete in a tournament acquire as many points as the last of the competition.
* New incorporations to the company that are linked to the ranking with the palista who has the fewest points on the day of incorporation.
As of January 13, 2019
DELANTEROS ZAGUEROS
(Front Courters) (Back Courters)
Necol 66 Urrutia 66
Fusto 54 Gordon 54
Gaubeka 42 Ibai Perez 42
Garate 36 Brefel 36
Landeta 30 Ibargarai 30
===========================
For 2019,a table of actual wins and losses along with jokos won and lost for players by position is also available, as another way to look at how the Palistas are doing throughout the year. It includes all of the matches that I find, whether tournament or independent matches. This, along with some data for about 1/2 of the 2016-17 season is available at the InnPala Player win-loss table page on the right side of the blog.
As of February 16, 2019
Player information and photos
DELANTEROS (front) ZAGUEROS (back)
Gaubeka 108 Urrutia 96
Ibargarai 96
Necol 102
Fusto 84 Ibai P 84
Garate 66 Gordon 84
Landeta 60 Brefel 66
A Google Translate version of how the rankings are derived.
The company awards diamonds (*) (1 to 3) to the championships depending on their importance, duration, etc. Note: *** ranked tournaments are the major annual tournaments, to the best of my knowledge. These would by the Liga Kutxabank (pairs), the Mundial Individual (singles), the Mundo Parejas (pairs) and the Bizkaia Open (pairs). The rankings of the summer tournaments are unknown to me at this time.
The diamonds of each tournament are multiplied by the following points ladder:
1ยบ: 22 | 2nd: 18 | 3rd: 14 | 4th: 12 | 5th onwards: 10
In the individual world the points are awarded depending on the elimination in which each paddler has fallen
The pelotaris that do not compete in a tournament acquire as many points as the last of the competition.
* New incorporations to the company that are linked to the ranking with the palista who has the fewest points on the day of incorporation.
---------------------------
As of January 13, 2019
DELANTEROS ZAGUEROS
(Front Courters) (Back Courters)
Necol 66 Urrutia 66
Fusto 54 Gordon 54
Gaubeka 42 Ibai Perez 42
Garate 36 Brefel 36
Landeta 30 Ibargarai 30
===========================
For 2019,a table of actual wins and losses along with jokos won and lost for players by position is also available, as another way to look at how the Palistas are doing throughout the year. It includes all of the matches that I find, whether tournament or independent matches. This, along with some data for about 1/2 of the 2016-17 season is available at the InnPala Player win-loss table page on the right side of the blog.
Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Pala/Pala Larga--Banakako Txapelketa (Mundo Individual) Singles Championship--Play-in Through Final--list of previous winners from 1995
The Banakako Txapelketa (Mundo Individual) singles Tournament began on January 18, 2019 and ended with a final on February 15, 2019. It involved all 10 InnPala Professionals. It was sponsored by InnPala and Munduko Pilota Batzarra (Basque Pelota and Associated Sports World Council). It was a seeded ladder knock out tournament. All matches were played at Bizkaia, Bilbo (Bilbao) (1) (2).
The tournament Schedule:
January 18, 2019: Two play in matches:
Gordon (z back) v Landeta (d front)
Brefel (z back) v Garate (d front)
January 26, 2019.
Winner of first play in match v Necol (seeded in) (d front)
Winner of second play in match v Urrutia (seeded in) (z back)
February 1, 2019
Quarter finals:
Winner of January 26 match 1 v Fusto (seeded in) (d front)
Winner of January 26 match 2 v Ibargarai (seeded in (z back)
February 9, 2019
Semi-finals:
Winner of 1st Quarter final v Gaubeka (seeded in) (d front)
Winner of 2nd Quarter final v Ibai-Perez (seeded in) (z back)
Feburary 15, 2019
Final
Complete tournament information (.pdf format, 9p), including match schedule and tournament ladder, rules of the tournament, and a listing of past winners going back to 2007. (Source: Munduko Pilota Batzarra via manista.com). (added March 26, 2019).
==============================
Previous Tournament winners: (various sources)
1995: Oskar Insausti
1996: Insausti
1997: No competition
1998: Insausti
1999: Insausti
2000: Insausti
2001:?
2002: Insausti
Source for 1995-2002: Jose Javier Albisu blog post (scroll to Insausti article).
2003: Gaubeka (Diario Vasco)
2004: Gaubeka (Diario Vasco)
2005:?
2006 Lujan 35 Rekalde 26 (Match article--includes linescore and partial scoring) (Javier Albisu Perez blog post--scroll to the article on Lujan--post includes short articles on 9 great Palistas) Match article (Deia)
2007: Imanol 35 Lujan 29 Match article (El Correo)
2008: Gaubeka 35 Fusto 27 Match article (El Confidencial)
2009: Fusto 35 Gaubeka 20 Match article (Naiz); Final point video (Fusto Youtube)
2010: Gaubeka 35 Ziskar II 18 Match article (manista.com)
2011: No tournament
2012: Fusto 3 Lujan 0 (10-8, 10-2, 10-8) (30-20) Complete Tournament Ladder (Innpala)
Individual joko (set) scores (Innpala Twitter feed)
2013: Fusto 3 Gaubeka 0 (10-7, 10-3, 10-8) (30-18) Complete Tournament Ladder (Innpala); Match article (marca.com) Video: final point (EITB)
2014: Fusto 3 Ibargarai 0 (10-5; 10-3; 10-4) (30-12) Complete Tournament Ladder (Innpala); Match article (El Correo); Match video highlights (Rober Areizaga Ollobarren Youtube); Match video highlights (EITB) Complete Illustrated Tournament coverage (Haixeder Blog); Illustrated Final match article (Haixeder blog)
2015: Fusto 3 Ibargarai 0 (10-3; 10-5; 10-8) (30-16) Match schedule (Innpala); Match article (La Vanguardia) Mundo Pilota Batzarra "Dossier" (.pdf format, 5p.)
2016: Fusto 3 Gaubeka 0 (10-6; 10-5; 10-8?) (30-19?) Match schedule (Innpala); Match article (Munduko Pilota Batzarra) Match article with 3rd joko score (Naiz); first two joko scores (Innpala Twitter feed)
2017: Ibai-Perez 3 Ibargarai 0 (10-3, 10-8, 10-6) (30-17) Match schedule (Innpala); Complete coverage of the entire tournament (this blog) Note: video links in blog coverage have been removed by EITB
2018: Gaubeka 3 Zubiri 2 (10-9; 10-8; 7-10; 2-10; 10-8) (39-45) Match schedule and players (Mundo Pilota Batzarra) Complete tournament coverage (Munduko Pilota Batzarra); Final: full match video (EITB)
Most Tournaments won since 1995: Oskar Insausti--7 Fusto--6, Gaubeka--5. Most tournament championships played: Oscar Insausti (?) Fusto--7, Gaubeka 7. From 2012-2016 Fusto won each final in straight jokos--15 consecutive jokos. Points: 150-85.
==============================
Below is an account of the entire tournament, match by match, in reverse chronological order.
A recap of the entire tournament, from beginning through the semi-finals.
Necol, riding a 5 match winning streak, had no answers for an almost flawless match played by the old veteran Gaubeka. A key segment of the match was the entire 2nd Joko, which featured 8 lead changes and which Gaubeka rallied from 8-9 to win 10-9. Then, after Necol asserted himself in the 3rd Joko, Gaubeka ended the match with a 6-0 run.
-------
Both matches: Full match video (Dan Necol Facebook Page)
Brefel used Urrutia's inexperience in the front to win easily. Over and again he fed his opponent balls that hugged the left wall. Urrutia was unable to handle them, and Brefel, as any excellent player would do, kept sending them. It was a bit of a rude awakening for the youngster, coming into this tournament off the high of a 3-0 Championship Final win with Necol in the Liga Kutxabank doubles competition.
Play in matches.
I have found out no other information about these opening matches.
For more information about how these players are doing in 2019, see the InnPala Player win-loss table for tournaments and independent matches on the right side of the blog.
The tournament Schedule:
January 18, 2019: Two play in matches:
Gordon (z back) v Landeta (d front)
Brefel (z back) v Garate (d front)
January 26, 2019.
Winner of first play in match v Necol (seeded in) (d front)
Winner of second play in match v Urrutia (seeded in) (z back)
February 1, 2019
Quarter finals:
Winner of January 26 match 1 v Fusto (seeded in) (d front)
Winner of January 26 match 2 v Ibargarai (seeded in (z back)
February 9, 2019
Semi-finals:
Winner of 1st Quarter final v Gaubeka (seeded in) (d front)
Winner of 2nd Quarter final v Ibai-Perez (seeded in) (z back)
Feburary 15, 2019
Final
Complete tournament information (.pdf format, 9p), including match schedule and tournament ladder, rules of the tournament, and a listing of past winners going back to 2007. (Source: Munduko Pilota Batzarra via manista.com). (added March 26, 2019).
==============================
Previous Tournament winners: (various sources)
1995: Oskar Insausti
1996: Insausti
1997: No competition
1998: Insausti
1999: Insausti
2000: Insausti
2001:?
2002: Insausti
Source for 1995-2002: Jose Javier Albisu blog post (scroll to Insausti article).
2003: Gaubeka (Diario Vasco)
2004: Gaubeka (Diario Vasco)
2005:?
2006 Lujan 35 Rekalde 26 (Match article--includes linescore and partial scoring) (Javier Albisu Perez blog post--scroll to the article on Lujan--post includes short articles on 9 great Palistas) Match article (Deia)
2007: Imanol 35 Lujan 29 Match article (El Correo)
2008: Gaubeka 35 Fusto 27 Match article (El Confidencial)
2009: Fusto 35 Gaubeka 20 Match article (Naiz); Final point video (Fusto Youtube)
2010: Gaubeka 35 Ziskar II 18 Match article (manista.com)
2011: No tournament
2012: Fusto 3 Lujan 0 (10-8, 10-2, 10-8) (30-20) Complete Tournament Ladder (Innpala)
Individual joko (set) scores (Innpala Twitter feed)
2013: Fusto 3 Gaubeka 0 (10-7, 10-3, 10-8) (30-18) Complete Tournament Ladder (Innpala); Match article (marca.com) Video: final point (EITB)
2014: Fusto 3 Ibargarai 0 (10-5; 10-3; 10-4) (30-12) Complete Tournament Ladder (Innpala); Match article (El Correo); Match video highlights (Rober Areizaga Ollobarren Youtube); Match video highlights (EITB) Complete Illustrated Tournament coverage (Haixeder Blog); Illustrated Final match article (Haixeder blog)
2015: Fusto 3 Ibargarai 0 (10-3; 10-5; 10-8) (30-16) Match schedule (Innpala); Match article (La Vanguardia) Mundo Pilota Batzarra "Dossier" (.pdf format, 5p.)
2016: Fusto 3 Gaubeka 0 (10-6; 10-5; 10-8?) (30-19?) Match schedule (Innpala); Match article (Munduko Pilota Batzarra) Match article with 3rd joko score (Naiz); first two joko scores (Innpala Twitter feed)
2017: Ibai-Perez 3 Ibargarai 0 (10-3, 10-8, 10-6) (30-17) Match schedule (Innpala); Complete coverage of the entire tournament (this blog) Note: video links in blog coverage have been removed by EITB
2018: Gaubeka 3 Zubiri 2 (10-9; 10-8; 7-10; 2-10; 10-8) (39-45) Match schedule and players (Mundo Pilota Batzarra) Complete tournament coverage (Munduko Pilota Batzarra); Final: full match video (EITB)
Most Tournaments won since 1995: Oskar Insausti--7 Fusto--6, Gaubeka--5. Most tournament championships played: Oscar Insausti (?) Fusto--7, Gaubeka 7. From 2012-2016 Fusto won each final in straight jokos--15 consecutive jokos. Points: 150-85.
==============================
Below is an account of the entire tournament, match by match, in reverse chronological order.
Preview article (Deia)
Tournament Info (Innpala)
Meet the players (EITB video)
February 15, 2019
Final
Ibargarai (z back) (3-0) 3 Gaubeka (d front) (1-1) 2 (EITB Full match video)
(8-10, 10-6, 9-10, 10-9, 10-8) (47-43)
Scoring: (EITB)
Ibargarai +31 (including 4 service aces) -20
Gaubeka +23 -16
Balls in play: 540 (I 272, G 268). Time of match: 1:36:53
Complete linescore, joko (set) by joko, point by point:
Key: Server, Number of Balls in Play, Score, Comments. Note: match winner is always listed first. !=interesting or excellent points. Note: EITB considers service faults as 1 ball in play.
Gaubeka (Red); Ibargarai (Blue)
Gaubeka (Red); Ibargarai (Blue)
Gaubeka won the toss and served:
"chic-chac" below refers to a deep shot that hits the floor and back wall and then rebounds out too low to be successfully returned. The term is commonly used in Cesta-Punta/Jai Alai but I am not sure if it is used in Pala. "Rebote" is a rebound shot off the back wall. "Cortada" is a hard, low, sidearm shot, very difficult to return when executed properly.
"chic-chac" below refers to a deep shot that hits the floor and back wall and then rebounds out too low to be successfully returned. The term is commonly used in Cesta-Punta/Jai Alai but I am not sure if it is used in Pala. "Rebote" is a rebound shot off the back wall. "Cortada" is a hard, low, sidearm shot, very difficult to return when executed properly.
JOKO 1: G, 5, 0-1; G, 3, 0-2; G, 4, 1-2; I, 2, 1-3; G, 1, 2-3; I, 11, 3-3; I, 7, 4-3, (I--chic-chac); I, 8, 4-4; G, 6, 5-4, (I--passing shot); I, 12, 5-5 (G--deep pass); G, 3, 5-6 (G--great shot from the outside); G, 11, 5-7; G, 7, 5-8; G, 6, 6-8; I, 17! 7-8; I, 6, 7-9; G, 4, 8-9; I, 1, 8-10. (114 balls in play) (3 equalities, 2 lead changes) (largest lead: G 5-8) (largest run: G 3; I 3)
JOKO 2: I, 1, 0-1; G, 10, 1-1; I, 3, 2-1 (I--chic-chac); I, 9, 3-1; I, 5, 4-1 (possible I obstruction--not called); I, 3, 5-1 (I--chic-chac); I, 3, 6-1 (I--chic chac); I, 3, 7-1; I, 2, 7-2; G, 2, 8-2; I, 3, 9-2; (I--rushes in from the deep and wins with deep pass); I, 2, 9-3; G, 5, 9-4 (G--two wall); G, 5, 9-5 (G--two wall); G, 5, 9-6 (G--two wall); G, 2, 10-6 (I--service return outside pass--foreshadows match saving shot in J4) (63 bip) (1 equality, 1 lead change); (largest lead: I 7-1); (largest run: I 7)
JOKO 3: G, 5, 0-1; G, 4, 1-1; I, 24!, 1-2; G, 5, 1-3; G, 4, 2-3 (I--two wall); I, 4, 2-4 (G--excellent rebote); G, 3, 2-5; G, 2, 3-5; I, 1, 4-5; I, 17! 5-5 (I--left wall shot); I, 2 5-6 (G--two wall); G, 9! 5-7 (G--goes off court to return I two wall--scores); G, 5, 5-8 (G--excellent rebote); G, 6, 6-8; I, 3, 7-8; I, 4, 7-9 (G--two wall--front to side); G, 6, 8-9 (I--two wall); I, 7, 9-9; I, 4, 9-10 (115 bip) (3 equalities) (largest lead: G 2-5, 5-8) (largest run: G 3; I 3)
JOKO 4: I, 8, 0-1; G, 3, 0-2; G, 2, 1-2 (I--chic-chac); I, 12, 1-3; G, 25!, 1-4 (longest point of the match); G, 5, 1-5; G, 8, 2-5; I, 3, 3-5; I, 1, 4-5; I, 1, 5-5; I, 10, 5-6 (G--chic chac); G, 16!, 6-6 (I--chic-chac); I, 3, 7-6 (I--outside passing shot); I, 17!, 8-6 (G--missed two wall); I, 2, 8-7; G, 7!, 8-8 (G--two wall); G, 11, 8-9; G, 2!!!, 9-9 (I--service return outside deep passing shot, lands inches in bounds, shot of the match in my opinion--1:17:44--1:18:16 on the video); I, 1 10-9 (137 bip) (4 equalities, 3 lead changes) (largest lead: G 2-5) (largest run: I 4)
JOKO 5: G, 8, 1-0; I, 23! 2-0 (I--deep shot), I, 9, 3-0; I, 9, 4-0; I, 5, 5-0; I, 4, 5-1 (G--excellent running two wall); G, 6, 6-1 (I--cortada); I, 2 6-2; G, 3, 6-3; G, 4, 7-3; I, 3, 8-3 (I--outside passing shot); I, 6, 8-4; G, 5, 8-5 (G--outside passing shot); G, 4, 9-5; I, 6, 9-6 (G--low shot); G, 9, 9-7; G, 3, 9-8; G, 2, 10-8 (111 bip) (largest lead: I 5-0, 6-1, 8-3) (largest run: I 5)
For the match: 11 equalities, 6 lead changes
For the match: largest lead: Joko 2: I 7-1; largest run: Joko 2: I 7
Match preview (Deia)
JOKO 4: I, 8, 0-1; G, 3, 0-2; G, 2, 1-2 (I--chic-chac); I, 12, 1-3; G, 25!, 1-4 (longest point of the match); G, 5, 1-5; G, 8, 2-5; I, 3, 3-5; I, 1, 4-5; I, 1, 5-5; I, 10, 5-6 (G--chic chac); G, 16!, 6-6 (I--chic-chac); I, 3, 7-6 (I--outside passing shot); I, 17!, 8-6 (G--missed two wall); I, 2, 8-7; G, 7!, 8-8 (G--two wall); G, 11, 8-9; G, 2!!!, 9-9 (I--service return outside deep passing shot, lands inches in bounds, shot of the match in my opinion--1:17:44--1:18:16 on the video); I, 1 10-9 (137 bip) (4 equalities, 3 lead changes) (largest lead: G 2-5) (largest run: I 4)
JOKO 5: G, 8, 1-0; I, 23! 2-0 (I--deep shot), I, 9, 3-0; I, 9, 4-0; I, 5, 5-0; I, 4, 5-1 (G--excellent running two wall); G, 6, 6-1 (I--cortada); I, 2 6-2; G, 3, 6-3; G, 4, 7-3; I, 3, 8-3 (I--outside passing shot); I, 6, 8-4; G, 5, 8-5 (G--outside passing shot); G, 4, 9-5; I, 6, 9-6 (G--low shot); G, 9, 9-7; G, 3, 9-8; G, 2, 10-8 (111 bip) (largest lead: I 5-0, 6-1, 8-3) (largest run: I 5)
For the match: 11 equalities, 6 lead changes
For the match: largest lead: Joko 2: I 7-1; largest run: Joko 2: I 7
Match preview (Deia)
Match article (Mundo Deportivo)
Match article (Deia)
Match article (El Correo)
This was a match for the ages, a knock down, drag out struggle in which 90 of a possible 95 (the maximum number of points this form of a Pala match can have) points were scored. It was a struggle of nearly 1 hour and 40 minutes. At the end, both players were exhausted (as evidenced by the last three points of the match being decided by errors). But Ibargarai, after 3 failed attempts in the Championship match where he didn't so much as win a joko (see above), claimed his first World Singles Txapelketa.
He richly earned and deserved it. He played the match with a clear strategy, a strategy which netted him 18 of his 31 winners. That strategy was to keep Gaubeka in the back as much as possible. The previous week, in his semi-final with Gaubeka (see below), Dan Necol tried to go toe to toe with him, and with both of them being front court players, the strategy made sense. Necol was on an incredible hot streak and everything he did was working. But Gaubeka played an almost flawless match, all of his front court shots working, and he won. Ibargarai wanted no part of that. The strategy obviously was one designed to make Gaubeka play in areas of the court that he wasn't as comfortable with. But a strategy is one thing, and executing that strategy is quite another. Ibargarai is a big, powerful back court player, but he has deceptive speed and touch. His deep game was magnificent, scoring with 7 chic-chacs (by my count, there may have been more...or less, I don't have enough experience to be absolutely sure, so I invite you to watch, and send me corrections if needs be), beautiful kill shots that are pure touch. Also, keeping the 41 year old defending champion moving took its toll as the match progressed.
But even when you are executing your strategy, it doesn't mean that you are going to beat Esteban Gaubeka. He is like a fine wine, improving with age, it seems. He has a breathtaking two wall shot (7 winners in this match, 6 side to front and one beautiful front to side), and he makes backhand shots look far simpler than they are (he is the only player, as far as I know, in Professional Pala who uses a backhand shot regularly). In this match he also did wall climbs, a la Cesta-Punta/Jai Alai. In spite of Ibargari's strategy and execution, Gaubeka controlled much of the match.
The match turned on an audaciously risky shot by Ibargarai late in the 4th Joko. Trailing 1-2 in the match and 8-9 in the Joko, he returned a match point Gaubeka serve deep to the outside, a very difficult angle shot. It's one of those shots where a fan might yell "What is he doing!?!?...... That's the greatest shot I've ever seen!!!" Maximum risk when he was in maximum danger. The shot landed inside the line by inches to equalize at 9 (1:17:44--1:18:16 on the video). Shortly thereafter, he won the joko 10-9 to tie the match, stopping Gaubeka twice at match point.
And then Ibargarai displayed the same stamina that he had in his previous two matches against Sylvain Brefel and Ibai-Perez (in the Semi-Final). Locked up at 2-2 with each player, he buried both of them 10-2 in the final set. And it looked like that's what he was going to do to Gaubeka also. He built 5-0 and 8-3 leads. But Gaubeka wasn't finished. He put together a 5-1 run before an error denied him a 6th Championship in this competition. So for now, the great Oskar Insausti still leads with 7. Fusto is 2nd with 6, and Gaubeka 3rd with 5. And Xabier Ibargarai now joins the list of Txapelduns in this competition.
Some final observations.
1. It was fascinating to watch Gaubeka interact with (I think--it might have simply been a friend encouraging his ex-peer) his Botillero (coach for this match) Imanol Ibanez (Mundo Deportivo), who won this Championship in 2007 (as well as 3 major doubles championships), and retired (in 2017) as one of the finest modern back court players. Such interactions are always fascinating to watch, a game within a game, so to speak. I don't speak the language he was speaking (Gaubeka mostly listened). I wish I did. Imanol wasn't as animated as, say, Seve Arzelus (scroll to "Remonte", for a small feature article I did on "botilleros") (the retired Palista who has coached Javier Urriza in Remonte and coached the Spanish Pala Corta team in the recently concluded Federacion Internacional de Pelota Vasca--FIPV World Cup). But he made his opinions known in no uncertain terms, on several occasions.
2. For my American readers who may not be familiar with Pala, the implement used is called a Pala Larga (Big Bat). It is a bat. Rather than me describing it, I urge you to watch the match. I will say that the bat weighs 32-33 ounces, about the weight of the bats used by the baseball Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton and Brewers' Ryan Braun. Only their bat weight is distributed over 32-34 inches, and they swing it while standing stationary, with only a small amount of body movement. They also hold it with both hands, and most baseball players swing only from one side. The Pala Larga is about 18 inches long. Palistas carry that bat with them and hit one handed shots with both hands (switch hitting) depending on the match situation. They hit off the back foot as well as the front, and moving as well as stationary. The ball they hit is smaller than a baseball but as hard as a golf ball. (Pala is a crash helmet sport). The hitting surface is flat but rather small, and the ball can be moving at up to 100 mph, coming at the player from many different angles. Ask yourself this question. How many times do Stanton or Braun hit a ball in play in the course of a game? A season? In this match, Ibargarai hit the ball into "fair" areas 272 times, Gaubeka 268. In an hour and 40 minutes. Think about that.
3. Finally, I cannot finish this post without a huge "shout out" and thank you to Dan Necol, front court player for InnPala. He played some great Pala in this tournament. I know that because I watched it. I watched it because he filmed it. As far as I know, the only other player in a BP modality that films his matches is Bixintxo Bilbao, Esku Pilota (Main Nue) back court player. Bilbao uses Youtube as a platform, Necol, Facebook. No matter. A single stationary camera, with very little labor input, brought me 6 of the 9 matches in this tournament. 6 matches in 3 weeks. All of them are linked to below. EITB televised the final. For this fan, who gets to watch maybe 10-15 Pala matches a year (EITB has fantastic production values, some of the best sports broadcasts I've seen anywhere), it is like Christmas in July. Necol's matches receive thousands of views and are available live and on demand. No commentary, only the crack of the pelota on bat, the squeak of sneakers on the floor, and the scoreboard in plain view (if you watch on a big screen). It is wonderful to see more than just championship finals. It is great to see the play, as well as the body language. All this because Dan Necol has the vision to spread this beautiful sport to a much larger audience, at next to no cost. Other players (and management) in other underexposed BP sports should follow the lead of people like Dan Necol, Bixintxo Bilbao, and prolific videographer of North Basque amateur matches in multiple modalities Olivier Simon (Toute Sur la Pelote Basque Youtube). Merci Beaucoup Dan!!
Match article (El Correo)
This was a match for the ages, a knock down, drag out struggle in which 90 of a possible 95 (the maximum number of points this form of a Pala match can have) points were scored. It was a struggle of nearly 1 hour and 40 minutes. At the end, both players were exhausted (as evidenced by the last three points of the match being decided by errors). But Ibargarai, after 3 failed attempts in the Championship match where he didn't so much as win a joko (see above), claimed his first World Singles Txapelketa.
He richly earned and deserved it. He played the match with a clear strategy, a strategy which netted him 18 of his 31 winners. That strategy was to keep Gaubeka in the back as much as possible. The previous week, in his semi-final with Gaubeka (see below), Dan Necol tried to go toe to toe with him, and with both of them being front court players, the strategy made sense. Necol was on an incredible hot streak and everything he did was working. But Gaubeka played an almost flawless match, all of his front court shots working, and he won. Ibargarai wanted no part of that. The strategy obviously was one designed to make Gaubeka play in areas of the court that he wasn't as comfortable with. But a strategy is one thing, and executing that strategy is quite another. Ibargarai is a big, powerful back court player, but he has deceptive speed and touch. His deep game was magnificent, scoring with 7 chic-chacs (by my count, there may have been more...or less, I don't have enough experience to be absolutely sure, so I invite you to watch, and send me corrections if needs be), beautiful kill shots that are pure touch. Also, keeping the 41 year old defending champion moving took its toll as the match progressed.
But even when you are executing your strategy, it doesn't mean that you are going to beat Esteban Gaubeka. He is like a fine wine, improving with age, it seems. He has a breathtaking two wall shot (7 winners in this match, 6 side to front and one beautiful front to side), and he makes backhand shots look far simpler than they are (he is the only player, as far as I know, in Professional Pala who uses a backhand shot regularly). In this match he also did wall climbs, a la Cesta-Punta/Jai Alai. In spite of Ibargari's strategy and execution, Gaubeka controlled much of the match.
The match turned on an audaciously risky shot by Ibargarai late in the 4th Joko. Trailing 1-2 in the match and 8-9 in the Joko, he returned a match point Gaubeka serve deep to the outside, a very difficult angle shot. It's one of those shots where a fan might yell "What is he doing!?!?...... That's the greatest shot I've ever seen!!!" Maximum risk when he was in maximum danger. The shot landed inside the line by inches to equalize at 9 (1:17:44--1:18:16 on the video). Shortly thereafter, he won the joko 10-9 to tie the match, stopping Gaubeka twice at match point.
And then Ibargarai displayed the same stamina that he had in his previous two matches against Sylvain Brefel and Ibai-Perez (in the Semi-Final). Locked up at 2-2 with each player, he buried both of them 10-2 in the final set. And it looked like that's what he was going to do to Gaubeka also. He built 5-0 and 8-3 leads. But Gaubeka wasn't finished. He put together a 5-1 run before an error denied him a 6th Championship in this competition. So for now, the great Oskar Insausti still leads with 7. Fusto is 2nd with 6, and Gaubeka 3rd with 5. And Xabier Ibargarai now joins the list of Txapelduns in this competition.
Some final observations.
1. It was fascinating to watch Gaubeka interact with (I think--it might have simply been a friend encouraging his ex-peer) his Botillero (coach for this match) Imanol Ibanez (Mundo Deportivo), who won this Championship in 2007 (as well as 3 major doubles championships), and retired (in 2017) as one of the finest modern back court players. Such interactions are always fascinating to watch, a game within a game, so to speak. I don't speak the language he was speaking (Gaubeka mostly listened). I wish I did. Imanol wasn't as animated as, say, Seve Arzelus (scroll to "Remonte", for a small feature article I did on "botilleros") (the retired Palista who has coached Javier Urriza in Remonte and coached the Spanish Pala Corta team in the recently concluded Federacion Internacional de Pelota Vasca--FIPV World Cup). But he made his opinions known in no uncertain terms, on several occasions.
2. For my American readers who may not be familiar with Pala, the implement used is called a Pala Larga (Big Bat). It is a bat. Rather than me describing it, I urge you to watch the match. I will say that the bat weighs 32-33 ounces, about the weight of the bats used by the baseball Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton and Brewers' Ryan Braun. Only their bat weight is distributed over 32-34 inches, and they swing it while standing stationary, with only a small amount of body movement. They also hold it with both hands, and most baseball players swing only from one side. The Pala Larga is about 18 inches long. Palistas carry that bat with them and hit one handed shots with both hands (switch hitting) depending on the match situation. They hit off the back foot as well as the front, and moving as well as stationary. The ball they hit is smaller than a baseball but as hard as a golf ball. (Pala is a crash helmet sport). The hitting surface is flat but rather small, and the ball can be moving at up to 100 mph, coming at the player from many different angles. Ask yourself this question. How many times do Stanton or Braun hit a ball in play in the course of a game? A season? In this match, Ibargarai hit the ball into "fair" areas 272 times, Gaubeka 268. In an hour and 40 minutes. Think about that.
3. Finally, I cannot finish this post without a huge "shout out" and thank you to Dan Necol, front court player for InnPala. He played some great Pala in this tournament. I know that because I watched it. I watched it because he filmed it. As far as I know, the only other player in a BP modality that films his matches is Bixintxo Bilbao, Esku Pilota (Main Nue) back court player. Bilbao uses Youtube as a platform, Necol, Facebook. No matter. A single stationary camera, with very little labor input, brought me 6 of the 9 matches in this tournament. 6 matches in 3 weeks. All of them are linked to below. EITB televised the final. For this fan, who gets to watch maybe 10-15 Pala matches a year (EITB has fantastic production values, some of the best sports broadcasts I've seen anywhere), it is like Christmas in July. Necol's matches receive thousands of views and are available live and on demand. No commentary, only the crack of the pelota on bat, the squeak of sneakers on the floor, and the scoreboard in plain view (if you watch on a big screen). It is wonderful to see more than just championship finals. It is great to see the play, as well as the body language. All this because Dan Necol has the vision to spread this beautiful sport to a much larger audience, at next to no cost. Other players (and management) in other underexposed BP sports should follow the lead of people like Dan Necol, Bixintxo Bilbao, and prolific videographer of North Basque amateur matches in multiple modalities Olivier Simon (Toute Sur la Pelote Basque Youtube). Merci Beaucoup Dan!!
There was, of course, a second match. It was Sylvain Brefel's farewell match, before retiring after 5 years on the InnPala circuit.
Necol-Brefel 3 Fusto-Ibai Perez 2 (8-10, 8-10, 10-5, 10-5, 10-5). (EITB full match video--Match begins at 1:48:32).
In a match like this, the outcome is secondary. The opening ceremony, a high pala honor guard by the entire InnPala roster (except for Fusto) and presentation of momentos by Fusto to Brefel will make wonderful memories. But the most poignant moment of the match, for me, came when Brefel was about to serve what could have been the winning point at 9-4 in Joko 5 (2:58:53-2:59:06 on the video). Before he could serve he was overwhelmed with emotion and covered his eyes with his free hand. It took almost a minute for him to compose himself. But he did, and continued. Soon after, he ended his career with one final win. Merci beaucoup Sylvain!
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A recap of the entire tournament, from beginning through the semi-finals.
February 9, 2019
Semi-Finals
1st Semi final (partial 2nd, full 3rd-5th jokos video; 2nd Sem-Final (full match video) (Dan Necol Facebook page)
2nd Semi-Final
Gaubeka (seeded in) (d front) (1-0) 3 Necol (d front) (2-1) 1
(10-4, 10-9, 5-10, 10-3) (35-26)
Joko (set) linescores (match winner always listed first):
Joko 1: 5-0; 5-3; 7-3; 7-4; 10-4 (120 balls in play)
Joko 2: 1-0; 1-2; 3-2; 3-4; 5-4; 5-6; 7-6; 7-7; 8-7;8-9; 10-9 (8 lead changes) (90 bip)
Joko 3: 1-0; 1-5; 3-5; 3-8; 4-8; 4-9; 5-9; 5-10 (67 bip)
Joko 4: 2-0; 2-1; 4-1; 4-3; 10-3 (51 bip)
328 balls in play (by my count)
My scoring:
Joko scoring
J 1: G +8 -0; N +4 -2
J 2: G +3 -2 (including 1 service fault); N +7 including 1 service ace) -7 (3 f)
J 3: G +4 (1 a) -3 (1 f); N +7 (1 a) -1 (1 f)
J 4: G +9 (3 a) - 0; N +3 -1
Match scoring:
G +24 (4 a) -5 (2 f)
N +21 (2 a) -11 (4 f)
Necol, riding a 5 match winning streak, had no answers for an almost flawless match played by the old veteran Gaubeka. A key segment of the match was the entire 2nd Joko, which featured 8 lead changes and which Gaubeka rallied from 8-9 to win 10-9. Then, after Necol asserted himself in the 3rd Joko, Gaubeka ended the match with a 6-0 run.
1st Semi-Final
Ibargarai (z back) (2-0) 3 Ibai-Perez (seeded in) (z back) (0-1) 2
(10-3 (Dairio Vasco Cartelera), 10-4, 8-10, 8-10, 10-2) (46-29)
Joko (set) linescores (match winner always listed 1st)
Joko 1: 10-3
Joko 2: 7-4; 10-4
Joko 3: 2-0; 2-3; 3-3; 3-5; 6-5 (Ib hit on knee by errant IP shot, continues); 6-7; 7-7; 7-9; 8-9; 8-10
Joko 4: 0-1; 1-1; 1-2; 3-2; 3-5; 7-5; 7-7; 8-7; 8-10
Joko 5: 3-0; 3-1; 9-1; 9-2; 10-2
This was a very strange match in which Ibargarai almost blew Ibai-Perez out of the fronton, before Ibai won two hotly contested jokos. At 2-2 and with IP having all the momentum, Ibargarai erased him 10-2 to move to the final.
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Ibargarai (seeded in) (z back) (1-0) 3 Brefel (z back) (2-1) 2 (10-9, 9-10, 2-10, 10-4, 10-2) (41-35)
2 very close jokos were followed by 3 that weren't. With his back to the wall in his first match in this tournament, Ibargarai proceeded to outscore Brefel 20-6 in the final two jokos.
2 very close jokos were followed by 3 that weren't. With his back to the wall in his first match in this tournament, Ibargarai proceeded to outscore Brefel 20-6 in the final two jokos.
Necol (d front) (2-0) 3 Fusto (d front) (seeded in) (0-1) 1 (10-7, 3-10, 10-7, 10-3) (33-27)
Fusto, looking for his 7th Championship in this competition, ran into a buzz saw. Necol simply played better Pala on this day, winning his 5th consecutive match overall. The key joko in the match was the 3rd. At 1-1 in jokos, and with Fusto coming off a dominant joko, Necol broke out to a 4-0 lead. Fusto then clawed back to equality at 4, and then 5, 6, and 7. Each time Necol took the lead again, and finished with a 3-0 run to win the joko. His momentum then helped him steamroll Fusto in the final joko.
Fusto, looking for his 7th Championship in this competition, ran into a buzz saw. Necol simply played better Pala on this day, winning his 5th consecutive match overall. The key joko in the match was the 3rd. At 1-1 in jokos, and with Fusto coming off a dominant joko, Necol broke out to a 4-0 lead. Fusto then clawed back to equality at 4, and then 5, 6, and 7. Each time Necol took the lead again, and finished with a 3-0 run to win the joko. His momentum then helped him steamroll Fusto in the final joko.
3rd joko: 4-0; 4-4; 5-4; 5-5; 6-5; 6-6; 7-6; 7-7; 10-7
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January 26, 2019
January 26, 2019
Both matches: Full match video (Dan Necol Facebook Page)
Brefel (z back) (2-0) 3 Urrutia (seeded in) (z back) (0-1) 0 (10-3, 10-8, 10-6) (30-17)
Brefel used Urrutia's inexperience in the front to win easily. Over and again he fed his opponent balls that hugged the left wall. Urrutia was unable to handle them, and Brefel, as any excellent player would do, kept sending them. It was a bit of a rude awakening for the youngster, coming into this tournament off the high of a 3-0 Championship Final win with Necol in the Liga Kutxabank doubles competition.
Necol (d front) (seeded in) (1-0) 3 Gordon (z back) (1-1) 0 (10-7, 10-8, 10-0) (30-15)
Necol opened his account by winning two very competitive jokos from Gordon, and then shut out the Liga Kutxabank runner up . It was the first time I have ever seen an InnPala joko shutout. If you want to see Necol at his best, watch this match.
Back 2-1 Front 1-2
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Play in matches.
January 18, 2019
Gordon (z back) (1-0) 3 Landeta (d front) (0-1) 0 (10-4; 10-6; 10-3) (30-13) (Back 2-0; Front 0-2)
Back 2-0 Front 0-2
Brefel (z back) (1-0) 3 Garate (d front) (0-1) 1 (10-7; 10-5; 9-10; 10-8) (39-30)
Back 1-0 Front 0-1
(source for both match scores: Diario Vasco Deportes Cartelera, January 19, 2019)
I have found out no other information about these opening matches.
For more information about how these players are doing in 2019, see the InnPala Player win-loss table for tournaments and independent matches on the right side of the blog.
Sunday, February 17, 2019
Remonte--Xanti Uterga's magnificent 4 months
On February 14, 2019 Xanti Uterga, (Oriamendi2010 Group A delantero (front court)) lost a "Star Match"--Oriamendi's 2nd of 4 matches, the Marquee match of each program on Thursdays and Saturdays at Galarreta Fronton, Hernani (1) (2) (about 9.2 Km [5.7 miles] from Donostia (San Sebastian)). It was the first time he lost a doubles match after 12 wins in a row, going back to December 13, 2018. In that time he beat his main rival for top front court player on the Oriamendi2010 roster, Jabier Urriza, 4 times. Few if any Remonte players beat Urriza 4 times in a row. Three of the 12 were wins in the Torneo Parejas ORONA, one of the premier doubles championships that Oriamendi2010 sponsors. And two of those were the Semi-finals and Finals, (links to full match videos, finals begin at 3:45 on the video) both of which were televised on EITB. It was a remarkable streak, and it was broken in a remarkable match.
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Letters refer to the Oriamendi2010 Groups the players, based on experience and talent, are assigned to. It is important to keep in mind that the groups are often mixed within teams and matches. We will come back to these groupings below.
Ansa II-Barrenetxea IV (B-A) 40 Uterga-Larranaga (A-B) 39
Ansa II-Barrenetxea IV (B-A) 40 Uterga-Larranaga (A-B) 39
Selected linescore (winners always listed first)
2-2; 6-6; 17-17; 20-20; 26-26; 29-29; 37-34; 38-38; 38-39; 40-39
Scoring:
Ansa II +14 -4 (including 6 two wall winners) Barrenetxea IV +11 (incl. 5 service aces) -2
Uterga +20 -7 (incl 4 missed two wall winners) Larranaga +13 (including 6 service aces) -8
Match article (Oriamendi2010)
In one of the more exciting Star Matches in recent times, Uterga barely missed winning his 13th doubles match in a row, a string that began December 13, as he and Larranaga lost by the minimum to Ansa II-Barrentxea IV.
In this match the score was equal 7 times before A-B finally took a 37-34 lead. But U-L struck back to lead 39-38 before A-B scored the last 2 points. The match article said that Uterga "risked more," and that risk led to 4 two wall errors.
(Uterga's go to shot is the two wall shot, one which can either be smashed low against the side wall, off the front wall, landing inside the foul line by inches, or can be executed as a "touch" shot, high off the side and front wall, bouncing so high off the court that it cannot be returned before it hits the mesh that protects the fans from the pelota. Either way, it is a lethal shot, and Uterga is not afraid to use it at any time from anywhere in the front court. Now that the great Koteto Ezkurra has retired, Uterga has, in my opinion, the best two wall shot in Remonte.)
The implication of the "risk" comment is that perhaps a little caution could have kept the streak in tact. I did not see the match, but I have seen the magic Uterga consistently performs with his two wall shots. His strategy didn't work out this time. Things have worked out very well for him over the last 4 months.
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The streak was part of a larger period of excellence for Uterga. Since the beginning of October he has played phenomenally well. Lets first look at the streak a little more closely, and then the larger context.
In only 3 of the 12 matches was he part of an uneven pairing where his team had an advantage. In 2 of the matches he was part of an uneven pairing where his team was at a disadvantage. But the most amazing thing about this streak was its larger context. Between September 29, 2018 and February 9, 2019, in Galarreta doubles matches he won 19 of 24, including a 4 match winning streak in addition to the big streak. During that time, he lost 2 consecutive doubles matches twice. Each of his doubles matches, of course was a 40 point match. 8 of the 12 matches were "Star Matches." Considering the grind that is Galarreta Remonte, such sustained excellence over that amount of time (not to mention coming back to win the ORONA tournament after 2 early losses (5-2 overall in the tournament), is a remarkable feat. But then, Uterga is a remarkable player.
Here is the sequence from September 29-February 9. Note that he did not play doubles matches from January 17 through January 26 but he did play 3 singles matches in the World singles tournament during that time.
Key W-win; L-loss O-ORONA Tournament, U-against a team with Urriza
9/29/18 W; match article (+20 -5)
10/6 L (U); (Koteto Ezkurra's farewell match, no information on Uterga match)
10/11 L; match article
10/18 W; match article
10/20 W; match article
10/27 L; match article
11/1 W; match article (38-39--40-39)
11/8 W; match article (37-38--40-38) (+22 -6)
11/15 W (O) (U); match article (+27 -1)
11/22 W (O); match article (39-39--40-39) (Uterga 2 wall winner) (+19 -7)
11/29 L (O); match article (+11 -3) in 40-25 loss
12/6 L (O); match article
12/13 W (U); match article
12/15 W (O--Semi-final 1); match article (+22 -2) in 40-37 win
12/20 W (U); match article
12/22 W (O--Semi-final 2); match article (+15 -4) full match video
12/24 W (U) (5 matches in 12 days!); match article 40-22
12/29 W (O--Final); match article (+21 -1) full match video
1/3/19 W; match article (37-38--40-38) (+18 -7)
1/10 W(U); match article
1/12 W; match article
1/31 W; match article (+23)
2/2 W; match article (29-12; 32-32; 40-36)
2/9 W match article (+20 -2)
(Uterga's go to shot is the two wall shot, one which can either be smashed low against the side wall, off the front wall, landing inside the foul line by inches, or can be executed as a "touch" shot, high off the side and front wall, bouncing so high off the court that it cannot be returned before it hits the mesh that protects the fans from the pelota. Either way, it is a lethal shot, and Uterga is not afraid to use it at any time from anywhere in the front court. Now that the great Koteto Ezkurra has retired, Uterga has, in my opinion, the best two wall shot in Remonte.)
The implication of the "risk" comment is that perhaps a little caution could have kept the streak in tact. I did not see the match, but I have seen the magic Uterga consistently performs with his two wall shots. His strategy didn't work out this time. Things have worked out very well for him over the last 4 months.
==============================
The streak was part of a larger period of excellence for Uterga. Since the beginning of October he has played phenomenally well. Lets first look at the streak a little more closely, and then the larger context.
Uterga won 4 of the matches in the streak as he and Azpiroz stormed to the ORONA Parejas championship. He partnered with Azpiroz 5 times during the streak, and with Larranaga once (both Group B players). He partnered with Group A players Barrenetxea IV 3 times, Ion twice, and Agirrezabala once. Here is how his group by group wins totaled:
A-A v A-A 4
A-A v A-B 2
A-B v A-A 2
A-B v A-B 3
A-B v B-B 1
Here is the sequence from September 29-February 9. Note that he did not play doubles matches from January 17 through January 26 but he did play 3 singles matches in the World singles tournament during that time.
Key W-win; L-loss O-ORONA Tournament, U-against a team with Urriza
9/29/18 W; match article (+20 -5)
10/6 L (U); (Koteto Ezkurra's farewell match, no information on Uterga match)
10/11 L; match article
10/18 W; match article
10/20 W; match article
10/27 L; match article
11/1 W; match article (38-39--40-39)
11/8 W; match article (37-38--40-38) (+22 -6)
11/15 W (O) (U); match article (+27 -1)
11/22 W (O); match article (39-39--40-39) (Uterga 2 wall winner) (+19 -7)
11/29 L (O); match article (+11 -3) in 40-25 loss
12/6 L (O); match article
12/13 W (U); match article
12/15 W (O--Semi-final 1); match article (+22 -2) in 40-37 win
12/20 W (U); match article
12/22 W (O--Semi-final 2); match article (+15 -4) full match video
12/24 W (U) (5 matches in 12 days!); match article 40-22
12/29 W (O--Final); match article (+21 -1) full match video
1/3/19 W; match article (37-38--40-38) (+18 -7)
1/10 W(U); match article
1/12 W; match article
1/31 W; match article (+23)
2/2 W; match article (29-12; 32-32; 40-36)
2/9 W match article (+20 -2)
Source: Oriamendi2010 results database. (Buscar Resultados 2018, 2019).
And by the way, he is the Mayor of his hometown, Doneztebe when he isn't winning Remonte matches.
For more on the Tuesday and Thursday "Star Matches" and all other matches at Galarreta, see the Galarrreta "Star Match" recurring results page on the right sided of the blog.
And by the way, he is the Mayor of his hometown, Doneztebe when he isn't winning Remonte matches.
For more on the Tuesday and Thursday "Star Matches" and all other matches at Galarreta, see the Galarrreta "Star Match" recurring results page on the right sided of the blog.
Thursday, February 14, 2019
Jai Alai/Cesta Punta--The Saga of the Preservation and Rehabilitation of Madrid's Beti Jai Fronton Continues.
Madrid's ancient Beti Jai Fronton, originally constructed in 1894, was a "Cathedral" of Basque Pelota until 1919. After that it was used for various other functions, including an auto factory, Civil War police station and jail, and a brewery. Over the years it has fallen into disrepair resembling ruins. It is the last 19th Century fronton in Madrid. It was an outdoor fronton of 67x20x11 meters that seated 4,000 in its prime.
From 1989-2015, via a series of land purchases and an Official Bulletin of the Community of Madrid declaration of "Good of Cultural Interest," it has passed into the hands of the City Council. A contest was held for the best rehabilitation plan. In November of 2018 the contest was won by the "Bizitza Berria" ("New Life") plan produced by architects Javier Coronado Palomero and Amelia Rodriquez dela Torre Somoza. The central idea behind the winning plan was "to obtain the best architectural proposal for this space, with the aim of making compatible the preservation of the heritage values of the building with the most appropriate technical solutions for its possible sporting and cultural uses." The plan is now in litigation over a number of issues, one of which is the efficacy of a glass roof with respect to "Good of Cultural Interest."
One of the ultimate aims of the rehabilitation is a UNESCO declaration of the Fronton as a World Heritage Site. The wheels of litigation turn slowly, but hopefully a solution can be obtained and the Fronton, with or without a roof, can be rehabilitated. Hopefully, soon, the "Cathedral" will be restored.
Note: all English quotes have been obtained through Google Translate. Hopefully, I have gotten the essence of the story.
Beti Jai: The Last Surviving Basque Pelota Historic Fronton in Madrid
(HTML version) (MAS Context, No. 28, Winter 2015, P. 102-122--.pdf version)
The story, from 1894-2015, in English.
All below articles and videos (except for the contest winner announcement (English) are in Castilian
Beti Jai Home Page
Bizitza Berria para el Beti Jai: la nueva vida del frontรณn de Madrid (Marca, February 9, 2019 via Jai Alai News Facebook)
Detailed article covering the history and the issues.
Contest winner announcement with architectural drawings (metalocus.es)
El Beti-Jai se queda sin proyecto por decreto municipal (El Mundo, February, 15, 2019). The latest news.
De la ruina y el Esplendor (Cronicas documentary, RTVE, Jan. 15, 2018 (43:36)
Memorias del Beti Jai (ABC TV documentary, 10:59)
Fronton Beti Jai: Patrimonio en Peligro (patrimonio UC3M Youtube, 2:05)
From 1989-2015, via a series of land purchases and an Official Bulletin of the Community of Madrid declaration of "Good of Cultural Interest," it has passed into the hands of the City Council. A contest was held for the best rehabilitation plan. In November of 2018 the contest was won by the "Bizitza Berria" ("New Life") plan produced by architects Javier Coronado Palomero and Amelia Rodriquez dela Torre Somoza. The central idea behind the winning plan was "to obtain the best architectural proposal for this space, with the aim of making compatible the preservation of the heritage values of the building with the most appropriate technical solutions for its possible sporting and cultural uses." The plan is now in litigation over a number of issues, one of which is the efficacy of a glass roof with respect to "Good of Cultural Interest."
One of the ultimate aims of the rehabilitation is a UNESCO declaration of the Fronton as a World Heritage Site. The wheels of litigation turn slowly, but hopefully a solution can be obtained and the Fronton, with or without a roof, can be rehabilitated. Hopefully, soon, the "Cathedral" will be restored.
Note: all English quotes have been obtained through Google Translate. Hopefully, I have gotten the essence of the story.
Beti Jai: The Last Surviving Basque Pelota Historic Fronton in Madrid
(HTML version) (MAS Context, No. 28, Winter 2015, P. 102-122--.pdf version)
The story, from 1894-2015, in English.
All below articles and videos (except for the contest winner announcement (English) are in Castilian
Beti Jai Home Page
Bizitza Berria para el Beti Jai: la nueva vida del frontรณn de Madrid (Marca, February 9, 2019 via Jai Alai News Facebook)
Detailed article covering the history and the issues.
Contest winner announcement with architectural drawings (metalocus.es)
El Beti-Jai se queda sin proyecto por decreto municipal (El Mundo, February, 15, 2019). The latest news.
De la ruina y el Esplendor (Cronicas documentary, RTVE, Jan. 15, 2018 (43:36)
Memorias del Beti Jai (ABC TV documentary, 10:59)
Fronton Beti Jai: Patrimonio en Peligro (patrimonio UC3M Youtube, 2:05)
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Mano--Binakako Txapelketako/Campionato Parejas--2018-2019--Week 12
Binakako Txapelketako/Campionato Parejas, the premier doubles competition of the 2018-2019 Mano season, began November 23, 2018. 8 teams will compete for the title. The first (league) phase is a double round robin (14 matches). The top 4 finishers will face off in a single round robin (3 matches). The two winners will play in a final on April 7, 2019.
Source for all match articles, unless otherwise specifically stated, is 21iguales.com. 21iguales.com will also keep an ongoing phase table at its main Parejas site.
This table is the most up to date of any I've found.
Match linescores will be provided from match articles when available. Full match linescores can be found at 21iguales.com Twitter feed. Track back to the date and match and follow from beginning to end. The feed is also available at the Main site of 21iguales.com while the matches are in progress.
Source for all highlights and full match videos, unless otherwise specifically stated, is EITB.
At present, EITB is providing all highlights, in chronological order:
We begin at Week 7 as that was when the 2019 calendar year began. Coverage of the first six weeks is available at 21Iguales.com, and the Baiko Pilota (formerly Asegarce and ASPE websites. Full match video coverage of all available matches can be found at EITB.
For all available full match videos
"buscar" (search--top right side of page): "binakako" (without the quotes). Look for "2019 Binakako Txapelketa." Matches are usually the second or first match on the video.
Full match videos of earlier finals going back to 2000:
"buscar" "Binakako Txapelketako finalak" (without the quotes)
Selected full match videos before 2000:
"buscar" "Gure bideoteka" (without the quotes) and scroll until you find them.
For complete print and video coverage of the 2016-17 competition
Links to all matches available (by week).
--------------------------------------
Week 7; Week 8; Week 9; Week 10; Week 11; Week 12; Week 13; Week 14; Semi-final Round 1; Semi-final Round 2; Semi-final Round 3;
Final
--------------------------------------
Week 12:
Injury Report:
A. February 4: Oliazola II suffered serious left quadriceps tendon injury in a practice session--out 4 months, will be replaced by Arteaga II (Deia); will be replaced by Victor for Week 13 (baikopilota)
The week's play began with the tail enders in the competition breaking a 5 match losing streak, heavily aided by Victor's excellent play (+13 -3). Bengoetxea VI played after his side strain last week and was +7 -7. I was unable to find a linescore and so know little about the progress of the match. B-I's Semi-Final prospects were dashed by their 4th loss in the last 5 matches. With Urrutikoetxea expected back for the last two matches of the League phase, he and Aretxabaleta could play a spoiler role against Irribaria-Zabaleta, but their match with Elezkano-Rezusta to finish the phase will be little more than academic.
Source for all match articles, unless otherwise specifically stated, is 21iguales.com. 21iguales.com will also keep an ongoing phase table at its main Parejas site.
This table is the most up to date of any I've found.
Match linescores will be provided from match articles when available. Full match linescores can be found at 21iguales.com Twitter feed. Track back to the date and match and follow from beginning to end. The feed is also available at the Main site of 21iguales.com while the matches are in progress.
Source for all highlights and full match videos, unless otherwise specifically stated, is EITB.
At present, EITB is providing all highlights, in chronological order:
We begin at Week 7 as that was when the 2019 calendar year began. Coverage of the first six weeks is available at 21Iguales.com, and the Baiko Pilota (formerly Asegarce and ASPE websites. Full match video coverage of all available matches can be found at EITB.
For all available full match videos
"buscar" (search--top right side of page): "binakako" (without the quotes). Look for "2019 Binakako Txapelketa." Matches are usually the second or first match on the video.
Full match videos of earlier finals going back to 2000:
"buscar" "Binakako Txapelketako finalak" (without the quotes)
Selected full match videos before 2000:
"buscar" "Gure bideoteka" (without the quotes) and scroll until you find them.
For complete print and video coverage of the 2016-17 competition
Links to all matches available (by week).
--------------------------------------
Week 7; Week 8; Week 9; Week 10; Week 11; Week 12; Week 13; Week 14; Semi-final Round 1; Semi-final Round 2; Semi-final Round 3;
Final
--------------------------------------
Week 12:
Injury Report:
A. February 4: Oliazola II suffered serious left quadriceps tendon injury in a practice session--out 4 months, will be replaced by Arteaga II (Deia); will be replaced by Victor for Week 13 (baikopilota)
B. Urrutikoetxea out indefintely with a left hand injury (Baikopilota (formerly Asegarce))--February 12: Urrutikoetxea to return to action Week 13, has been out since January 18. (baikopilota)
February 10, 2019
Week 12 featured the top 3 teams all losing, Ezkurdia personally making sure that his Championship defense would live for another week, and Bengoetxea VI-Imaz being rudely eliminated from contention by foot of the table Victor (substituting for Urrutikoetxia)-Arretxabaleta.
Artola-Mariezkurrena II (7-5 +13) 22 Arteaga II (substituting for Oliazola II)-Albisu ( 7-5 +9) 15 (EITB--match begins at 1:14:17)
Match article (including, scoring, balls in play)
Baikopilota links to three newspaper match articles
Baikopilota links to three newspaper match articles
A-M solidified their position in the fight for a semi-final berth with this win, but it was hardly a thing of beauty. 22 year old Asier Arteaga (Arteaga II) was rushed into the big show from the Promotion League (where his team was 2-3) to replace the irreplaceable: Oliazola II. It was expected that he would have a challenging first match, especially with so much riding on the outcome. He was +2 -8. That, in combination with a truly bad day at the office by Albisu (+1 -11) meant that A-M had only to score 3 points on their own. But they didn't play that well either (+3 -12). So for the match both teams total score was +6 -31. But it isn't necessarily about artistry, it's about winning. O-A have lost their last 3 matches by 66-40 and are now in danger of falling out of the Semi-Final picture altogether. And the road doesn't get easier for them,with their last 2 matches against top of the table Elezkano II-Rezusta and Irribarria-Zabaleta (who both lost this week--see below). As for A-M, their next opponents are Altuna III-Martija (6-6) who will be brimming with confidence after hammering E-R this week (see below). As for this match, A-M established an early 10-2 lead and simply surfed home on the wave of their opponents' errors, making enough of their own so that the final score was respectable.
February 9, 2019
Altuna III-Martija (6-6 -7) 22 Elezkano II-Rezusta (9-3 +52) 8 (EITB: match begins at 59:49)
Highlights (EITB)
Match article (incl. linescore, scoring, balls in play (Deia))
More accurate scoring (baikopilota (formerly Asegarce))
E-R's 6 match winning streak came to an abrupt end as they were crushed by A-M. The loss also put a small dent in their point differential. However, due to losses by their their two closest competitors, they lost no ground and now lead the League phase by 2 games with 3 to play. Elezkano had an unexpectedly poor day (+2 -8). Altuna III had a very good day (+10 -2). In essence, that was the story of the match. The sub-story is, of course, Altuna III. If he continues to play well and A-M can win their crucial match against Artola-Marriezkurrena II this week, they will close against recently eliminated Bengoetxea VI-Imaz with a chance at an 8-6 finish, which might be enough to get them into the Semi-Finals. As far as this match goes, A-M never allowed E-R to get into the match. They started with a 6-1 run and increased their lead from there. E-R finish the League phase with Victor (substituting for Oliazola II)-Albisu and tail enders Urrutikoetxea-Arretxabaleta, so they have a good chance win the League sooner rather than later.
Feburary 8, 2019
Ezkurdia-L. Galarza (5-7 -13) 22 Irribaria-Zabaleta 21 (7-5 +44) (EITB: match begins at 1:05:50--Basque)
Fronton TV Youtube (Castilian)
Highlights (1st half of video)
Match article (incl. linescore, scoring, balls in play)
Ezkurdia showed why he is a defending Champion and kept his team's faint hopes alive by scoring the last three points (consuming 28, 17, and 27 balls in play) to overcome an 19-21 deficit. I couldn't find any scoring that added up to the final totals. But Ezkurdia had 5 service aces and either 9+ or 10+ in play (+14 or +15 total), towering over everyone. A 6-0 run led to an 8-4 E-G lead, but then a 10-2 I-Z run put them 4 points in the lead. They maintained that until 16-20. But then, with the match almost won by I-Z, E-R, aided by Ezkurdia's great finish, ended the match with a 6-1 run. The loss dropped I-Z into a 3 way tie for 2nd place in the League phase. E-G must win out and hope for a lot of help, while I-Z finish with tail enders Urrutikoetxea-Arretxabaleta and the depleted Victor (substituting for Oliazola II)-Albisu. All in all, a very interesting week awaits fans of this Competition.
----------
Ezkurdia showed why he is a defending Champion and kept his team's faint hopes alive by scoring the last three points (consuming 28, 17, and 27 balls in play) to overcome an 19-21 deficit. I couldn't find any scoring that added up to the final totals. But Ezkurdia had 5 service aces and either 9+ or 10+ in play (+14 or +15 total), towering over everyone. A 6-0 run led to an 8-4 E-G lead, but then a 10-2 I-Z run put them 4 points in the lead. They maintained that until 16-20. But then, with the match almost won by I-Z, E-R, aided by Ezkurdia's great finish, ended the match with a 6-1 run. The loss dropped I-Z into a 3 way tie for 2nd place in the League phase. E-G must win out and hope for a lot of help, while I-Z finish with tail enders Urrutikoetxea-Arretxabaleta and the depleted Victor (substituting for Oliazola II)-Albisu. All in all, a very interesting week awaits fans of this Competition.
----------
Victor (substituting for Urrutikoetxea)-Aretxabaleta (3-9 -55) 22 Bengoetxea VI-Imaz (4-8 -43) 15. B-I eliminated from Semi-finals
There is no full match video for this match at this time.
Highlights (2nd half of video)
Match article (incl. correct scoring) (Baikopilota (formerly Asegarce)
Match article (21Iguales)
The week's play began with the tail enders in the competition breaking a 5 match losing streak, heavily aided by Victor's excellent play (+13 -3). Bengoetxea VI played after his side strain last week and was +7 -7. I was unable to find a linescore and so know little about the progress of the match. B-I's Semi-Final prospects were dashed by their 4th loss in the last 5 matches. With Urrutikoetxea expected back for the last two matches of the League phase, he and Aretxabaleta could play a spoiler role against Irribaria-Zabaleta, but their match with Elezkano-Rezusta to finish the phase will be little more than academic.
Main Nue--FFPB Championnat de France Pro Individuel--Liguilla Round 2--February 9, 11 2019
The 2019 FFPB (Federation Francais de Pelote Basque) Championnat de France Pro Individuel Tournament began on January 4, and will end on March 3, 2019. For the third consecutive year, there are two competitions, Group A and Group B. 21 players are involved. FFPB has provided a "dossier" (.pdf format, 7p.) explaining how the tournament works and who the players in each group are. This is a seeded ladder knock out tournament with qualification and league rounds, leading to the final.
The Players:
Player profiles at Esku Pilota
Group A: Peio Larralde (front); Matthieu Ospital (front); Baptiste Ducassou (back); Bixinto Bilbao (back); Augusti Waltery (front); Ximun Lambert (back); Peio Guichandut (back); Vincent Elgart (front); Julien Etchegary (front); Ion Iturbe (back); and Anton Monce (front)
Last year's finalists: Larralde and Ospital have been directly seeded into the League phase (1st and 2nd seeds)
Group B: Pascal de Ezcurra (back); Laurent Lambert (front); Alexis Inchauspe (front); Mickael Palomes (back); Gregory Aguirre (front); Cedric Lucu (back); Bixente (Vincent) Cubiat (back); Mattin Olcomendy (front); Mickael Darmendrail (front)
de Ezcurra and Lambert have been directly seeded into the League phase (1st and 2nd seeds)
-------------------------------------
Previous Championships:
Complete coverage of the 2018 Championship was provided by FFPB:
Results
Brief Match Articles and Photos
More detailed articles and selected match videos were provided by Pilota Ttiki. When videos are available they are linked at the bottom of the article.
Beginning January 9 and "suivant" at the bottom of the article until you reach other tournament articles. The tournament ended on February 25 (A) and February 27 (B) (Note that not all articles you will link to are articles about this tournament).
Twenty 2018 FFPB Championnat de France Elite Pro condensed full match videos are available via Pilota Ttiki Youtube. Scroll to or find "Championnat Individuel" or "Liguilla" (without the quotes).
Finals:
Group A: Larralde 40 Ospital 18
Match article and link to full match video
Group B: Iturbe 40 L. Lambert 27
Match article and link to full match video
2017 Tournament complete coverage (match articles and available videos)
Finals:
Group A: Ducassou 40 Ospital 27
Group B: Etchegaray 40 Elgart 21
2016 Full Tournament Results: Final: Larralde 40 Ducassou 22
2015 Full Tournament Results: Final Ducassou 40 Larralde 21 (pelotelive.free.fr)
-------------------------------------
Play in Round (January 4-7, 2019) Qualification Round Seeded Matches (January 12-14); January 19; January 26
Liguilla: February 2; February 3; February 9; February 11; February 15, February 17
Finals: February 25--Group B; March 3--Group A
-------------------------------------
Liguilla Round 2
Note: All match videos, unless otherwise specifically stated, are condensed full match videos (usually between 15 and 40 minutes).
Injury report: Bixento Bilbao had to forfeit his match to Mathieu Ospital (27-22--see below) due to a shoulder injury which will put him out of the rest of the competition. (Pilota Ttiki)
The Players:
Player profiles at Esku Pilota
Group A: Peio Larralde (front); Matthieu Ospital (front); Baptiste Ducassou (back); Bixinto Bilbao (back); Augusti Waltery (front); Ximun Lambert (back); Peio Guichandut (back); Vincent Elgart (front); Julien Etchegary (front); Ion Iturbe (back); and Anton Monce (front)
Last year's finalists: Larralde and Ospital have been directly seeded into the League phase (1st and 2nd seeds)
Group B: Pascal de Ezcurra (back); Laurent Lambert (front); Alexis Inchauspe (front); Mickael Palomes (back); Gregory Aguirre (front); Cedric Lucu (back); Bixente (Vincent) Cubiat (back); Mattin Olcomendy (front); Mickael Darmendrail (front)
de Ezcurra and Lambert have been directly seeded into the League phase (1st and 2nd seeds)
-------------------------------------
Previous Championships:
Complete coverage of the 2018 Championship was provided by FFPB:
Results
Brief Match Articles and Photos
More detailed articles and selected match videos were provided by Pilota Ttiki. When videos are available they are linked at the bottom of the article.
Beginning January 9 and "suivant" at the bottom of the article until you reach other tournament articles. The tournament ended on February 25 (A) and February 27 (B) (Note that not all articles you will link to are articles about this tournament).
Twenty 2018 FFPB Championnat de France Elite Pro condensed full match videos are available via Pilota Ttiki Youtube. Scroll to or find "Championnat Individuel" or "Liguilla" (without the quotes).
Finals:
Group A: Larralde 40 Ospital 18
Match article and link to full match video
Group B: Iturbe 40 L. Lambert 27
Match article and link to full match video
2017 Tournament complete coverage (match articles and available videos)
Finals:
Group A: Ducassou 40 Ospital 27
Group B: Etchegaray 40 Elgart 21
2016 Full Tournament Results: Final: Larralde 40 Ducassou 22
2015 Full Tournament Results: Final Ducassou 40 Larralde 21 (pelotelive.free.fr)
-------------------------------------
Play in Round (January 4-7, 2019) Qualification Round Seeded Matches (January 12-14); January 19; January 26
Liguilla: February 2; February 3; February 9; February 11; February 15, February 17
Finals: February 25--Group B; March 3--Group A
-------------------------------------
Liguilla Round 2
Note: All match videos, unless otherwise specifically stated, are condensed full match videos (usually between 15 and 40 minutes).
Injury report: Bixento Bilbao had to forfeit his match to Mathieu Ospital (27-22--see below) due to a shoulder injury which will put him out of the rest of the competition. (Pilota Ttiki)
February 11, 2019
Group A
Ducassou (#3) (back) (1-0 +3) 40 Larralde (#1) (front) (1-1 +9) 37 (Pilota Ttiki Youtube)
Info Garazi Youtube (a good "feel" for the game, not all points, but a different, subjective view
Info Garazi Youtube (a good "feel" for the game, not all points, but a different, subjective view
Selected linescore (winner always listed first)
6-6; 6-14; 14-14; 18-24; 20-30; 21-33; 27-33; 31-36; 36-36; 40-37
Group A: Front 3-3 Back 3-3
This was the marquee match of the Championship so far. What looked like a packed trinquet watched an intense match between, arguably, the best back court and front court players in the modality. Both players used the entire court, endlessly sprinting back and forth to save points. Their shot making abilities are well known and neither disappointed in that department. By my count Ducassou had 15 direct points, including the winning point (10 in the side mesh, and 5 in the back dugout, 2 in the side from behind his opponent). Larralde had 9 (3 in the back). But that isn't the only way to score. Larralde had several brilliant front bevel caroms and passing shots. On the 39-36 point, he actually did a one leg right wall climb (a la Jai Alai) to save a point from deep in the back. Ducassou was his usual relentless self, battling back from 6-14 and 21-33 (a 19-4 run...19-4 against Larralde!). He has amazing power from the deep moving away off the back foot, and kept many points going that way. Larralde is quicker than anyone I have seen and can move from the back of the court to the front in a flash. As he always does, he retrieved balls on the full sprint (at times diving) that seemed impossible. In short, if you want to see Main Nue played at its zenith, watch this match. I, for one, would love to see a rematch on March 3 in the Final. Of course, Matthieu Ospital will have something to say about that.
Group B
Inchauspe (#3) (front) (1-1 -3) 40 de Ezcurra (#1) (front) (1-1 -8) 28 (Pilota Ttiki Youtube)
Selected linescore (winner always listed first)
0-5; 1-12; 16-16; 19-19; 20-20; 21-21; 22-22; 26-26; 40-28
Say one thing about Inchauspe. He is nothing if not resilient. After being badly beaten by L. Lambert in Round 1, he began this match down 12-1. At that point he could have folded up his tent and started plans for his next tournament. But that isn't what happened. In the first 13 points de Ezcurra played extremely well, terminating points early with great shot making. But Inchauspe fought and slowly clawed his way back into the match. A 15-4 run got him to the first of at least 6 equalities in the match. At 26-26, the old veteran ran out of fuel, and Inchauspe won going away. Both players are now 1-1. Whoever wins in the 3rd Round goes to the Final.
February 9, 2019
Group A:
Ospital (#2) (front) (1-0 +5(?)) 27 Bilbao (#4) (back) (0-2 -17(?) 22 (Pilota Ttiki Youtube). Bilbao forfeited the match and is out for the rest of the competition. It is unknown whether point differentials are correct.
Selected linescore (winners always listed first):
15-5; 15-19; 19-19; 27-22
Group A: Front 3-2; Back 2-3
This was shaping up to be a very interesting match when Bilbao had to retire with a shoulder injury that will end his participation in this Championship. The match began with a big run by both players, and Ospital was in the midst of another run when it ended. Ospital has two matches left, against Larralde and Ducassou, so his fate is in his own hands. If he beats them he is in the final. Easier said than done.
This was shaping up to be a very interesting match when Bilbao had to retire with a shoulder injury that will end his participation in this Championship. The match began with a big run by both players, and Ospital was in the midst of another run when it ended. Ospital has two matches left, against Larralde and Ducassou, so his fate is in his own hands. If he beats them he is in the final. Easier said than done.
Group B:
Palomes (#4) (back) (1-1 -3) 40 L. Lambert (#1) (front) (1-1 +14) 39 (Pilota Ttiki Youtube)
Partial linescore (winner always listed first):
20-20; 35-35; 35-38; 39-39; 40-39
Group B: Back 2-1; Front 1-2
Match article for both matches (Pilota Ttiki)
Match article for both matches (FFPB)
This was an exciting match, hard fought throughout. Watching Palomes' serves brings back memories of Iker Irribarria when he first burst on the Mano scene in 2016. Palomes' high deep booming serves are a wonder to watch. The pelota says "Meet Mikael's hand, see the Basque Country." In a match he had to win, Palomes came back from 35-38 and stay alive in the hunt for a berth in the Final. The winning point came on a serve so high and deep that it might never come down. But it did, smashing down on the back dugout roof and rebounding far past Lambert. The win leaves both these players at 1-1 in the Liguilla phase. The Round 3 winner advances to the final.
---------------------
Match article for both matches (FFPB)
This was an exciting match, hard fought throughout. Watching Palomes' serves brings back memories of Iker Irribarria when he first burst on the Mano scene in 2016. Palomes' high deep booming serves are a wonder to watch. The pelota says "Meet Mikael's hand, see the Basque Country." In a match he had to win, Palomes came back from 35-38 and stay alive in the hunt for a berth in the Final. The winning point came on a serve so high and deep that it might never come down. But it did, smashing down on the back dugout roof and rebounding far past Lambert. The win leaves both these players at 1-1 in the Liguilla phase. The Round 3 winner advances to the final.
---------------------
Liguilla Round 3 upcoming matches
February 15:
Hasparren
Group A: Larralde (#1) (front (1-1- +9) v Ospital (#2) (front) (1-0 (+5?))
Group B: de Ezcurra (#1) (front) (1-1 -8) v L. Lambert (#2) (front) (1-1 +14)
February 17
Trinquet Moderne, Baiona (Bayonne)
Group A: Ducassou (#3) (back) (1-0 +3) will not play v Bilbao (#4) (back) (0-2 -17(?)) or a substitute. Instead there will be an "amicale": Etchegaray-X. Lambert v Monce-Iturbe. It is unknown whether Ducassou will be credited with a victory over Bilbao or not
Group B: Inchauspe (#3) (front) (1-1 -3) v Palomes (#4) (back) (1-1 -3)
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