Monthly Archives: February 2009

Jai Alai: Master Jai's weekly update

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26/02/2009: Churruca has been the main character in Orlando Jai Ali, where he managed to reach no less then twelwe wins. Alltogether this gives him 59 victories, which places him as number four in the Most Wins. Olabe is still in the lead with 67 quinielas won. Among the backcourters Gino and Tommy have stood out during the last days, each accounting for nine wins.

In Miami Lopez is still in the lead thanks to the ten pairs quinielas and 5 individuals that he has won since last thursday. With last weeks wins, he managed to increase the distance to Beñat and Girard. Also worth mentioning is the the good play by Aizarna, which has given him ten wins, and the bad luck for Irastorza, Ladutxe and Lejardi, who have not been able to gather many points due to injuries.

En Dania Erik has a firm grip on the Most Wins through his eleven quinielas won last week. That is two more than Korta and three more than Diego and Arrieta. The best backcourter has been Manex, who is now at place seven. Other good news from Dania is the reappearence of Gotzon Enbil.

In Ft. Pierce Hernandez became best pelotari last week with six victories, one more than Troy. Hernandez is still number one in the standings.

Source: Master Jai

Mano pairs: schedule and webcast information for the first weekend of semi finals

The first two semi final matches are as follows:

Saturday 28th February
Labrit, Pamplona
18:00 (CET) OLAIZOLA II – MENDIZABAL II v MARTINEZ DE IRUJO – GONI III
No webcast. On Telecinco in Spain.

Sunday 1st March
Atano III, San Sebastian
17:00 (CET) BENGOETXEA VI – BELOKI v BERASALUZE VIII – BEGINO
Webcast on ETB-Sat

In addition to this, note that there will be two matches, unconnected with the championship, available for viewing on ETB-Sat on Friday night. They are as follows:

22:15 (CET) SARALEGI – APRAIZ v CABRERIZO – BEROIZ
23:25 (CET) GONI II – EULATE v CAPELLAN – LASA III

Labrit hosts the first semi final match

Labrit hosts the first semi final match

Image from: http://www.diariodenavarra.es/actualidad/20080731/fotos/2008073101475832_375.jpg

Mano pairs: final standings from the qualifying round

The Pairs Championship will enter the semi final stage this weekend, upon the completion of the quarter final rounds on Monday. The top four pairs will proceed to play each of their three fellow qualifiers in turn over the next weeks to decide the finalists. Defending champions Olaizola II and Mendizabal II will kick start the semi finals on Saturday with a match against Martinez de Irujo and Goni III in Pamplona. Bengoetxea VI and Beloki, and Berasaluze VIII and Begino will enter the fray in San Sebastian on Sunday.

1. Berasaluze VIII-Begino 8 5 3 152 155 5
2. M. de Irujo-Goñi III 8 5 3 156 132 5
3. Olaizola II-Mendiza. II 8 5 3 145 139 5
4. Bengoetxea VI-Beloki 8 4 4 149 158 4

———————————————————————-
5. Gonzalez-Barriola 8 4 4 155 145 4
6. Xala-Zubieta 8 4 4 159 131 4
7. Titín-Pascual 8 3 5 155 155 3
8. Olaizola I-Patxi Ruiz 8 2 6 118 173 2

Berasaluze and Begino qualify in first place

Berasaluze and Begino qualify in first place

Image from: http://beta.eitb.com/multimedia/images/2009/01/20/54142/54142_begino_berasaluze_dest_2.jpg

Mano pairs: win for Xala and Zubieta sends Bengoetxea VI and Beloki through

Monday 23rd February
Beotibar, Tolosa
XALA – ZUBIETA beat OLAIZOLA I – PATXI RUIZ 22-6

The final scoreboard tells us that Asier Olaizola and Patxi Ruiz lost once again at Beotibar on Monday. This in itself was hardly important, or startling, news. However, the result of this match meant so much more and a seemigly pointless encounter between two pairs, already eliminated from the championship, took on the status of one of the strangtest and most important matches of the year so far. The fate of two couples, Bengoetxea VI/Beloki of Asegarce and Gonzalez/Barriola of Aspe hung on this evening; a Xala/Zubieta win would see the former qualify for the semi finals and an Olaizola I/Patxi Ruiz win would see the latter pair go through. Whatever happened, a win for either side would result in elimination for a pair from their own empresa. Certain elements of the press spent the week discussing the potential ramifications of this situation; could either pair be tempted to play at ‘worse than their best’ for the good of their own empresa? In the end however, fair play was the only sporting option and there was nothing remotely suspect about the outcome as Asier and Patxi were once again outplayed by a better pair. Xala and Zubieta have won their last three matches in commanding style and Monday was no different. Xala must consider himself unlucky to be leaving the tournament at this stage given the recent exalted level of his play. Despite being one of the players of the competition, he has never quite had the defender to back him up and head to head record against the other pairs in contention was his undoing in the finals standings. He did however bid farewell with a flourish to which Asier Olaizola, who gave everything he could muster, had no answer. Zubieta, on this occasion, supported him consumately, outplaying Patxi Ruiz with ease.

And so, Oinatz Bengoetxea and Ruben Beloki will be back for more as the championship moves into the semi final stage. Gonzalez and Barriola suffer from Asier and Patxi’s failure to perform and leave the competition. They will be joined in the next stage by defending champions Olaizola II and Mendizabal II, Martinez de Irujo and Goni III, and Berasaluze VIII and Begino.

Bengoetxea and Beloki are through

Bengoetxea and Beloki are through

Image from: http://beta.eitb.com/multimedia/images/2009/02/01/59300/59300_bengoetxea_beloki_dest_2.jpg

Mano pairs: Aimar and Oier show nerves of steel to qualify at Astelena

Sunday 22nd February

Astelena, Eibar

OLAIZOLA II – MENDIZABAL II beat GONZALEZ – EULATE 22-19

The equation was simple: the winners would qualify for the semi-finals and the losers would sweat it out. This duel had been headlined by the meeting of Olaizola II and Barriola, two immovable obstacles of big match play, the former possessed of a lethal left hand in attack, the latter resembling a brick wall in defence. The result, many thought, would hinge on their respective abilities to hit the high notes in a game where every point would matter. In this respect, the match turned out to be a let down, for the haematoma in Barriola’s right hand, acquired last week, had failed to recover. Leitza’s famous son was therefore replaced by Pedro Martinez de Eulate Maestresalas, the 29 year old from Lizarra-Estella who has two pairs championship wins on his resume. Despite Eulate’s status as a highly dangerous customer, the defending champions were now firm favourites, but matches of such magnitude are rarely straightforward to call. In the end, nerves of steel were required and unshakable determination would win the day: step forward Aimar Olaizola, the coolest cucumber in Navarre.

Early signs suggested that the defending champions had blown it. They endured a nightmare against Irujo and Goni III last week, hardly aided by Aimar’s suspect stomach, and it appeared that they had continued where they left off. After six points, Gonzalez and Eulate were 6-0 up, through a combination of some excellent attacking play from Gonzalez, two mishits from the back by Mendizabal and a wide swipe from Olaizola. Mendizabal found himself peppered with long balls in an early attempt to test his mettle; in the first seven points, he struck the ball 24 times to Olaizola’s 9. For the Asegarce pair it was therefore imperative to find a way to break the stranglehold in which they found themselves.

An error from Gonzalez gave the champions the serve and the advantage of their elected balls and from this point on, the disparity in points closed, gradually. As the score moved from 1-6 to 9-9, one sensed that Aimar had finally settled into the task at hand. Errors from Mendizabal, who still appeared ill at ease, were obviated by three exquisite hooks by his partner as well as a searing 98 kph serve expertly placed down the wall to which Eulate had no answer. Another excellent serve then set up a sitting duck of a winner and Aimar seized the lead for the first time in the match.

There now began a period of play when the Asegarce pair slowly and almost imperceptably pulled away in terms of both quality and composure. True, Aimar would make four more errors in the course of the game and Oier five but their opponents were the guiltier. Eulate in particular leaked points, his earlier solidity in the face of Olaizola seemingly gone. Mendizabal on the other hand saw his trajectory rise, hitting with ever increasing confidence and class. He was responsible for one of the shots of the match when, with the score at 17-15 he hit a skidding ball from the back of the fronton at such an angle that Gonzalez stood open mouthed in bewilderment. But it was Olaizola who was the chief architect of the solid recovery. Aimar’s great strength is his control of the pace of a match, every nuance calculated by his superb tactical brain. His pair never built a commanding lead and never obliterated their opponents with a barrage of dramatic hitting but the impression he gave was of a puppeteer pulling the strings. So clinical was his outward demeanour that one could be forgiven for overlooking his moments of brilliance as he demonstrated his wide repertoire of hooks, smashes and drops. Particularly impressive was his skill in turning defence into attack from the side wall; lack of operating space seemed to concern him not one bit. One match point was squandered when Gonzalez pulled off a masterful shot into the corner under unimaginable pressure but another miss by Eulate ensured the defending champions safe passage to the next stage of the competition. While his supporters gasped in relief, the tension past, Aimar nonchalantly signed autographs as if nothing had ever happened.

Scoring sequence (Olaizola II and Mendizabal II first): 0-6, 1-6, 2-6, 2-7, 2-8, 6-8, 6-9, 9-9, 10-9, 10-10, 11-10, 11-11, 12-11, 15-11, 15-12, 15-15, 19-15, 19-16, 20-16, 20-18, 21-18, 21-19, 22-19

Aimar in control

Aimar in control

Image from: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wzAwusJnS8k/ST45MBUdXZI/AAAAAAAAh_Q/CrTsvMp4ZyM/s400/aimar.jpg

Treku and Kevin turns the game

23/02/2009:

AIMAR-GARAI –     24
TREKU-KEVIN –     25

Duration: 49 minutes

Scoring sequence: 1-1, 2-2, 3-3, 3-5, 5-5, 6-6, 9-6, 9-7, 12-7, 12-8, 13-8, 13-9, 14-9, 14-10, 17-10, 17-11, 18-11, 18-15, 20-15, 20-18, 21-18, 21-19, 22-19, 22-20, 23-20, 23-21, 24-21 and 24-25

Treku and Kevin turned 18-11 against them to a victory 24-25 in the game in Gernika Jai Alai. In a very exciting last part of the game Treku and Kevin won four straight points taking them from 24-21 to 24-25. The first half of the game belonged to Garai, who played in a very convincing way. Treku had some problems with his serves, resulting in two pasas.

The result of the other two games was:

ALBERDI II-ALBERDI III –  35
OLHA-ELIZEGI –  32

BARONIO-GARITA –  25
LEKUE-MUGARTEGI –  30

David Treku

David Treku

Source: Master Jai

Mano pairs: Irujo and Goni qualify after epic comeback at Labrit

Saturday 21st February
Labrit, Pamplona
MARTINEZ DE IRUJO – GONI III beat BENGOETXEA VI – BELOKI 22-19

On Saturday, Juan Martinez de Irujo and Fernando Goni became the second pair to qualify directly for the semi-finals, defeating Manomanista champion Oinatz Bengoetxea and Ruben Beloki at Labrit. As befits the situation of the championship at this crucial stage, this was another tense and error strewn encounter where winning was the sole object, often at the expense of flair and daring. The match was characterised by a fascinating forward duel in which the two protagonists displayed both brilliance and frailty in equal measure. Bengoetxea pulled out of the bag some particularly extraordinary moves, but it was to no avail as the Aspe pair revelled in the relief of direct progression.

Matters initially looked rosy for Bengoetxea and Beloki, who raced into a 14-6 lead with determination and dominance. Even when the Aspe pair closed to 14-10, they looked outclassed by their opponents, but that is to reckon without the power of Irujo who is nothing if not a fighter. The Asegarce lead gradually closed until Irujo and Goni had squared the match at 19-19, to the thunderous delight of the Pamplona public who clearly relished the fight. Irujo broke the deadlock with a perfectly timed and placed hook to put his partnership ahead for the first time in the game. He then took control with his serve and the comeback was complete.

Irujo and Goni can now sleep easy; they are through and can recharge their batteries for the dramas ahead. Bengoetxea and Beloki must sit at home and wait. They will surely be glued to their television sets tonight, for if Xala and Zubieta beat Olaizola I and Patxi Ruiz, they too will be through. If the bottom pair can pull of an upset, their tournament is over.

Irujo and Goni march on

Irujo and Goni march on

Image from: http://www.diariovasco.com/prensa/noticias/200901/18/fotos/2423911.jpg

Source: El Correo Digital

Mano pairs: Barriola injured, to be replaced by Eulate

Abel Barriola will be forced to watch tomorrow’s vital match at Astelena. The defender from Leitza has failed to recover from a hand injury sustained in last week’s match. He will be replaced by 29 year old fellow Navarran Pedro Martinez de Eulate Maestresalas for the game against defending champions Olaizola II and Mendizabal II. The winner will qualify for the semi-finals while the loser must wait on Monday’s final game to learn their fate.

Eulate (left) is a former pairs winner

Eulate (left) is a former pairs winner

Image from: http://manista.blogs.com/bitacora/images/2007/03/26/xal_eulate_beloki20070325.jpg

Mano pairs: Berasaluze and Begino in semi-finals as Titin and Pascual crash out

Friday 20th February
Covaleda
BERASALUZE VIII – BEGINO beat TITIN III – PASCUAL 22-21

Covaleda’s Municipal fronton appeared more like a bullring than an arena for pelota on Friday night. Mano fans everywhere have awaited this final weekend of the quarter finals in feverish excitement; winning, which was previously highly desirable, has become crucial. In Friday’s encounter, the mathematics told us that Titin and Pascual would leave the competition if they lost. Berasaluze and Begino would proceed to the semi finals if they won and would have to wait and pray if they were defeated. Judging by the expression on his face as he entered the fronton, Titin wished to cast himself as the matador, but Berasaluze refused to play bull.

The tension of the four pelotaris was palpable, and little wonder. Errors were many, but that did not detract from a match in which emotions ran sky high and finger nails were destroyed. The pairs remained in fierce deadlock for the first sixteen points with neither building a lead of more than one. Latent tension simmered over after the fifth point when Titin appealed vociferously to the referee, claiming obstruction, before turning his anger to advantage in the next point which finished with Berasaluze sprawled in the midst of the crowd. Tension also seemed to bring confusion for the Aspe pair who both went for the same ball from Berasaluze which was, thankfully for them, a fraction wide. Titin was not the only one to let his emotions get the better of him; Berasaluze yelled like an angry lion when he hit high for no apparent reason and seemed to curse both himself and the world when he committed a falta on serve. Surely something had to give.

With the score at 8-8, Titin found a way to end the stalemate in the form of an unreachable crosscourt flick. Two errors from the Asegarce pair then handed Titin and Pascual a 12-8 lead in quicktime. Begino in particular looked uncertain and insecure, having repeatedly hit either short or wide, and a firm talking to from his botillero made little difference as he missed from the back again to send the Aspe lead to 13-8. Pascual, in contrast to his defensive opponent, had begun to hit his stride and one felt that he and Titin might now pull away, but Berasaluze would have none of it. What the forward from Berriz lacks in size he makes up for in tenacity and despite the brooding presence of the great Titin, nothing would stand between Pablito and his prize. Over the remaining course of the match he ran and hit with abandon, mixing perfectly judged hook winners with heroic efforts in defence as Titin, at times, struggled to match his vivacity.

But the Aspe pair hung on, all bared teeth and straining muscle, to level the score once again at 19-19. The errors continued as Begino, Berasaluze and Pascual hit low in turn. With the score at 20-20, Berasaluze barely failed to return a Titin drop and lay prostrate in desperate shock. With victory only inches away, Titin served to the chanting of his name but once again, Berasaluze levelled the match with a courageous overarm down the wall. And so, one point would decide the fortunes of these four warriors. One sensed nerves of steel would win the day and so it proved; the pocket battleship from Berriz served for glory, crossing himself and looking to the heavens, and then played a drop shot with the nonchalance more usually seen in a summer afternoon game against the church wall. Titin dived, slid and swiped but his effort was in vain. Without a word to anyone, he stood up and marched to the changing rooms, his face pure thunder. The victors were swamped by the jubilant masses as the Riojan flags hung as limp and still as the faces of those who had believed they would wave them in triumph. Berasaluze and Begino go through; Titin and Pascual will be back next year.

Scoring sequence (Titin and Pascual first): 0-1, 1-1, 1-2, 2-2, 2-3, 3-3, 4-3, 4-4, 4-5, 5-5, 6-5, 6-6, 7-6, 8-6, 8-7, 8-8, 9-8, 13-8, 13-9, 13-12, 16-12, 16-14, 17-14, 17-17, 17-18, 17-19, 18-19, 19-19, 20-19, 20-20, 21-20, 21-21 and 21-22

High octane triumph for Pablo Berasaluze

High octane triumph for Pablo Berasaluze

Image from: http://www.diariovasco.com/prensa/noticias/200902/01/fotos/2534090.jpg