The Circuit Bancaixa (Valencian pronunciation: [siɾˈkujd baŋˈkajʃa]; "Bancaixa League"), officially Liga Profesional Escala i Corda, is the professional league of Valencian pilota.
Circuit Bancaixa name is taken from its main sponsor, the Valencian Savings bank CaixaBank. During the period 1991–1992, it replaced the Campionat Nacional d'Escala i Corda, which had existed from 1952–1990. The league was initially created by the retired pilotari Alfred Hernando (aka Fredi). The league, which originally just featured the best local players, has since expanded and gained prestige. Some famous former players include Sarasol I, Pigat II, and Álvaro.
During the 2007-2008 sports season, eight teams participated for the first time, with three feridors and six replacing pilotaris. Each team was composed of two or three members from the ValNet firm. Teams had to score as many points as possible to remain in the competition (3 points for victory, and 1 point in case of loss but scoring 50 tants). The six highest scoring teams each earned a place for a second phase with the same rules. When there were only four teams left, two matches were played as the best of three matches. The winners then went on to the final, with each team composed of two or three members from the ValNet firm.
Statistics
| Season | Winner | Runner-up | Score | Trinquet | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006/07 | Núñez, Melchor and Tino | Mezquita, Sarasol II and Oñate | 60-50 | Pelayo (València) | 2nd match |
| 60-35 | Guadassuar | 1st match | |||
| 2005/06 | Mezquita, Tato and Canari | Álvaro and Pigat III | 60-40 | Pelayo (València) | 2nd match |
| 60-50 | El Zurdo (Gandia) | 1st match | |||
| 2004/05 | Meto | León and Sarasol II | 60-55 | Pelayo (València) | |
| 2003/04 | Mezquita, Tato and Tino | Sarasol I and Sarasol II | 60-45 | Pelayo (València) | |
| 2002/03 | Núñez, Fèlix and Jesús | Álvaro and Tino | 60-35 | Pelayo (València) | |
| 2001/02 | Álvaro and Tino | Cervera and Solaz | 60-30 | Pelayo (València) | |
| 2000/01 | Álvaro and Dani | León, Sarasol II and Fèlix | 60-45 | Pelayo (València) | |
| 1999/00 | Ribera II, Tino and Oñate | Álvaro, Pasqual II and Tato | 60-35 | Pelayo (València) | |
| 1998/99 | Sarasol I and Sarasol II | Pigat II, Pigat III and Sanchis | 60-50 | Pelayo (València) | |
| 1997/98 | Sarasol I and Sarasol II | Núñez, Voro and Tino | 60-20 | Pelayo (València) | |
| 1996/97 | Álvaro, Oñate and Muedra | Oltra and José María | 60-30 | Pelayo (València) | |
| 1995/96 | Pigat II, Pigat III and Serrano | Álvaro, Solaz and Joaquín | 60-55 | Pelayo (València) | |
| 1994/95 | Pigat II, Pigat III and Pepet | Oltra, Solaz and Tino | 60-45 | Pelayo (València) | |
| 1993/94 | Perele I, Perele II and Oltra | Pigat II, Xatet II de Carlet and Pepet | 60-50 | Pelayo (València) | |
| 1992/93 | Pigat II, Xatet II de Carlet and Pepet | Puchol, Sarasol II and Pasqual II | 60-55 | Pelayo (València) | |
| 1991/92 | Sarasol I and Sarasol II | Fenollosa, Edi and Tino | 60-45 | Vila-real |
Circuit Bancaixa specific rules
The Circuit Bancaixa slightly changes the Escala i corda rules in order to promote the sport and TV broadcasts.
- First scoring: The match is won by the first team to score 60 jocs. In order to make matches faster, benefit betting, and force pilotaris to give maximum effort from the very first ball, the matches begin scoring 15-15 jocs.
- Forbidden galleries: The team that throws the ball to the dau or rest galleries loses the quinze if it doesn't come back to the playing area. This way, pilotaris are forced to try to achieve more difficult plays by searching bounces or corners instead of throwing the ball to the top. This rule means an additional effort for the players, especially when playing against a trio.
- The ferida: The first fault of the joc is not scored. In the ferida, if the ball doesn't enter into the dau, it's a fault, that is, a won quinze for the team at the dau. However, if this situation happens for the first time in the current joc, it is not scored. This way, feridors may risk much more.
- The feridors: Before every match begins, the special players, known as feridors, are raffled. That is, they don't know for whom they will be playing until minutes before. In case the team is formed by 3 players, the punter (forwarder) may choose to also play as a feridor (as Tino used to do). If he doesn't want to, then he must begin every quinze under the mid-field net.
Posters
- Every season's poster features a picture of last year's winning team. So on the 2006/07 Circuit Bancaixa poster there are Mezquita, Tato (hitting the ball), and Canari in their positions, escalater, mitger, and punter.