Paco Cabanes Pastor
Encyclopedia
Paco Cabanes Pastor is a retired professional Valencian pilota
player known by his town's name, Genovés I, and who has begun a pilotaris saga with his son, Genovés II
. He's been regarded as one of the best players of the history, alongside with El Nel de Murla
, Juliet d'Alginet
and Rovellet
, and he deserved to be in the Honor Gallery of the Pelayo trinquet
. He's been also member of the Valencian Pilota Squad
.
As is used in his town, he began playing Raspall
, but when he was 17 he turned to Escala i corda
, variant which he ruled for 20 years. His arrival meant the end of Rovellet
's era, and his retirement meant the beginning of Álvaro
; things got complicated for great players such as Eusebio or Fredi
, who had few chances to win relevant championships.
He made his debut as a dauer on 1974 at the Campionat Nacional d'Escala i Corda, and the very next year he was the winner. His superiority was so clear for everybody that organizers had to force him to play per baix (down), that is, he could only hit the ball when it had already bounced on the ground or on the walls, but never on the air. Even with his handicap he won three more seasons. Later, for two years, he was forced to play as a mitger (a position he was unfamiliar), but he won again.
The quality difference was so great that, in order to make betting more interesting, he had to play with his brother Pepe (who was not gifted at all) or, even, had to strike the ball only with one hand.
Genovés I retired as a professional pilotari after winning the 1995 Trofeu Individual Bancaixa
final match against Álvaro
, who was 20 years younger, and finally overcame 60-55.
Handball International Championships
Valencian pilota
Valencian pilota is a traditional handball sport played in the Valencian Community. Its origins are not known, but seems to be related to the French Jeu de paume....
player known by his town's name, Genovés I, and who has begun a pilotaris saga with his son, Genovés II
José Cabanes
José Cabanes is a professional Valencian pilota player, known as Genovés II because his father is Genovés I. He plays for the ValNet company as a dauer on Escala i corda matches, but he can be also seen in exhibition matches of Llargues, Galotxa, or Frontó...
. He's been regarded as one of the best players of the history, alongside with El Nel de Murla
José Vicente Riera Calatayud
José Vicente Riera Calatayud , el Nel de Murla, is regarded to be the first Valencian pilota genius.He was 23 and got announced as the main player at the Pelayo and Juan de Mena trinquets, in Valencia...
, Juliet d'Alginet
Julio Palau Lozano
Julio Palau Lozano was a reputed professional Valencian pilota Escala i corda variant player known as Juliet d'Alginet. He is one of only five players in the Pelayo trinquet's Honor gallery. His career began when he was only 15...
and Rovellet
Antonio Reig
Antoni Reig Ventura , known as Rovellet because his father was Rovell from Dénia, was a professional Escala i corda Valencian pilota variant player...
, and he deserved to be in the Honor Gallery of the Pelayo trinquet
Pelayo trinquet
The Pelayo trinquet is one of the most renowned trinquets courts of the Valencian pilota sport in Valencia. The most important Escala i corda competitions, such as the Circuit Bancaixa, have their final matches played there.- History :...
. He's been also member of the Valencian Pilota Squad
Valencian Pilota Squad
The Valencian Pilota Squad are the Valencian pilota professional or amateur players chosen to take part in the Handball International Championships representing Spain, even though all of them are Valencians and they use the Valencian flag, ....
.
As is used in his town, he began playing Raspall
Raspall
Raspall is a variant of the handball game, Valencian pilota, played mainly in the Valencian regions south to the Xúquer river: the Vall d'Albaida, the Safor, the Costera, the Marina Alta and the Marina Baixa. It is also popular in the Ribera Baixa...
, but when he was 17 he turned to Escala i corda
Escala i corda
Escala i corda is the most prestigious variant of Valencian pilota, and the only one, with Raspall, that have professional players.- History :...
, variant which he ruled for 20 years. His arrival meant the end of Rovellet
Antonio Reig
Antoni Reig Ventura , known as Rovellet because his father was Rovell from Dénia, was a professional Escala i corda Valencian pilota variant player...
's era, and his retirement meant the beginning of Álvaro
Álvaro Navarro Serra
Álvaro Navarro Serra , simply known as Álvaro, is one of the main Valencian pilota professional players. He is one of the most reputed dauers due to his strong left hand and his professionality, and has got to be a member of the Valencian Pilota Squad...
; things got complicated for great players such as Eusebio or Fredi
Alfred Hernando
Alfred Hernando Hueso , known as Fredi, is a retired Valencian pilota professional player working now as a pilota businessman. He was a member of the Valencian Pilota Squad....
, who had few chances to win relevant championships.
He made his debut as a dauer on 1974 at the Campionat Nacional d'Escala i Corda, and the very next year he was the winner. His superiority was so clear for everybody that organizers had to force him to play per baix (down), that is, he could only hit the ball when it had already bounced on the ground or on the walls, but never on the air. Even with his handicap he won three more seasons. Later, for two years, he was forced to play as a mitger (a position he was unfamiliar), but he won again.
The quality difference was so great that, in order to make betting more interesting, he had to play with his brother Pepe (who was not gifted at all) or, even, had to strike the ball only with one hand.
Genovés I retired as a professional pilotari after winning the 1995 Trofeu Individual Bancaixa
Trofeu Individual Bancaixa
The Trofeu Individual Bancaixa "Bancaixa one-on-one trophy") is the Escala i corda singles league played by Valencian pilota professionals and promoted by the Bancaixa bank.- Statistics :- Relevant facts about the Trofeu Individual Bancaixa :...
final match against Álvaro
Álvaro Navarro Serra
Álvaro Navarro Serra , simply known as Álvaro, is one of the main Valencian pilota professional players. He is one of the most reputed dauers due to his strong left hand and his professionality, and has got to be a member of the Valencian Pilota Squad...
, who was 20 years younger, and finally overcame 60-55.
Trophies
- Winner of the Campionat Nacional d'Escala i Corda 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1984 and 1989
- Runner-up of the Campionat Nacional d'Escala i Corda 1977, 1980, 1985, 1986 and 1988
- Winner of the Trofeu Individual BancaixaTrofeu Individual BancaixaThe Trofeu Individual Bancaixa "Bancaixa one-on-one trophy") is the Escala i corda singles league played by Valencian pilota professionals and promoted by the Bancaixa bank.- Statistics :- Relevant facts about the Trofeu Individual Bancaixa :...
1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1995 - Runner-up of the Trofeu Individual Bancaixa 1992, 1993 and 1994
Handball International Championships
Handball International Championships
The Handball International Championships are yearly held competitions where many countries and regions play the handball sports derived from the Jeu de paume....
- Winner of the 5 Nations Championship ValènciaValencia-In Spain:* Valencia , Spain, capital of the Valencia Autonomous Community* Valencian Community, an autonomous community of Spain**Valencian people, an ethnic group or nationality whose homeland is the Valencian Community...
1993 - Runner-up of the EuropeanChampionship ValenciennesValenciennesValenciennes is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.It lies on the Scheldt river. Although the city and region had seen a steady decline between 1975 and 1990, it has since rebounded...
(FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) 1994 - Winner of the World Llargues Championship València 1996