ValNet is an association of Valencian pilota professional players. [1]
In 2005 the retired pilotaris Alfred Hernando (Fredi), Daniel Ribera (Ribera II) and the trinquet owner Emili Peris, joined to create a brand new company that professionalized this old sport's environment: Assured minimal fees for the players, physical preparation, a number of weekly matches for everyone, levelled competitions and challenging exhibitions for bettings. This all has cleaned up and revitalized Valencian pilota world but has also carried some criticism because of alleged favours to certain players and trinquets.
Valencian pilota is a traditional handball sport played in the Valencian Community. Its origins are not known.
Valencian trinquet, or simply trinquet, is the court used in the Valencian Community for two different modalities of Valencian pilota: the Escala i corda and the Raspall.
Escala i corda is the most prestigious variant of Valencian pilota, and the only one apart from raspall to have professional players.
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. It is one of only two variants that have professional players—the other being Escala i corda.
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.
Francisco "Paco" Cabanes Pastor was a Spanish 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 all time, along with El Nel de Murla, Xiquet de Quart, Juliet d'Alginet and Rovellet, and he deserved to be in the Honor Gallery of the Pelayo trinquet. He's also been a member of the Valencian Pilota Squad.
José María Sarasol Soler, Sarasol II, is a Valencian pilota professional player. His brother Enric was Sarasol I. He has been member of the Valencian Pilota Squad for 11 years and has deserved to be awarded as the Best Player at the Argentina'02 Handball International Championships.
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. Now he is one of the stars of the ValNet company.
Jaume Morales Moltó, sporting nickname Tato, is a Valencian pilota professional player in the ValNet company team. He plays as mitger (midfield) of the Escala i corda variant with a unique and unorthodox style due to his early experiences as a player, playing the Llargues variant in the streets. He is a member of the Valencian Pilota Squad.
Enric Sarasol Soler, known as Sarasol I, was a professional Valencian pilota player. He retired in 2004 and for 3 years he was the Sports General Director of the Generalitat Valenciana, until 2007.
Vicente Grau Juan is a professional Valencian pilota player known as Grau. He plays mainly Escala i corda matches and is one of the best mitgers (midfield) playing for the ValNet company, due to his fast and strong ball-strikes, he has been the first mitger who won the Trofeu Individual Bancaixa, a competition for dauers. He has been a recurrent member of the Valencian Pilota Squad, attaining many prizes, specially the "World's best player" twice.
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 is a member of the Valencian Pilota Squad.
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.
The Escala i Corda XVI Professional League 06–07 of the Circuit Bancaixa is the top-level championship of the Valencian pilota, organized by the firm ValNet, on the Escala i corda variant.
The Escala and Corda XV Professional League 05–06 of the Circuit Bancaixa was the top-level championship of the Valencian pilota, organized by the firm ValNet, on the escala i corda variant.
The Escala and Corda XIV Professional League 04-05 of the Circuit Bancaixa is the top-level championship of the Valencian pilota, organized by the firm ValNet, on the Escala i corda variant.
Pasqual Sanchis Moscardó was a Valencian pilota professional player known as Pigat II. Son of the Raspall player Pigat I and brother of Pigat III, Pasqual has been a renowned "dauer" in the Escala i corda variety. He retired in 2000, but he keeps working for the Valencian Pilota Federation as the coach of the Valencian Pilota Squad, where he was a relevant player in the International Championships. Pigat II is also a technical assistant of the pilota company ValNet, and a "trinqueter" of some trinquets.
The Valencian Pilota Federation is the Valencian public organization that promotes and manages the many varieties and competitions of the Valencian pilota sport. Its current president is Ramón Sedeño Clemente.
The Escala i Corda XVII Professional League 07-08 of the Circuit Bancaixa is the top-level championship of the Escala i corda, a modality of Valencian pilota, organized by the firm ValNet. During the very first days the Valencian Pilota Federation disagreed with the way it was organized and gave no "official" title to this season, but finally ValNet and the FPV reached an agreement.