by:
Javi Gancedo, Euroleague.net
May 25, 2010
|
By leading Regal FC Barcelona to the club's second Euroleague crown, Xavi Pascual became the youngest coach to win the continental title in almost two decades. In just his second full season on the Barcelona bench, the 37-year-old Pascual had already won everything in Spain, lifting the Supercup, King's Cup and Spanish League trophies. He had also been to the 2009 Final Four, but like many Barcelona teams in the past, could not grab the trophy. Paris changed all that, giving Barcelona its second Euroleague crown and Pascual his first. Hard-working and focused, Pascual is a players' coach who has a knack for keeping everyone involved and dedicated to the same goal - winning basketball games. Pascual knows this Euroleague title could mark a new start for Barcelona as a dominant team in European basketball. He is proud of his group of players and what they have created together - with an emphasis on the togetherness. "We are a team that no matter if it is on defense or offense, when we think something can work, we are brave and take a step forward," Pascual told Euroleague.net. "No matter if it is rotations, tactical decisions or whatever, we are willing to take risks, and that turns us into a modern team."
more
|
by:
Javi Gancedo, Euroleague.net
May 19, 2010
The title of Euroleague champion was a long time coming for one Regal FC Barcelona player in particular. Gianluca Basile had already played as many games any Euroleague player this decade. And in the last minute of the 199th one, he was not taking any chances. Although Barcelona was leading by 11 points against Olympiacos in the title game, Basile made doubly sure of victory by hitting an open three-pointer and assisting on another to account for the last six points for the new champions. With that, Basile not only got his hands on the first Euroleague trophy of his career, but at 35, was the oldest player to score points in a Euroleague final since 2002. "With five minutes left, I was on the bench, feeling great emotions. I had tears in my eyes," Basile told Euroleague.net. "Then, when I had the trophy in my hands, it was something unbelievable."
more
|
by:
Javi Gancedo, Euroleague.net
May 14, 2010
|
All season long, at either end of the court, Fran Vazquez was the emphatic punctuation to Regal FC Barcelona's well-constructed team basketball. Vazquez finished Barcelona's defense with blocked shots and its offense with spectacular dunks, usually by spiking alley-oop passes. By the end of the playoffs, he was already the Euroleague's leader in total blocks for the decade - and the Final Four was no different. In the semifinals victory over CSKA, he led the winners with 11 points, including 5 key ones as Barcelona pulled away down the stretch. In the final, his 4 blocks were the most in a European title game since 1994 and tied for second-most in Final Four history dating to 1988. More remarkable, all his blocks against Olympiacos came in just 4 minutes after he entered the title game in the first quarter, putting Barcelona in charge until he could lift the trophy for the first time in his seven-season Euroleague career! "I have been in seventh heaven in the last few days," Vazquez told Euroleague.net on Thursday. " I still don't believe it!"
more
|
by:
Euroleague.net
April 29, 2010
|
One of the most recognizable players on any Euroleague court is Olympiacos big man Sofoklis Schortsanitis, whose wide body and dancing feet make him a marvel to watch playing. In his fifth Euroleague season at age 24, Schortsanitis this season has taken on a major role with the Reds, starting in 16 out of 17 games in the Euroleague, more than at any time before in his career. He has responded with some of the best per-minute numbers in the entire Euroleague in terms of scoring, rebounding and drawing fouls, any or all of which could be crucial for Olympiacos at the 2010 Final Four in Paris. In the semifinals there, Schortsanitis will be tested by two Partizan centers with different styles, All-Euroleague nominee Aleks Maric, a banger, and Slavko Vranes, at 2.29-meters the tallest player ever in a Final Four. Last season, Schortsanitis came wit the Reds to the Final Four, but didn't see any playing time, so now he can't wait to make the most of a new opportunity. ""It's a great thing to be going to the Final Four again and I'm really excited. This time I want to be able to help the team, so I am practicing hard to be in the best condition I can be when we get to Paris."
more
|