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23.06.2010 11:26
Pascual, the best in Europe
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The Euroleague has named Xavi Pascual best coach of the 2009/10 season. The Regal Barça coach was chosen ahead of the other 23 men at the helm of the clubs that played in this year’s competition.
The title won in Paris was the main reason, but also the way the club posted a near perfect record en route to the Final Four. The team has played some remarkable hoops all season long, and it is thus perfectly fitting for the Alexander Gomelskiy Trophy to be given to Xavi Pascual, the youngest coach, aged 37, ever to do so. He follows on from Serbia’s Dusko Vujosevic, coach of Partizan Belgrade.
Just two defeats
Pascual
himself has often said that it has been an honour to manage such fantastic players. But his
leadership qualities, his ability to manage people and the way he deals with psychological aspects
have enable him to leave his own personal mark on the side. It has been his innate winning
mentality and astute decision-making that have allowed this team to gel into the champions they
are.
This has been an incredible year. They were only beaten twice, once on the road to the always difficult Partizan (67-66) and also at the Palau, in the quarter final play-off series against Real Madrid (63-70).
Impeccable in Paris
Regal Barça once again delighted in the French capital. They first downed their nemesis in previous editions of the Final Four (in Berlin and Prague), CSKA Moscow ( 64-54 ), and in the grand final they won by 18 points against one of the ever huge favorites to collect the title, Olympiacos ( 86-68 ).
Looking to integrate
Pascual has set a tremendous example in his two and a half years in charge at FCB. His 'savoir
faire' has been phenomenal. A great example of this was the celebration of the Euroleague in the
Palau. One of the 13 members of the roster, Lubos Barton, had had a particularly difficult season.
His Achilles injury had seen him sidelined for over nine months and had only recently gradually
clawed his way back into the side.
Barton, in his speech, congratulated his colleagues and Pascual then took the mike from him to thank the Czech star for his attitude and for showing such commitment to his colleagues during such a long period of inactivity. It was such a willingness to make sacrifices that had, he said, turned this team into champions.
Barton, in his speech, congratulated his colleagues and Pascual then took the mike from him to thank the Czech star for his attitude and for showing such commitment to his colleagues during such a long period of inactivity. It was such a willingness to make sacrifices that had, he said, turned this team into champions.
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