FCBARCELONA.CAT

09.05.2010 22:42

Second European Cup win

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Regal Barca have lifted their second Euroleague title and what’s more they did it in Paris, the site of their defeats in `91 and ’96 and of course the city where FC Barcelona won their second Champions League title

The win over Olympiacos means the second Euroleague title for the club’s basketball section, the second for Navarro and the first for Ricky and Xavi Pascual. A few days ago, the squads were explaining what they were doing the last time the club won the title and now they can explain what it felt like to lift the trophy.

Near perfect season

Regal FC Barcelona are in the midst of a near perfect season, with the Euroleague title to be added to the Liga Catalana, won by beating DKV Joventut (62-38) and the ACB Supercup win over Real Madrid (86-82),which were both taken at the start of the season, as well as their 21st Spanish Cup won last February by again beating Madrid in the final.

Regal Barca also lead the regular phase of the ACB and will go into the play offs with home advantage as they attempt to retain the title they won last season.

Pascual’s success

Since his arrival as coach, Xavi Pascual has enjoyed great success at the club. In addition to the four titles won so far this season, Pascual also guided the team to last year’s ACB League win with a brilliant performance against a powerful TAU team coached by his predecessor at the Palau, Dusko Ivanovic.

It’s not just the titles that have made Xavi Pascual such a firm favourite with the Barca fans though, it’s also his commitment to open, attractive play that has also won him the admiration of the whole basketball world.

Two European Cups in Paris

Paris is proving to be a lucky city for the club in recent years, with tonight’s basketball success following the 2-1 win against Arsenal in the 2006 Champions League final for Rijkaard’s football team to bring home the club’s second European Cup.

Tonight’s win goes some way to make up for the misery of defeats in Paris in the 1991 Final Four to Pop 84 and again in the 1996 edition when Vrankovic’s illegal block gave Panathinaikos their controversial victory.