Team Focus: Pamesa Valencia
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2007-2008 Games
Regular Season
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vs D. Bank Skyliners
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Nov. 06
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at SLUC Nancy
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Nov. 13
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vs Anwil
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Nov. 20
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vs Azovmash Mariupol
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Nov. 27
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at Khimki
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Dec. 05
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at D. Bank Skyliners
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Dec. 11
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vs SLUC Nancy
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Dec. 18
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at Anwil
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Jan. 08
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at Azovmash Mariupol
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Jan. 15
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vs Khimki
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Jan. 22
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The original ULEB Cup champs from Pamesa Valencia return to the competition this season with a cast of stars looking to bring back the glory to their club. Although Pamesa was only midly active in the off-season player market, the trio of stars brought in – Zeljko Rebraca, Fred House and Shammond Williams – is enough to turn any team into a contender, especially considering that Ruben Douglas, Vule Avdalovic and Dejan Milojevic were already there. Williams arrives to Valencia with an impressive pedigree both as a scorer and a playmaker. He'll team up in the backcourt with super scorer Douglas, the MVP of the 2005 ULEB Cup Final. Avdalovic is a combo-guard who can mesh with both due to his court vision and outside shooting. House, a ULEB Cup winner in 2006, is a high-flying swingman who uses his athleticism to generate points and to stop the other team on defense. Forward Mindaugas Timinskas is a complete player, which translates into scoring, rebounding and defense. Milojevic is a powerful post player who can muscle his way to the basket, pass out of double teams and make an impact with his rebounding and shot-blocking skills on defenses. Teenage prospect Victor Claver is an athletic specimen, whose size and jumping ability could earn him more minutes this season. Albert Miralles is a tough big man with a soft shooting-touch. Rebraca returns to Europe after six seasons overseas eager to show he is still one of the best centers on the continent. Coach Fotis Katsikaris gladly welcomes the challenge of putting this cast of talents together, knowing that anything less than a spot in the Final Eight will not be accepted by fans in Valencia.
2006-07 | SPAIN | | Season | (19-15) | | Playoffs | Quarters |
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 The rise of basketball in Valencia hit one of its first peaks in 2003 when Pamesa Valencia became the first ULEB Cup champion. It was quite a feat for a club founded rather recently, in 1986. Pamesa only reached the ACB league in 1988, and after several years between the 9th and 16th spots, was relegated in the 1994-95 season to the second division. But after one year there, Pamesa returned strongly and quickly settled among the top ACB teams. In the 1997-98 season, the team claimed its first success, the Spanish King's Cup title, with homegrown talents such as Nacho Rodilla and Victor Luengo backing team star Aaron Swinson to make Pamesa beat Joventut in epic fashion. Soon, Pamesa became a regular in the domestic playoffs, though for four years, it could not break into the semifinals. In Europe, Pamesa reached the Saporta Cup final twice, losing in 1999 to Benetton and in 2002 to Montepaschi. But if Pamesa knocked on the door to success before, in 2002-03 it knocked it down by signing Fabricio Oberto, Dejan Tomasevic or Ale Montecchia. First came the ULEB Cup title, as Tomasevic claimed MVP honors while Pamesa swept Krka Novo Mesto in the finals. Pamesa also roared through the playoffs all the way to the finals. Though it was unable to stop Euroleague champ Barcelona for the Spanish League title, Pamesa's season ended with everyone knowing that a new basketball capital has been founded in Valencia. Momentum and excitement marked the 2003-04 season, as Pamesa made it to the Euroleague Top 16 and was one win short of reaching the Final Four. The club returned to the ULEB Cup in 2004-05 and reached the semifinals, but its brilliant season came to an end against Lietuvos Rytas on points differential. A Spanish King's Cup final in 2006 and a playoff appearance in 2007 has highlighted the last couple of season, but Pamesa is back with a rock-solid structure, ready to shine again in its favourite competition.
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Euroleague.net
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