The same weekend that Pep Guardiola renewed his outstanding debt with the Champions League (beyond Barça), Pau Gasol also could not claim his debt with the Euroleague. In 2001, the year of his sudden global appearance, an inopportune appendicitis caused Gasol to miss the play-off of quarterfinals against Benetton of Treviso, that defeated the Barça. Pau had grown exponentially that season, being the MVP of the Copa de Málaga and then excelling in the ACB final against Real Madrid. Europe was too small for him and that Euroleague had his name. It hurt the spoonful not to take advantage of his talent to win the First before he left for Memphis.
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