BARCELONA (ACB) - Winterthur Barcelona's Juan Carlos Navarro will travel to the FIBA World Championship supremely confident after being named by the league's coaches as the most valuable player in the ACB for the 2005-06 regular season.
Navarro, who collected five votes and edged out fellow Spaniard Jorge Garbajosa and Luis Scola of Argentina - they each collected four - was already on a high after making the all-tournament at the EuroBasket last year and the All-Euroleague team this season.
"I am very fortunate," Navarro said, "not only to be included in the ideal five team that was already important but to be named MVP is really great, especially considering that never had this award been given to a national player.
"This is important for Spanish basketball and I hope I am the first of many."
Navarro says the outlook is bright for Spain.
"There are many good youngsters like Carlos Suarez, Sergio Rodriguez and Rudy Fernandez, who have done a great job this season," he said. "But I think it's a big prize considering that coaches, who know about the game, have selected me. It's all the more gratifying."
"I think I have taken a big leap forward in my career with respect to last season. I am very happy with the way I'm playing. Last season we had a difficult year at Barcelona and we didn't win anything. We hope to win something this season."
Navarro had hoped to win the Euroleague title in Prague but after reaching the Final Four, Barca blew a 13-point lead to CSKA Moscow in their semi-final and then lost to Tau Ceramica in the third place game.
Despite not winning a title yet under new coach Dusko Ivanovic, Navarro says he has learned a lot.
"It's always good that a coach demands a lot from you and that they believe in you," Navarro said.
Navarro will now be involved in the ACB play-offs, with Barcelona drawn against Real Madrid in the first round.
Then he will turn his attention to the FIBA World Championship in Japan.
"The national team has done a good job and with Pau (Gasol) with us, we will be looking to take another step forward," he said.
"I think we are one of the powers of the tournament and I believe we can go all the way."
By PA Sport, Exclusively for FIBA