ESP - Power Electronics Valencia unveil Pesic

VALENCIA (ACB) - Power Electronics Valencia unveiled Svetislav Pesic as their new coach on Friday afternoon.

The man that led Yugoslavia to the gold medal at the 2002 FIBA World Championship and Barcelona to a Copa del Rey, Euroleague and ACB treble the following year, spoke about the challenges the club faces as it attempts to overcome a 1-6 start in the ACB.

"We will try to improve our situation," he said.

"We don't have a good one at the moment, but we have another thing that is good.

"The team has talent, quality - but if you don't win games, you lose confidence and you lose self belief.

"In sport at the elite level, people always expect you to win."

Valencia, who had high hopes entering the season after winning last season's Eurocup under former coach Neven Spahija, decided last week to part with his successor Manuel Hussein following their Euroleague setback at home against Armani Jeans Milano.

Pesic stressed the need for Valencia's players and fans to look forward and not back.

"The past doesn't exist," he said, "only the present and the future.

"We don't have a lot of time, but we'll try to improve our situation and certain details through our play and our individual efforts of each player.

"We will need a lot of concentration in order to improve."

On Sunday, Valencia will host CAI Zaragoza at La Fonteta.

Next week in the Euroleague, Valencia travel to Greece to take on Panathinaikos.

Valencia are off to a 1-4 start in Group D.

Among the many other achievements in Pesic's career, he has led Germany and Yugoslavia to European titles in 1993 and 2001, respectively, and also steered Akasvayu Girona to the 2007 EuroCup crown.




FIBA