ITA/ESP - Jorge Garbajosa "Mister Europa 2006" for Superbasket

ROME (Mister Europa) - Jorge Garbajosa has been elected "Mister Europa 2006", by the panel of journalists of Italian weekly magazine "Superbasket".

The 29-year old Spanish power forward, currently a candidate for "Rookie of the year" in his first NBA season with the Toronto Raptors, won the 31th edition of prestigious award, beating out Dirk Nowitzki (German forward, Dallas Mavericks, winner in 2005), Pau Gasol (Spanish Center, Memphis Grizzlies), Tony Parker (France point guard, San Antonio Spurs) and Greek point guard and Euroleague Final Four MVP Theo Papaloukas (CSKA Moscow).

In the 2005/06 season, Garbajosa won the Spanish title with Unicaja Malaga, and was selected as Mvp of the Finals; then, the Gold Medal at World Championships in Japan, with a double-double (20 points, 10 rebounds) in the Final against Greece. The presentation will take place at the NBA All-Star Game weekend, in February 2007.

Superbasket "Mister Europa" Roll of honor

L'albo d'oro
1976 Pierluigi Marzorati (ITA)
1997 Drazen Dalipagic (YUG)
1978 Drazen Dalipagic (YUG)
1979 Vladimir Tkachenko (USSR)
1980 Dino Meneghin (ITA)
1981 Dragan Kikanovic (YUG)
1982 Dragan Kicanovic (YUG)
1983 Dino Meneghin (ITA)
1984 Juan Antonio San Epifanio (ESP)
1985 Arvidas Sabonis (USSR)
1986 Drazen Petrovic (YUG)
1987 Nikos Galis (Gre)
1988 Sarunas Marciulonis (USSR)
1989 Vlade Divac (YUG)
1990 Toni Kukoc (YUG)
1991 Toni Kukoc (YUG)
1992 Toni Kukoc (CRO)
1993 Drazen Petrovic (CRO)
1994 Aleksandar Djordjevic (YUG)
1995 Aleksandar Djordjevic (YUG)
1996 Toni Kukoc (CRO)
1997 Arvidas Sabonis (LIT)
1998 Predrag Danilovic (YUG)
1999 Andrea Meneghin (ITA)
2000 Gregor Fucka (ITA)
2001 Predrag Stojakovic (YUG)
2002 Predrag Stojakovic (YUG)
2003 Sarunas Jasikevicius (LIT)
2004 Pau Gasol (ESP)
2005 Dirk Nowitzki (GER)
2006 Jorge Garbajosa (ESP)

Stefano Valenti