2001-02

Second season wearing orange and second season at the helm of Luis Casimiro's team, a season in which some changes are bet on block and in which a great effort is made to win a title, Lyon was close to becoming a place to remember for the Valencian fans, who returned to touch the continental title.

Pamesa Valencia's bid to reach the elite has led to the important summer signing of José Antonio Paraiso, a forward from Madrid who had become one of the most sought-after players in the competition in Cáceres. Paraiso arrives in Valencia with the bronze medal of the Eurobasket in Turkey achieved with Gasol's new Spain. Along with him, another important addition on the outside, arrives Dante Calabria, American player with Italian descent, former student of the prestigious North Carolina. For the frontcourt, another important signing, that of Francisco Elson, the spectacular Dutch center, coming from Barça and who would help the pair of the inside game formed by Bernard Hopkins and Derrick Alston, together for the second year. The fourth addition of the year would be the American forward with Irish passport Brian Clifford, coming from Gran Canaria where he would play good seasons. His arrival would mean the farewell of an illustrious player like Berni Álvarez, who would leave the Valencian discipline after 6 years.

Two other players who would leave the Valencian discipline after many years would be César Alonso and Rubén Burgos. The point guard pairing was formed by Nacho Rodilla as starting point guard and Jordi Millera as relief. On the outside, Víctor Luengo and José Luis Maluenda would continue in the shooting guard/forward positions. Thinking about the future, the club signed the Argentine Federico Kammerichs, who was transferred to Ourense to stay in Spain.

Very soon, injury problems hit the squad.

José Luis Maluenda would miss the whole season, and Dante Calabria would suffer a complicated injury and would be replaced. In his place comes Casey Schmidt, an eminently shooter shooting guard who would occupy the role of substitute in the shadow of Victor Luengo.

The Copa del Rey, held in Vitoria, did not turn out as satisfactorily as other times, and the quarterfinals were the final result. Defeat against Unicaja Málaga. It would be in the Saporta Cup where the team would begin to obtain good results. So much so that, after overcoming the Polish Anwil, they managed to reach the final again, where the powerful Montepaschi Siena was waiting for them.

Before this happened, a big name signing joined the team, Alessandro Abbio, captain of the best Kinder of Bologna, who arrived in Valencia with the illusion of having a good season. Unfortunately, Abbio did not arrive in time to be registered in the Saporta.

The French city of Lyon witnessed the final, in which Pamesa Valencia tried to stand up to a team with stars like Stefanov, Chiacig or Naumoski. Despite playing a good game, led by Nacho Rodilla, the Italians took the trophy, leaving the Valencians, for the second time, at the gates of the title.

In the ACB League, the quarterfinal pairing pitted Pamesa Valencia against TAU Cerámica, debuting the new 1-1-1-1-1-1 format. After the first defeat in Vitoria, Pamesa responded by winning at home in a thrilling final. But that TAU then showed why it would become league champion, and Nocioni, Oberto and Tomasevic won first in Vitoria and then in Valencia, advancing to the semifinals.