<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>VITORIA (Copa del Rey) - DKV Joventut claimed the first major honor in Spain this season by capturing the Copa del Rey after a terrific weekend by their national team star Rudy Fernandez. Rudy capped a magnificent weekend on Sunday by scoring 32 points to lead DKV to an 82-80 victory over hosts Tau Ceramica. He was named MVP of the event, just as he was in 2004 when DKV made a surprising run to the final before falling to Tau. Plaudits are coming in from everywhere, including Neven Spahija, the Tau coach who marveled at Rudy's display on Sunday. "I want to congratulate DKV Joventut and their coach Aito (Garcia)," he said. "They have done a great job. "And of course, Rudy Fernandez, who is not only the future of Spanish basketball but of world basketball. As a coach, it's a pleasure to watch him play." Rudy, who is 22, poured in 20 points and five assists in DKV's 84-59 triumph over Pamesa Valencia in the quarter-finals, and he had nine assists to go with his 13 points in an 81-76 victory over Real Madrid. He saved his best for last, however, against Tau Ceramica. "I don't think I've ever won at Tau, so it has been a great first time," Rudy said. "The Tau fans are some of the best supporters in the ACB." What does this all mean? The game has been buzzing for several years now in Spain, and it doesn't appear to have peaked with the country's gold-medal triumph at the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan. Rudy's performance has fuelled speculation that he will leave for the NBA after this season. Spain national team stars Pau Gasol, Jose Calderon, Jorge Garbajosa, Juan Carlo Navarro and Sergio Rodriguez are already across the pond making headlines with their respective clubs. Rudy was a first-round draft pick last year by the Phoenix Suns, who traded his draft rights to the Portland Trail Blazers where his good friend Rodriguez plays. "At this time, I am under contract with DKV Joventut and I am only thinking about that," said Rudy, repeating an answer that he has given numerous times since declaring for the NBA draft last year. " There are always rumors of whether I will be in the NBA. "Right now, I wear this jersey, I have won the Cup and I still have two more tournaments." Indeed, DKV, who won the EuroCup two years ago after an MVP performance by Rudy, are challenging for honors in the ACB and the ULEB Cup. Aito Garcia has been a significant figure in the development of Rudy. He is a coach who, perhaps more than winning, has a reputation for putting youngsters on the path to greatness, with the next great Spanish player - 17-year-old Ricky Rubio - also under his tutelage. The results speak for themselves. Rudy won FIBA Europe's Young Player of the Year for 2006, and Rubio was last week bestowed the honor for 2007. Rubio had nine points and four assists in the win over Tau. Garcia said: "To have won against Tau on their court makes me proud, even more when you play a beautiful and spectacular basketball as we did. That makes me extremely happy."</div> http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/news/late...23436/arti.html I can't wait to see this kid come to the NBA! Imagine, him and Sergio workin' together on the court. That'd be nuts!
Wow, they beat some damn good teams right there. I've seen Fernandez play several times and I'm pretty impressed. When he heats up, he can't miss.
