Career: “U” Cluj (Romania-D1, 1998-2000), Livas Targoviste (Romania-D1, 2000-02), Acer Priolo (Italy-A1, 2002-07)
"Flori Pascalau is representing not only the present but also the future of the Priolo organisation,“ states the official website of her club team, Acer Troglyos Priolo. The same words can also be used when you are talking about the present and future of the National Team. Pascalau led the team through the qualifying round, averaging a double-double and playing an important role on defense. The 25-year-old has become the star player for Romania after making her first National Team appearance in 2001.
Florina, has excelled at every level and at the 2000 U20 European Championship in Slovakia, she led Romania to a bronze medal. During that competition, Pascalau averaged 12.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in leading a golden generation of Romanian women’s players that includes Cristina Ciocan, Simina Andra Mandache, Ancuta Stoenescu and Laura Nacu, who could all be on the roster for EuroBasket 2007.
Though Pascalau is recognized as one of the most skilled centers in Europe, she still has a lot of room for improvement and can become a dominant player in the next few years if she stays healthy. She was named Center of the Year in the Italian A1 in 2006 and this year had a great season for Priolo in the EuroCup, averaging 18.5 points and 8.5 rebounds with an amazing free throw percentage for a player her size of 93.1% (third among all EuroCup Women players).
Pascalau missed EuroBasket Women 2005 as she had to remain in Italy to sort out contract issues with her club. Too bad for Romania, because during the qualifying round, her presence helped Romania win five games out of six to qualify to the final round. But this time, in Italy, she will be there, and her evolution gives Romania hopes.
Pascalau was named Romanian Basketball Female Player of the Year by the Romanian Federation in 2006.
