BARCELONA (EuroBasket) - The star of Pau Ribas has been on the rise for several years, now.

Slowly but surely, it has climbed higher and higher, from his days with Joventut Badalona and then Laboral Kutxa to Valencia Basket.

Ribas is still on the way up, as he showed in his first meaningful games with his new club, Barcelona.

The 28-year-old was named the MVP of the Orange Supercopa Endesa after leading Barca to glory.

Ribas played in the 88-60 win over Herbalife Gran Canaria and then in the title-clinching 80-62 triumph over Unicaja Malaga.

In that second victory, he had a game-high 15 points.

The crowning achievement for Ribas, he would probably say, has been to make Spain's national team this summer and help it finish top of the podium at the EuroBasket.

Ribas not only had a place on the roster, but an important role in a team that was crying out for help with so many other important players from years gone by not in the side.

There was no Juan Carlos Navarro, no Marc Gasol, no Ricky Rubio, no Jose Calderon and no Serge Ibaka.

But there was Pau Ribas.

He was a steadying influence on a squad that overcame some early difficulties to win the title and qualify for the Olympics.

With no Navarro, Spain needed a reliable threat from outside.

Ribas was just that, hitting 53.8 percent (14 of 26) of his three-pointers.

He lived one of the greatest experiences of his life, helping Spain capture the country's third EuroBasket title since 2009.

Fame has finally arrived for a low key, humble player.

Ribas, though, is taking it all in his stride.

"It is true that now more people know me but I'm still the same player, no better or worse than before," he said.

Ribas will be hoping for more big moments this season with Barcelona, and also keeping his fingers crossed that he'll be on the plane to Brazil when Spain compete at next year's Olympics.

FIBA