MADRID (Spain) – Sergio Scariolo has done it all since his appointment as Spain coach in early 2009, leading the team to a World Cup triumph, four FIBA EuroBasket crowns, and three Olympic medals. More achievements could be on the way, too, with Scariolo having reached an agreement reached an agreement to lead the national team through 2028.
Scariolo recently welcomed FIBA to a viewing of his private museum at his home in Marbella and shared his thoughts on the great successes of the national team under his leadership
1 – 2009 EuroBasket Final – Spain 85 Serbia 63
“The initial difficulties made this gold, as unexpected as it was, overwhelming. We had planned for Pau and Marc Gasol to play together, but Pau broke his finger in the first practice. We had to switch to a more traditional model with Felipe Reyes and Jorge Garbajosa at power forward.
Despite a rough start in the First Round, we reached the Final with great authority and respect for an opponent that had beaten us in the first phase. We focused on stopping Milos Teodosic and Nemanja Bjelica, and won with a feeling of brutal forcefulness.“
2 – 2011 EuroBasket Final – Spain 98 France 85
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It was Juan Carlos Navarro’s EuroBasket
“There was no other championship that consistently showcased the best basketball. We didn’t enter at full strength by choice, as with every tournament, but the quality of our players allowed us to grow without complications until we faced a formidable France in the Final.
It was Juan Carlos Navarro’s EuroBasket and Serge Ibaka’s defensive explosion. We recorded 10 blocks in the Final—five from Serge and another five from Pau and Marc Gasol. It was an emotional championship, as Felipe Reyes and Víctor Claver lost their parents days before the tournament, which united us even more as a group.”
3 – 2012 Olympic Final Game – USA 107 Spain 100
Spain throw scare into USA in 2012 Olympic Final
“We arrived exhausted after a very tough Semi-Final against Russia, when it seemed like we were eliminated. They started strong, scoring everything, but our timing and ability to play in transition were unique. They had to call more timeouts in the Final than in the entire championship. In the fourth quarter, we were within one point.
A series of fouls and some blows kept us from the Gold. We were never so close. We earned their respect. It’s enough to remember the procession of players greeting Pau and the list of stars with a testimonial presence in the Final. It was a true USA Dream Team, and we had them really close.”
4 – 2015 EuroBasket Semi-Final – Spain 80 France 74 OT
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In the final minutes and in overtime, Pau destroyed Gobert
“We emerged from a backdrop of global tragedy after Spain hosted the 2014 World Cup and fell in the Quarter-Finals to France. I returned as coach primarily because of the respect and affection I have for those who asked me to. Ricky Rubio, Marc Gasol, Juan Carlos Navarro, and Rudy Fernández faced challenges; the first phase, as usual, was complicated. We faced France in a crucial game in front of 27,000 fans in Lille.
But that was the added motivation. Everything set us up for a party. Pau played a superb game, keeping us alive, but also the rest he endured during the nine minutes that he was not on the court. In the final minutes and in overtime, Pau destroyed the best NBA defender, (Rudy) Gobert. (Sergio) Llull, Felipe, Claver, Chacho (Sergio Rodriguez) … they all added up in one of the most iconic matches in history due to the circumstances and also qualifying us directly for the Olympic Games.”
5 – 2015 EuroBasket Final – Spain 80 Lithuania 63
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A very unique defensive match
“After the high of having defeated France in front of 27,000 spectators, having obtained the Olympic passport and having returned to the top spurred us on against the always difficult Lithuania.
I remember a very unique defensive match with (Nikola) Mirotic at a high level, Pau as always outstanding… but I would like to highlight Felipe and Victor Claver, who gave us a great defensive balance to return to the top.”
6 – 2016 Olympic Bronze Medal Game – Spain 89 Australia 88
Sergio Scariolo during the Bronze Medal game
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Patty Mills was from another galaxy
“We arrived after coming close to defeating the US in the Semi-Finals. Few could contend with Patty Mills’s stellar performance, he was from another galaxy and a game that saw 19 lead changes and 14 ties on the scoreboard. In the final quarter, neither team held a repeated advantage in possession.
The game revolved around Chacho’s and Pau’s pick-and-roll against Mills and David Andersen. A timely foul gave us the upper hand with free-throws from Chacho. In the last play, our defensive duo, Ricky and Claver, denied them a shot attempt, preventing them from securing the Olympic bronze medal.“
7 – 2019 World Cup Semi-Final – Spain 95 Australia 88 2OT
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Marc’s best game with the National Team
“Marc Gasol’s best game with the National Team. Llul’s overtime. Chacho’s assists. Rudy always contributing those intangibles that generate victory… We were 10-12 points behind and we neutralized Patty Mills who had been a nightmare. With some tricks we limited him until the second overtime where Llull scored a couple of triples…
6 players in double figures with Willy Hernangómez who was beginning to contribute after the launch of the FIBA Windows. Our project started in Benahavis and we showed that a different path can get us to reach the same place, success.”
8 – 2019 World Cup Final – Spain 95 Argentina 75
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Oriola was a surprise addition
“Without Jorge, Felipe, or Pau, we entered the tournament with a lower ranking and the sense that we needed to achieve extraordinary feats just to compete. This World Cup emphasized clearly defined roles: if our opponents played outside, we deployed Víctor Claver; if they played more inside, we used Oriola.
In the final, we faced an Argentina team equally driven by the thrill of surprising everyone. My assistants helped me devise a strategy to mitigate the impact of the Facundo Campazzo and Luis Scola pick-and-roll. While Argentina had other formidable players, our tactic, including Oriola as a surprise addition after minimal play the day before, proved effective. The Ricky and Marc partnership was pivotal in securing the championship.”
9 – 2022 EuroBasket SemiFinal – Germany 91 Spain 96
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A team born in the FIBA windows
“We introduced a team born from the FIBA Windows, amid controversy over Lorenzo Brown’s inclusion. I knew him well and believed he would integrate seamlessly with the group. His semifinal performance against Germany has become legendary; he played an outstanding game alongside Alberto Díaz, not only stopping Dennis Schröder but also contributing offensively. The game was marked by momentum swings and high scores.
Juancho and Willy Hernangómez excelled on offense, while even with a smaller role, Rudy contributed significantly. Usman Garuba’s defensive prowess was exceptional. After the game, I felt unsettled and reacted harshly, pushing the coaches into the locker room because there was still work to be done. It was important to maintain focus until the end.
10- 2022 EuroBasket Final – Spain 88 France 76
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Juancho’s seven triples go down in history
“France currently operates at a planetary level, consistently displaying exceptional physicality, quality, and athleticism. Nonetheless, I cannot recall ever losing a decisive game against them. While they may be superior on paper, we always felt we had the ability to disrupt their basketball prowess and instill doubt.
We weren’t considered favorites, so motivating the players was a challenge. Interestingly, France inadvertently assisted us by releasing a video showcasing their losses to us, declaring it the end. Remembering those historic victories served as a powerful motivator… Juancho’s seven three-pointers etched into history, alongside Jaime Fernández’s 13 crucial points off the bench. And, of course, Lorenzo’s 11 assists were instrumental.”
FIBA
