By Antonis Stroggylakis / astroggylakis@eurohoops.net
Jakarta, Indonesia – Spain coach Sergio Scariolo has experienced some of the most memorable moments in his career in Canada.
After coaching and winning titles in Italy and Spain, Scariolo debuted in the NBA as assistant to Nick Nurse at Toronto Raptors in 2018-2019. That very same year he was crowned NBA champion, when Toronto claimed its first-ever ring.
“The connection is huge,” Scariolo said when asked by Eurohoops ahead if the knockout game between Spain and Canada Sunday (2/9) that will decide which team will advance to the World Cup quarterfinals.”Canada is a very huge place in my heart. I had amazing years there, let alone winning a championship.”
There’s also another kind of link. The one between Scariolo and staff members of Canada, including Spanish head coach Jordi Fernandez.
“We are in the same hotel. We played in tournaments. We spend many days together. Their coach is a friend of mine. Their assistant coach is a friend of mine,” Scariolo mentioned. “I’m talking in terms of human relationships.”
“Of course, this is a game we want to win and a game they want to win,” Scariolo added. “They are very good and we’ll try to be as good as them to compete. All the human factor you’re mentioning was in place basically all these days. But it’s time to march to the game.”
Spain, the defending world champion, comes off a loss to Latvia that puts them in a position where they have to play a “win-or-go” home clash vs. a powerful Canadian side. They had a 12-point lead in the third period but Latvia came back and forced them to a sloppy finish and their first World Cup defeat.
Scariolo analyzed what his team must do now to have a future in the tournament.
“Trying to, as always, focus on our strenghts first,” Scariolo said. “Then on the opponent’s strengths. Trying to maximize those and minimize weaknesses for us. For me, this is game no. 200 of a “do-or-die” situation but for most of my players is not. I’m trying to keep them focused, confident and develop their concentration about the game plan and their confidence about the chances to compete the way we need to compete.”
Canada features a lot of NBA star power like Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and New York Knicks big man RJ Barrett. They are a team of many qualities and no apparent vulnerability save from an inexperience of several players in international basketball.
“We know that we’ll go 100 percent,” Scariolo commented. “This is a team that’s probably above us. Physicality, athleticism, NBA experience, etc etc. What is in your hands is do your best. And if your best is not enough, you shake their hands and wish them good luck for the rest of the championship.”
“It’s difficult for the strength and the level of the opponent,” Scariolo also said. “It’s difficult because our teams go through a generational turnover. It’s true that during this processes we overachieved. By definition, overachieving is something that happens now and then. To us it happened to a level beyond our expectations. Honestly I think that any comparison with the team of our legends is out of place.”