Spain basketball coach steps down
Spain basketball coach Sergio Scariolo is stepping down and may be replaced by his assistant.
MADRID: - Spain basketball coach Sergio Scariolo is stepping down and will probably be replaced by Juan Orenga, one of his assistants, local media including sports dailies Marca and as reported on Wednesday.
A spokesman for the Spanish basketball federation (FEB) declined to confirm the reports, although he said both Italian Scariolo and FEB president Jose Luis Saez would give a news conference in Madrid later on Wednesday (1830 GMT).
Scariolo, who also coaches struggling Italian club side Emporio Armani Milan, took over as Spain coach in 2009, leading them to back-to-back Eurobasket triumphs.
They won silver at the London Olympics, losing to favourites United States in the gold medal match in a repeat of the 2008 final in Beijing.
Emporio Armani faces a key Euroleague away game at Spaniards Caja Laboral Vitoria on Thursday. They have three wins and four losses in their section and defeat would put them in danger of missing out on a top 16 berth.
