Duel for post-Sergio Scariolo, Elisa Aguilar gets final say

After returning from Riga, having concluded a disappointing European Championship to say the least, Spanish Basketball Federation president Elisa Aguilar, the Iberian Gianni Petrucci, received the dossiers on the four coaches vying to lead the Red Furies. The Scariolo era is officially over.

The Spanish Basketball Federation, in a rebuilding phase after the sporting disaster in Cyprus–the national team’s worst performance in the tournament’s history–is set to make a decision within days. It will be the woman herself who will choose. At the moment, Chus Mateo and Pablo Laso seem to be in pole position, although Xavi Pascual and Jaume Ponsarnau also remain in the running.

The fact that three of the candidates are free of contractual commitments plays in their favor. Mateo and Laso, in particular, are without a team after their respective (forced) exits from Real Madrid and Baskonia. The choice will depend on how well their profiles meet the needs of President Aguilar and her team, but also on their short- and long-term goals.

The first goal is qualification for the 2027 World Cup in Qatar, also valid for the Olympic Games and the Pre-Olympic Games. Looking further ahead, the goal will be to show up at the 2029 European Championship in Madrid – where Spain has already qualified – with a solid team ready to compete.