Sergio Scariolo on Spanish NT's lack of experience: 'It has to make us hungry'

2022-08-28 08:40

Four days before the start of the EuroBasket, the Spanish national team head coach Sergio Scariolo highlights the exceptional case of Spain, which has many new faces on the team.

Credit: Federación Española de Baloncesto
Credit Federación Española de Baloncesto

The Spanish national team has almost finished the qualifiers for the 2023 World Cup, but the EuroBasket 2022 is next, where Spain will play with a team, which consists of two-thirds new players compared to the one from the Tokyo Olympics.

Spain's head coach Sergio Scariolo, in an interview with as.com, said that the situation is unique for the Spanish national team, but he sees positives in it as well.

"It is very rare that there are so many people who have not played a EuroBasket, a World Cup, or Olympic Games at the same time," Scariolo began.

"That entails a lack of experience, but on the other hand, it has to make us hungry, the desire to compete and live up to what is expected of us, which is competitiveness, the best possible collective basketball," Scariolo added.

Scariolo also commented on the loss of Sergio Llull, who will miss the upcoming EuroBasket due to an injury.

"It is a very hard blow for us. He's a player [Llull] called to have a fundamental role, which he already had. But there is no need to overthink it. Sergio is not here and we have to think about how to try to compete without his contribution," said the Italian coach.

"Until the trip to Georgia there are options and we will try to choose the best one," Scariolo added.

Scariolo emphasized that having belief in themselves is very important for a group that lacks some experience.

"We have to believe in ourselves to be able to improve every day, in every practice session, that one percent of potential that brings us closer to competitiveness," Scariolo explained.



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