Sito Alonso | Photo: Mikus Kļaviņš/LBS
The former head coach of the Latvian basketball team, Sito Alonso, looked back on his time in the Latvian national team at the press conference before tomorrow’s Spanish Premier League (ACB) match, in which Murcia, led by him, will meet with Bilbao.
It has already been announced that Jānis Gailītis was confirmed as the new chief strategist of the Latvian national team on Wednesday, replacing the Spanish specialist Alonso.
“We met with the federation a few days ago here, in Murcia, because after the second “window” we felt that everything was very complicated. You have to understand that there are different types of coaches and there are those who need time to create an identity. Without time, it is difficult to find that everyone works in the same direction,” said Alonso. “I believe that a lot of effort was made. In the second “window” we had both Zoriks and Strautiņš available, but in the first one there was a very difficult situation with the lineup.”
“I believe that the current solution is the best for both parties,” said the Spanish specialist. “Everyone is in their place now. The sun shines brighter. Both for me here in Murcia and for the top-level Latvian coach [Gailītim]. I believe that this is what is needed now. The concern for the players from the federation is incredible. I am happy that I could belong to Latvia for some time in my life.”
“Most of all, I am excited that I could be present in Dair Bertan‘s final match for the national team,” revealed Alonso. “There have also been other Latvians in my team, such as the Kuruci brothers, but it was with Dairi that I began to understand who Latvians are. He is a top-level professional and being with him at such a special moment was one of the points when I understood what it means to be the head coach of the Latvian national team.”