Sergio Scariolo, after directing his last game with the Spanish national team: "It's like when a couple gets divorced"

The Spanish basketball team bid farewell to Eurobasket 2025 in the group stage, a conclusion that marked Spain's elimination in the first round for the first time in the history of the tournament. The 90-86 loss against Greece on the final day of the group stage left the Spaniards with no chances to reach the round of 16, even though everything depended on a victory against the Greeks following Georgia's loss to Bosnia.

The elimination was a tough blow for a team that expected much more, as well as for coach Sergio Scariolo, who experienced that game as his farewell from the national bench. After the match, Scariolo delivered some emotional remarks in which, despite the sadness about the outcome, he highlighted the progress and effort of his players. "No one dreams of losing their last game, I would have liked to win, but I couldn't be prouder of the effort of my players," acknowledged the coach.

For Scariolo, the game against Greece was an opportunity to see new talents shine, as he reflected by mentioning that the team ended the match with two 19-year-old players, who earned their spot on the court. "I played them because I believed that to win the game, I felt comfortable playing with them. Not to gain experience," explained Scariolo, clearly outlining his competitive focus while acknowledging the value of giving playing time to young promises.

Scariolo's farewell marks the end of a golden era for the Spanish national team. Since his arrival in 2009, the Italian coach has guided Spain to an impressive list of achievements: two European golds (2009, 2011), one world gold (2019), and various Olympic medals, among other triumphs. However, his departure was by no means as he had imagined.

Scariolo's Legacy

With a calm voice but evident emotional weight, Scariolo compared his departure to a relationship coming to an end, but without resentment. "Any love story comes to an end. It's like when a couple divorces but continues to meet and have children together. We have many children on this team, whom I've nurtured for many years and loved watching them grow," commented the coach, highlighting the special bond he formed with the players over the years.

Despite the pain of not being able to achieve a result that reflected all the invested effort, Scariolo remained optimistic about the future of Spanish basketball. "When I took charge of the team, everyone told me it was very difficult to improve on what had been achieved, and surely they will say the same to whoever comes now. You have to look at the future with optimism," he asserted. For him, the young talents of this generation will continue to grow, and it will be a joy to see how they develop in the coming years.

Image

Scariolo also reflected on the details that led to the elimination, such as errors at crucial moments in the game against Greece, but without regrets. "We've had little reward for the effort we've made, but if we haven't won, it's because we made mistakes at key moments. That rebound that if we had caught it, we would be in Riga, a few too many mistakes in the last four minutes of today... But you can't dwell on that," he stated.

Despite the elimination, the coach remains a basketball enthusiast and continued to follow the Eurobasket games. "Several members of the coaching staff watched the Serbia – Turkey game and wondered 'What sport is this?'. I'm going to keep watching, like any basketball fan," he remarked, affirming that his love for the sport will remain unwavering.

With his departure, Scariolo closes an impressive chapter in the history of Spanish basketball, but his legacy will endure thanks to his titles and the impact he has had on the development of the players who passed through his hands. Spain bids farewell to a golden era, but the future continues to promise great moments for a generation that, with the guidance of their teacher, will keep striving for more achievements.