Luca Banchi reveals proposal FIBA wouldn't discuss, explains why Ataman is perfect for PAO / News - Basketnews.com

Latvia NT coach Luca Banchi explains to BasketNews why Janis Timma didn't make the cut for the World Cup and reveals a proposal FIBA refused to discuss right now. He also weighs in on Gianmarco Pozzecco's personality and how Ergin Ataman can lift Panathinaikos up.

Credit: FIBA Credit FIBA

Luca Banchi was devastated to find out Kristaps Porzingis was unable to help the Latvian national team in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Latvia / Schedule

Latvia Lebanon109-70 France LatviaSun13:30 Canada LatviaTue13:30

The team's leader has followed the rest of the squad to Jakarta, Indonesia, where Latvia competes in the same group as Canada, France and Lebanon. Porzingis suffers from plantar fasciitis in his foot, an injury that prevents him from being fully ready.

Banchi, 58, wasn't expecting that the Celtics big man would miss the big event.

"It was frustrating because I always hoped that things would work out, even a few days before we started playing, and without being able to get him to work together with the team," the Italian tactician told BasketNews in an interview held in the Indonesia Arena, where Latvia will play all their games in the group stage.

Credit FIBA

However, Banchi also felt compelled to show that the coaching profession is about being flexible and re-arranging one's plans despite all the setbacks. The veteran tactician calls this kind of resilience 'anti-fragility' because it requires the knowledge to put some pieces back in place, even if they're not in the same order anymore.

Banchi is nevertheless certain that there is a high level of belonging and participation in his team's ranks.

"We would never be an athletic or physical team," he admits. "We try to prevent our opponents from choking us with their physicality, which happened against Lithuania a few days ago. We could not respond to their physical intimidation. But that's likely to happen again," he adds.

Against some of the toughest opponents in the tournament, Latvia will have to rely on their long-distance shooting and their defense. France is a team with continuity, boasting a roster whereonly one of the 12 players has no NBA or EuroLeague experience.

On paper, Canada has put together the best team in its history. Lebanon overcame all obstacles in the qualifiers and came to the competition with a huge amount of confidence.

Still, in their World Cup opener, Latvia made light work of Lebanon (109-70). Banchi says his team got the job done before a more interesting game against France, who come off a 65-95 blowout at the hands of Canada.

"In some ways, it's a dramatic game," he says. "France will have every desire for revenge because it risks being one defeat away from elimination. Our work was difficult anyway, but now even more so because the French team will be ready for war.

I hope we arrive in a good mental state and the ability to compete physically. The game against Canada injected them with that dose of poison that will probably make them play with nastiness."

Banchi expected Canada to make a statement win, even though he thought the two sides were the best answer to each other, having similar strengths and weaknesses.

"They look alike, in terms of structure. But even at half-time, I would have imagined that they'd win by 30," he says.

Banchi became the head coach of the Latvian national team in 2021. Nevertheless, the team from the Baltic entered the World Cup qualification campaign on a real low. Not only did they miss out on the 2019 World Cup 2019 on points differential behind Montenegro, but they also failed to qualify for the 2022 EuroBasket, their first absence from the event since 1999.

But Banchi guided Latvia through the World Cup 2023 Pre-European Qualifiers and then helped the country book its first ticket to the global stage by recording an 11-1 record in the Pre-Qualifiers and Qualifiers without Porzingis.

He had previously worked as head coach in Montepaschi Siena and Olimpia Milano. With the team from the fashion capital, he won two Italian league titles, as well as one domestic cup.

As the head coach of AEK Athens, he won the FIBA Intercontinental Cup in 2019. He spent the last season on the bench of the French club Strasbourg. When the 2022-23 campaign was over, the Italian coach came very close to an agreement with Baskonia, who was then thinking of parting ways with Joan Penarroya.

In the end, the Basque club and the Tuscan play-caller didn't reach an agreement, as Baskonia opted to continue with Penarroya on the bench.

"The possibility of returning to the EuroLeague at 58 would be an ideal situation. But they asked me to leave Latvia NT immediately. They wanted a coach who would be immediately available to construct the team," Banchi explained in an interview with Tuttosport.

Credit BNS

He even mentioned what Baskonia's president Josean Querejeta told him about the EuroLeague being ruthless and Baskonia not disposing of a big budget.

"But I felt the moral commitment to Latvia. Leaving would not have been consistent and akin to my style," Banchi added.

Now, Banchi knows that it will be tough to find an open spot in the EuroLeague when he will be available for work.

"I'd like that. But I'm not the one who decides. Unfortunately, with the case of Baskonia, I missed an important chance for me to return to the EuroLeague. In the EuroLeague, certain clubs that have great potential don't change their coach during the season."

Banchi also notes that the agreement between him and the Latvian federation that runs until the 2025 EuroBasket allows him to skip the activities of the national team during the season. That doesn't mean he's not enjoying his experience in the World Cup.

Credit FIBA

"Although they're totally different things, if I were to choose between the World Cup and a EuroLeague Final Four, I'd pick the former," he points out.

"But it's true that I miss very much the daily relationship with the players. That's why if a call from the EuroLeague arrived in November or December, I would end up giving in to temptation. The daily routine is too attractive. The federation gives me absolute freedom. But of course, they wouldn't let me skip the World Cup," he clarifies.

In his discussion with BasketNews, Luca Banchi also touches on Janis Timma's exclusion from the Latvian squad, the number of players NTs should be allowed to register before a big tournament, and the changes he sees in the EuroLeague. The Italian tactician talks about the things he has or doesn't have in common with Gianmarco Pozzecco and Ergin Ataman and names what his former team, AEK Athens, should mostly pay attention to.

Now that Porzingis is off, what's the reference point of Latvia?

The fact that despite the many absences we've had, both during the FIBA windows and before the World Cup, we try to play with the same style.

To date, we seem to be one of the teams that have attracted the most benefit from the FIBA windows because we were able to produce a good game regardless of the roster we fielded. I went to recruit players everywhere, including in Latvia's second division. We have always maintained a good level of competitiveness. We were humble and the format rewarded us.

Credit FIBA

Did you expect such a big support from Latvian fans in Jakarta?

Honestly no. They had told me about the presence of fans, but we never imagined they'd be so many and so engaged. They helped us to make the Indonesia arena a pleasant environment to play in.

Do you agree with Dimitris Itoudis that every team should be allowed to register more than 12 players in case of injury? Greece and Brazil have been left with 11 players after Dinos Mitoglou and Raul Neto were hurt.

Yes, definitely. A superficial injury or the flu can happen in such a short tournament and with close matches. It's anachronistic to be able to register only 12 players.

I would go with 15. There will be three players willing to travel with the team and accept a backup role. But with this level of stress and games of high physicality, 12 players is not enough.

Credit FIBA

What can the coaches do in this respect?

We tried to do something before the World Cup. But there was no will from FIBA to listen to us. I tried to investigate and figure out what could change through the federation, but there was no answer -- also because certain changes can only be made with the Olympic cycle. We hope that the Olympics of 2024 will bring this change as well.

Many, including himself, were surprised Janis Timma wasn't on the team. What's the reason for his absence, given the fact that he was feeling well as he said?

Injury. We tried to make it work. But my choice of players is based exclusively on facts. Unfortunately, in my role, we must go beyond labels, stereotypes, names, and careers. Probably if he had a chance to complete his rehabilitation, he would be here with us and he would have been able to help us.

What he said belongs to the sphere of hypothesis. Then, there are his performances that speak the truth.

Credit FIBA

Will he come back in the future?

If there's a chance, we'll see. It was hard to predict whether he'd be available because two years ago, he didn't respond to the call-up. His career away from Europe --because he lives in the U.S.-- allowed him to participate only in the November window. We hope that he'll find a place to play because he's been away from club basketball for several years.

Apart from the fact that you're both Italian, is there anything else you and [Italian NT coach] Gianmarco Pozzecco have in common?

Very little. We have a totally different cultural and basketball background. I started off as a coach of a youth team and I grew slowly until I made my debut as a head coach in 1997.

Gianmarco has an extraordinary playing career behind him, which gave him the credentials and the experience to make the leap immediately. Honestly, there are very few similarities, both from a cultural point of view and a professional one. I think we share the same passion for the game.

I appreciate the natural empathy he has been able to evoke and the interest he draws in whatever he does. I also know his family, which is a basketball family. He's in love with this sport and that passion unites us.

Did you talk before the World Cup started?

No, I frequently talked with his assistants because we exchanged material.

Do think think something has changed in the EuroLeague since certain teams have started to invest more?

No, it's the same old story. There are historical moments and cycles that are related to the investments and economic power that some clubs have at certain times. I welcome the fact that these cycles continue to exist because it seems that Panathinaikos have restored competition in the Greek league, whilst reviving the ambition of their fans to watch the team compete for great results.

And there is no better character than Ergin to ignite the fans' passion. I've known him since Siena. For his vision and attitude, he'll be a great booster for the club.

Has Ataman changed since the times of Siena?

No, I see the same person and the same DNA. And he's truly a winner at heart. I remember at the time that they called him Fatih Terim, 'the emperor.' He's Terim's basketball version because they have the same charisma.

He is truly a charismatic person, in terms of his relationship with the players, his collaborators, the fans, and the management. You can learn a lot by working alongside him. I admire him and I know that I will never be able to have that same kind of brashness. We're different, but that doesn't mean I don't like it.

What do you think of AEK's impressive list of summer signings?

I hope they'll find an economic stability that restores dignity to the club. I had a discussion with the president [Makis Angelopoulos] in the summer. He told me he has the desire to do something important because 2024 is the club's centenary year.

I am a fan of that club and those people. But the thing I care about the most is that they find economic stability and dignity. Because Greece needs AEK.

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