Spanish coach Sito Alonso will succeed Luca Banchi as head coach of the Latvian national team after FIBA EuroBasket 2025.
The Latvian Basketball Federation has officially announced the next head coach of the Latvian men's national team. Spanish specialist Sito Alonso will succeed Luca Banchi and officially take over after FIBA EuroBasket 2025.
Latvia is one of the four host nations for the upcoming tournament, with the final stage set to be played in Riga, the country's capital.
Banchi, who currently coaches Anadolu Efes Istanbul, has led Latvia since 2021. Under his leadership, the team achieved a historic 5th-place finish at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, and Banchi was honored as the tournament's Best Coach.
Sito Alonso, 49, will be taking on his first role as a senior men's national team head coach.
His previous experience with national teams includes leading Spain's U20 team to a bronze medal at the 2013 European U20 Championship—where they lost to Latvia in the semifinals—and serving as an assistant coach for Spain at the FIBA World Cup 2014.
Alonso has primarily coached in Spain's ACB League since 2008, with a brief stint at Cedevita in 2018. He has been the head coach of Murcia since 2019.
Alonso's debut with the Latvian national team will come after EuroBasket 2025, with the next official games set for November during the start of the FIBA World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers.
The group draw for the qualifiers is scheduled for May 13 in Doha.
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