It's official - Messina remains Italy coach

ROME (FIBA EuroBasket 2017) - Italy have confirmed that Ettore Messina is to remain as head coach for the country's FIBA EuroBasket 2017 campaign.

The San Antonio Spurs assistant took on the role earlier this year and guided the Azzurri to a runners-up finish at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Turin, a result that did not clinch a spot in the Rio de Janeiro Games.

But Messina, after receiving the nod from the Spurs, has agreed a new deal to lead the Italians.

"It's a logical continuation," Messina said in an Italian Basketball Federation (FIP) statement. "I want to thank the president (Giovanni) Petrucci and the Federation for their trust,  (Spurs) Coach (Gregg) Popovich and (Spurs general manager) RC Buford for making me available.

"We begin again to try and do the best possible job at EuroBasket."

Messina is regarded as one of the top European coaches in the game. He led Italy earlier in his career to a runners-up finish at EuroBasket in 1997 in Barcelona.

Hopes were high this summer in Turin that Italy would ride their home-court advantage to a first Olympic qualification since 2004, the year they captured the silver medal in Athens. But Croatia beat the Italians in a thrilling Final that went to overtime.

FIBA