POR - Moncho Lopez taking over Portugal

LISBON (EuroBasket 2009) - Portugal have moved swiftly to replace Victor Melnychuk as coach by handing the reins to former Spain coach Moncho Lopez.

The men's team, which reached the quarter-final round of the EuroBasket last year in Madrid, lost their boss when he decided to return home to coach Ukraine's national team.

Portugal had been linked with former Angola boss Mario Palma, who coached Jordan at the FIBA Asian Championship last year, but opted for Lopez instead.

Instead, they opted for a Spaniard - just as Brazil did last month when they appointed Moncho Monsalve as they boss for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Portuguese Basketball Federation chairman Mario Saldanha said to the country's media: "[He] is a young coach with work done and recognition.

"I am very proud to confirm that Moncho Lopez is the new national coach. I am very happy for Portuguese Basketball."

Lopez made big waves on the international scene five years ago when he led a Spain team that had a young Pau Gasol, Juan Carlos Navarro and Jorge Garbajosa to the final of the EuroBasket in Sweden.

Spain lost to Sarunas Jasikevius and Lithuania, though, 93-84 in the gold medal game.

Lopez was expected to coach the Spain national team at the Athens Olympics, but he left shortly before the start of the Games to coach Leche Rio Breogan in the ACB.

Portugal are giving him a contract that runs until after Euro 2009 in Poland.

And he is thrilled by the opportunity.

"I am delighted," he said to the Record newspaper in Portugal.

"I have followed the Portugal team for so long. I have a huge respect for what they achieved under Valentyn Melnychuk.

"Apart from that historic campaign in the last European championship, I would always be interested to coach a team as competitive as that. I hope to enjoy and help Portuguese Basketball to achieve a bit more on an international stage."

FIBA