POR – Portuguese make Palma national team coach

LISBON (EuroBasket 2011) – Mário Palma has led Angola and Jordan to podium finishes as the coach of their national teams.

Now he’ll try to do the same for his home country of Portugal after being confirmed as the new boss of their national side.

Two places are up for grabs for EuroBasket 2011 and Finland, Hungary and Palma’s Portuguese will go after them when playing in an Additional Qualifying Round.

The first game will be against Hungary on August 9.

After winning just one of eight games last year in qualifying under former coach Moncho Lopez, Portugal were given a second chance to reach the EuroBasket when FIBA Europe increased the tournament size by eight teams to make it 24 in all.

“This European Championship is a tough one, as it is like a World Championship given the number of teams,” Palma said to FIBA.com.

As for their chances against the Finns and Hungarians, Palma said: “We have the same chances to qualify to EuroBasket 2011 as our opponents.”
Palma will gather his players on June 20 to launch preparations for the Additional Qualifying Round.

“My coaching staff and I now have the task of turning around the current scenario of the national team,” he said.

“We should motivate our players as priority point, convincing some of them to join the national team.

“Bringing in new talents and making them work hard is something that we’ll stick on our agenda.”

Palma steered Angola to Afrobasket titles and into the 2004 Olympics and 2006 FIBA World Championship.

In 2009, he guided Jordan to the bronze medal at the FIBA Asia Championship in China.

Julio Chitunda
FIBA