PUR – Puerto Rico keeping tabs on ex-Spain boss Pepu

SAN JUAN (FIBA Americas Championship) – Puerto Rico are leaving no stone unturned in their bid to find the right coach for the national team following the decision not to move forward with American college coach Rick Pitino.

Having interviewed Dave Odom, a former American college coach at Wake Forest and South Carolina, and Los Angeles Lakers assistant Jim Cleamons, the Puerto Ricans have now expressed an interest in Pepu Hernandez – the man that led Spain to the gold medal at the 2006 FIBA World Championship.

Hernandez, one of the most respected coaches in the ACB, is currently at the helm of DKV Joventut and their season has already ended.

"Pepu Hernandez has an exclusive contract (with DKV) until 2012 that lets him escape if he were to direct the national team of Spain, but not a foreign national team,” said Puerto Rican Basketball Federation president Carlos Beltran to primerahora.com.

“You have to see what can be resolved, but if available he’d be a tremendous candidate."

Puerto Rico parted with coach Manolo Cintron after they failed to progress from the Preliminary Round at the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey.

They had reached agreement on former NBA coach Pitino to lead the team, but that union fell apart when NCAA rules would not allow Pitino’s Louisville team to practice this summer in Puerto Rico.

The Puerto Ricans will play at the FIBA Americas Championship in Argentina, with the two sides that reach the Final sealing direct passage to the London Olympics.

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