RIGA, April 17 (LETA) - Sito Alonso (Spain) will become the Latvian men's national basketball team's head coach after this year's EuroBasket, the Latvian Basketball Union said on Thursday.

Alonso will take over from Luca Banchi, whose contract expires after the EuroBasket 2025, and will coach the national team for the 2027 World Cup qualifying tournament.

Latvia's Janis Gailitis was the other candidate for the national team's head coach. Both were interviewed by the coaching commission and the majority of the commission's members supported Alonso's candidacy. The Latvian Basketball Union later supported the commission's decision.

Alonso, 49, is currently the head coach of Spanish basketball club UCAM Murcia. Latvian forward Rodions Kurucs also plays for the Spanish club.

Alonso was also head coach of the Spanish U-20 junior national team, coaching them to the bronze medal at the 2013 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship after his team lost to Latvia in the semifinals.

Banchi was appointed head coach of the Latvian national team in 2021. In Latvia's World Cup debut in 2023, Banchi led the team to a 5th place finish