Baskonia parts ways with Galbiati and bets on Perasovic

The decision surprised both supporters and outsiders. Baskonia unexpectedly announced the departure of the Italian coach after just one official competition round since the Supercup, held on September 19. In the Euroleague, the Vitoria team has played five games with only one victory, while in the ACB League it has accumulated three rounds with three wins. Despite these contradictory numbers, the club decided to make a radical change on the bench.

The reasons for the dismissal: decisions from May and June

The analysis of what happened in May and June is key to understanding this determination. During those months, rumors circulated about a possible departure of Galbiati because certain methods of the coach did not convince the board. The previous season in the Euroleague was deemed mediocre, although injuries to key players like Sedekerskis and Howard decisively affected performance. The Copa del Rey title, won by the team, was not considered a sufficient achievement to maintain confidence in the Italian coach.

At the end of May, it emerged that Baskonia had contacted Velimir Perasovic, the Croatian coach who has ultimately taken over the role. These initial contacts were confirmed by our website at the time, indicating that the operation had been in the works for weeks within the technical management of the Vitoria club.

Perasovic returns to Vitoria for his fourth term

Velimir Perasovic is the chosen one to lead Baskonia for the next two seasons. The Croatian coach arrived free after not renewing his contract with Unics Kazan, which facilitated his incorporation. This will be his fourth experience on the Baskonia bench, although paradoxically, the previous three ended negatively for the coach. Nevertheless, the board is confident that this time will be different and that he can steer the team's trajectory in both competitions.

The arrival of Perasovic represents a change in philosophy compared to what Galbiati was trying to build. The Italian coach had developed an evident connection with the fans during the past season and had received unanimous support from the team. However, results in the Euroleague and decisions about the team's structure weighed more than the emotional factor.

Changes in the roster and a complicated preseason

Between May and July, Baskonia experienced a significant drain of talent. The club lost key pieces like Forrest, Diakite, and Luwawu-Cabarrot, three fundamental players in the previous scheme. The arrival of Faried, a 36-year-old center, came just in the week before the Supercup, complicating his integration into a team already facing a challenging preseason.

The lack of a fully assembled roster and the absence of a solid interior game marked the summer preparation. The arrival of several debutants in the Euroleague like Lawson, Baugh, and Stewart added complexity to Galbiati's task, who had to work with an incomplete team structure and little adaptation time. These contextual factors are crucial to understanding why the Italian coach could not consolidate a project that started with clear limitations.

The legacy of Galbiati and the transition

Although his departure was surprising, Galbiati leaves an important legacy at Baskonia. His ability to connect with the fans and maintain locker room unity was recognized even at the time of his dismissal. The Italian coach managed to win the Copa del Rey, a title that, although not enough to secure his continuation, demonstrates that his management had moments of success.

Now Perasovic faces the task of regaining confidence in the Euroleague while maintaining good results in the ACB League. The Croatian coach knows the structure of the club from his previous tenures and will have to quickly implement a system that allows competition in both leagues simultaneously. The market window and the possibility of reinforcements will be key aspects in the coming months to consolidate a project that begins with the uncertainty inherent in any mid-season coaching change.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Baskonia cesa a Galbiati y apuesta por Perasovic