Scariolo's "risk on Colom" paying off, more to come in second window

BARCELONA (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Spanish national team coach Sergio Scariolo admits he was taking a risk in handing the keys of the team to an internationally unproven point guard for the first window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers.

But Quim Colom paid back that trust in full and has Spain thinking about extending that success in next month's second window when they will play at Belarus on February 23 and host Montenegro in Zaragoza two days later.

Spanish national team fans have seen a long line of great playmakers leading the country that won the FIBA Basketball World Cup back in 2006, including Jose Calderon, Sergio Llull, Raul Lopez, Sergio Rodriguez and Ricky Rubio.

With that group of players, it's not easy having the dream of playing for Spain if you are a point guard. But Scariolo said he was ready to have Colom lead his team during the European Qualifiers.

"I FELT THAT WAS THE RIGHT WAY TO MANAGE THE SITUATION. QUIM IS A GREAT PLAYER, A TOP LEVEL POINT GUARD. HE'S A LITTLE BIT LATE TO THE TOP RANKINGS OF EUROPEAN POINT GUARDS BUT I FELT HE WAS READY FOR THIS" - Scariolo

"I took a risk. Last summer I said to him no matter what is going to happen you're going to be the starter of this team," Scariolo told FIBA.basketball. 

"Because it's time that Spanish basketball gives you some recognition about what you have done so far but unfortunately could not get because so many great players were playing your position throughout the years - Calderon, Rubio, Sergio Rodriguez, even Guillem Vives."

Colom, a native of Andorra La Vella, played for Spain in the youth ranks, helping the team finish third at the FIBA U18 European Championship 2006 and FIBA U20 European Championship 2008 and also appearing at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2007.

Colom averaged 12 points, 3.4 assists and 1.8 rebounds across three youth tournaments

At the club level, Colom slowly made his way up the ranks in Spain and played for Bilbao in 2014-15 before moving to Russian side Unics Kazan, with whom he has been ever since.

Scariolo was more than ready to make the 29-year-old his point guard.

"I felt that was the right way to manage the situation. Quim is great player, a top level point guard. He's a little bit late to the top rankings of European point guards but I felt he was ready for this," the coach said.

"I TOOK A RISK. LAST SUMMER I SAID TO HIM NO MATTER WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN YOU'RE GOING TO BE THE STARTER OF THIS TEAM" ScarioloScariolo

Colom certainly made the most of his chance and played excellently in the November window, averaging 20.0 points, 6.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds in helping Spain to a 2-0 record in Group A.

"He gave us back much more than what we asked," said Scariolo. "He took the team in his hands, felt responsibility for leading the team to success."

The Spaniards beat the Montenegrins 79-66 in Podgorica in November behind 15 points apiece from Colom and veteran big man Fran Vazquez. 

The 6ft 2in (1.88m) playmaker then stepped up a notch, putting on a great individual performance in leading Spain to a 92-84 win over FIBA EuroBasket 2017 champions Slovenia. 

Scariolo looks forward to having Colom serve as his floor general in next month's games.

"He has basketball knowledge, great passing ability and is an excellent scorer. He's overall a great player," he said.

And the play caller is a happy man that his risk has paid off.

FIBA