DOM - Calipari at the helm again

SANTO DOMINGO (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament) - The Dominican Republic have got their man.

After several months of uncertainty, John Calipari has decided to coach the national team for the second straight summer.

He will be in charge when the Dominicans play at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT), which tips of on 2 July in Caracas Venezuela.

Under Calipari, who in April led the Kentucky Wildcats to the NCAA Championship, the Dominicans beat Puerto Rico in the bronze medal game of the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship in Mar del Plata, Argentina.

“I’m really honored that the Dominican federation and Eduardo Najri and Jose Miguel Bonetti have once again asked me to coach their national team,” Calipari said.

“It was a wonderful learning experience last time that turned out successful for both the Dominican Republic and my staff.”

Najri, the general manager of the national team, said: “This country is very excited to have Coach Cal back.

“We were following (Calipari) closely during the NCAA Tournament and he had 10million followers rooting for him in the Dominican Republic.

"The fact that he’s going to join us again is a great honor and we look forward to finishing what we started last year in Argentina.”

The Dominican Republic will take on Russia and Korea in Group C of the OQT.

With Atlanta Hawks superstar Al Horford having recovered from a chest injury that kept him out for most of the lockout-shortened NBA season, the Dominicans fancy their chances of taking one of the three qualifying spots for the London Games.

FIBA