Sergio Scariolo, Basketball Coach

He gestures as if apologizing while answering a call and jotting something down in his planner. At the foot of the chair in the FEB office where he receives us, there is a handbag. Like so many other times he comes to Madrid, time is running short. But he doesn't get nervous. He is too accustomed to the tension of basketball courts to feel stressed about the hour. This Italian, son of a university professor and a high school teacher, has traveled to different countries since childhood and has years of experience, along with an impressive record as a basketball coach. Polite, kind, and a good conversationalist, he dreams of different travels and of "seeing places that are not those everyone knows."

How do you remember Brescia from your childhood?

We lived in the center, near the Piazza del Duomo, where the two cathedrals are, one ancient and one more modern. If I had to associate moments from my adolescence with physical places, I would highlight walks with friends along Corso Zanardelli, the main street, where the large theater and shops are. The historic center of Brescia is very beautiful, charming, small...

Did you travel as a child with your parents?

Since I was very young, I have traveled a lot, a lot, around Sicily, Greece, Spain, Germany, the United States... My parents, both teachers, traveled frequently and took me with them.

What places in Spain did you know before settling down here?

I remember the Prado Museum and the center of Madrid. Also, the Costa del Sol. During the Basketball World Cup in 1986, I stayed for a week near Torremolinos, watching the matches of the group that was playing in Málaga. Before that, I had come to play a few games; the typical travels where you see nothing: airport, hotel, bus, and arena.

In 1997 you arrived in Vitoria to coach TAU. Was adapting to the capital of Alava easy?

Vitoria looked very little like the idea I had of Spain. My new city of residence resembled Switzerland more. The landscape, on the other hand, is closer to that of Lombardy, where it is also cold and green predominates in nature. Although the climate wasn't the best, it was a good impact. Vitoria is a very beautiful city, with a high quality of life, good services, cleanliness, and good organization.

And an excellent gastronomy...

Although I like to eat, I value a city more for other things. I am much more interested in what I can see than in what I can eat.

Did you travel alone to Vitoria?

I arrived with my first wife, but we were already separating. A month later, I met my current wife, Blanca. She was working as a commentator at Canal +, we met during the first broadcast and fell in love. The time in Vitoria was very nice.

After almost twenty years in Spain, except for a three-season interlude in Moscow, you must feel as Spanish as you are Italian.

I prefer to add rather than exclude. I return to Italy from time to time because I have friends and family there, my mother and a sister. And when I'm there, I see that my roots are indeed those. However, when I'm in Spain, I don't miss it. Here, I am very integrated in every way. Moreover, I have the responsibility of wearing a jersey that is not from my city, nor from my town. It is the jersey of an entire country, Spain, and I feel very comfortable with the people.

After all, one is free to choose where they want to live...

Exactly. You are born where you are born, but then you choose the place where you want to live. In my case, I think the decision has been correct. The feeling we have as a family is that we are very comfortable in Spain.

You commented on the impression Vitoria made on you, but what impression do you have of Madrid?

It is my wife's city and where my two children were born. We debated whether to live in Marbella or Madrid. In the capital, we have an apartment, and it's a city I like for its spirit and the energy it exudes.

Is there a special place you travel to for vacation?

Whenever work allows us, we spend summers in northern Sardinia, a beautiful place to sail. I love the sea, but away from the beaches. There are times I like to get lost in solitary places or where nobody knows me. Although people are kind and polite... In Marbella, there are many foreigners, and it's easier to go unnoticed.

What stands out to you about Marbella?

The climate is fantastic, the air is healthy and there is no pollution. In Marbella, I feel loved, although I prefer to enjoy it in winter and spring. I go out less in July and August.

And what do you remember about Moscow?

I found it to be a beautiful city. The thing I struggled with the most was the few hours of light, how it got dark so early. That bothered me a little, but the city offers an impressive quality of entertainment and leisure. The cold wasn't a problem either, as the arenas were very well equipped.

To what extent does sports play a significant role in a country's tourism promotion?

The clearest example is the United States. It is a country with many contradictions, but I could not imagine it without basketball. It would be incredibly difficult for me. An important NBA game is watched by over a hundred million viewers. Once, I asked an American player signed by an Italian team if he had been to Europe before and he said: "Yes, I was once in the Philippines." Geography is not the subject that is best taught in the United States.

How has your family handled the experience of living in different countries and cities?

I believe it has been quite positive for my children to live in different places. There's nothing like knowing different places to grow without a negative sense of differences. You have to add experiences and appreciate and value the good in each place. If you have an open mindset, you enrich yourself. I don't understand people who travel only to say: there's no place like home.

What's your dream trip?

Australia and New Zealand. Blanca knows Oceania and I don't. I want to go, and she wants to return. The problem is finding the time to fulfill that dream.

Who handles packing at home?

I lay out on the bed what I need to take and forget about the arrangement. I am very bad at organizing things. Sometimes I have to buy a second suitcase to come back from places because I love to buy clothes and objects that catch my attention. The last time, I bought a foam cube that included a microphone. Shopping for me is a tourist activity, but I find it difficult to go shopping with my wife afterward. When we travel together, I prefer souvenirs while Blanca is more into taking photos.

What mode of transportation do you prefer?

I love High-Speed Trains. The AVE from Madrid to Málaga is extraordinary. I don't mind having to fly, even though I've experienced some rough landings. I try to forget those when I fly.

Are you very meticulous about organizing and planning trips?

I have a very special concept of time, which is why I try to study transportation options and the places to see and enjoy more during my stay at that destination.