What is the secret behind the success of Spanish youth basketball programmes?
Lapeña: I can only speak for women’s basketball. One of the main reasons is certainly the training centre ‘Siglo XXI’ in Barcelona, where we gather almost all the best players from Spain for four years. They can work there under very professional conditions. Also our federation and our clubs work hard. In addition we put a lot of emphasis on the physical preparation of the young players. All in all, more skilled coaches are working with better means. FIBA: Spain has not had the same degree of success with the women’s team as with the men’s. What needs to change there? Lapeña: I think the women are in the same position as the men were a couple of years ago. We are one step behind. As we now have the same means and the same strategy for the women as we have for the men, this will change. I strongly believe that we will dominate Europe with the women’s as well in three or four years with this new generation. FIBA: How do players go from these tournaments to entering the professional ranks
