Orlando Antigua, assistant coach at the University of Kentucky, has been appointed head coach of the Dominican national basketball team. Antigua assisted University of Kentucky head coach John Calipari on the two occasions he coached the team in its quest to advance to a first Olympic appearance. The Dominican team fell one win short of advancing to the 2012 Olympics.
“I’m extremely excited to have this opportunity,” Antigua said. “Anytime you can coach and be a participant of a national team, it’s very special. For Coach Calipari and (University of Kentucky Athletics Director) Mitch Barnhart to allow me to take part in this opportunity means a lot, on a personal level as well as professionally,” he said, as reported on the University of Kentucky website.
“I’m also thankful to the Dominican Federation, (Federation GM) Eduardo Najri and (Federation President) Rafael Uribe for their confidence in entrusting this program and team to me,” Antigua said. “It is my goal to build upon the recent success we’ve enjoyed and continue to make this a program the Dominican Republic can be proud of.”
Born in the Dominican Republic, Antigua played himself for the national team in 1994-95 and 1997-98. He will continue as assistant coach at the university where he helped lead Kentucky to a national championship in 2012.
The Dominican national basketball team is scheduled to report to training camp at the beginning of August before taking the floor for a pair of exhibition contests against Puerto Rico on 14 August and 16 August. Antigua will then lead the Dominicans into competition at the Jenaro “Tuto” Marchand Continental Cup from 22-26 August in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This will be followed by the Pre-World Cup in Caracas, Venezuela from 30 August to 11 September. The four winning teams advance to the World Basketball Championship in 2014. The DR has high hopes to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.
www.ukathletics.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/orlando_antigua_446198.html
www.ukathletics.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/061313aaa.html
http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/13/kentucky-assistant-orlando-antigua-to-coach-dominican-republic/