HALIFAX (AfroBasket) - Egypt's players have experienced the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat the past two years.

In 2013, the team made a surprising run to the Final of the AfroBasket in Cote d’Ivoire to claim a place at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup but this past summer in Spain, the Egyptians were blown out in all of their games.

Change has since occurred, with the basketball chiefs electing to appoint Spaniard Pep Claros as the new coach of the national team.

He guided both Mexico and El Salvador.

The Barcelona-born coach has spoken to FIBA.com about a lot of things, including what Egypt must have been looking for when they decided to hire him.

"Most of the teams or national teams from abroad, when they sign a foreign coach, they look for some characteristics they consider as necessary," Claros said. 

"In this case, it is clear that I'm European but also I have coached in six American countries, two national teams from the American side and I have coached in the NCAA."

Claros was an assistant coach at Northeast Missouri State in 1993-94, and the head coach of American University (Puerto Rico) from 1995-97.

"So, probably, I have a mix of these styles."

Tactically speaking, the Egyptians can expect to run some pick-and-rolls.

"A pick-and-roll roll offense and a high-intensity defense through constant pressure are important in my philosophy and methodology, I guess like most of the coaches," he pointed out. 

"Just the details and way of working these aspects allows you to have success. 

"However, we have to evaluate the personel that we will select to find what (system) adjusts better to our talent."

Claros says he doesn't yet know what will be the make-up of his team that will play at the AfroBasket in Tunisia.

"I can't say it now," he said. "There are some youngsters that are pushing to get there, as well some with more experience that still can help. 

"We will need to select the right ones, thinking in the present and in the future, too."

Claros does not think that too much should be read into the poor performance by Egypt at the World Cup.

He does believe, however, that the results at the AfroBasket the year before were exceptional considering the distractions the players had.

"We are talking about two competitions where Egypt was trying to compete with some circumstances that didn't allow them to play with all their capacity," Claros said. 

"In Cote d'Ivoire, during the tournament, there was an important social and political change (back home in Egypt) and you could see clearly how the team was worried.

"Still, with all of that, they were playing as a unit and giving their maximum so eventually, they made a big upset and qualified for the World Cup."

Egypt defeated the defending champions Tunisia in the Quarter-Finals.

"Once in Spain, some of the best players (like star center Assem Marei) were injuried and didn't participate so the team looked more limited but the level of the oponents also was very high and especially their group was just tough."

Indeed it was. Egypt had probably the hardest schedule of any team at the World Cup.

They were in Group A and had to face hosts Spain, France, Brazil, Serbia and Iran.

Nevertheless, the team did have some bright moments.

Before Claros can sink his teeth into the Egypt national team, he has to focus firmly on his job with the Halifax Rainmen.

"The Canada league is very interesting," he said. "It's an extremely athletic league. You have eight imports per team and most of them have had stints overseas, some even in the top leagues or NBA. 

"You play in NBA arenas most of the times and the perception of the crowd is even from an entertainment point of view - not like in some countries of Europe or Latin America. The league is very competitive with a good tactical level and you can win or lose anywhere. 

"On the other hand, the fans are very loyal and dedicated to the players and staff, not just in the games but also during your regular life."

The life of a coach who works abroad like Claros is interesting. He approaches each day with the mindset of putting in hard work but also with the idea of building a winner.

There aren't many basketball coaches who have travelled so far and wide as Claros to work in his profession.

"I assumed this was normal because this is what I have been doing all my life but it's clear that my case is an exception and probably I had to develop, adapt, learn and demonstrate with results and work that every year that I coached abroad I started from zero or even less," he said. 

It's been a life-enriching experience.

"This has made me someone who tries to be good person, fair, humble, confident and to accept that we are all different but also all the same," he said.

FIBA