By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Petar Skansi, a legendary figure for Croatian and Yugoslavian basketball, passed away at 78. As a player, Skansi was a multi-medalist with the national team of former Yugoslavia in all major international competitions.
In 1968, Skansi became won the silver medal in the Olympic Games of Mexico City with Yugoslavia and two years later he and his national team became world champions.
Skansi was a player-coach through the last three years of his playing career with Yugoplastica and continued as head coach after his retirement from playing. He coached the Croatian national team against the Dream Team in the 1992 Olympics.
Per ABA League:
The ABA family is deeply saddened to hear that Split legend Petar Skansi has passed away at the age of 78.
Petar Skansi was not just one of the greats of his beloved club Split, but he was also a true legend of the entire basketball region as he had a remarkable career, both as a player and later on as a head coach.
Skansi has spent most of his player’s career in Split for which he played from 1964 to 1972 and from 1973 to 1976. Between his two stints with the famous Yellow team, he played one year for Maxmobili Pesaro. He won one Yugoslav national Championship with Split back in 1971.
During his second stint with the Yellow crew, Skansi has also acted as first team head coach (1973-1978) and in 1977 he led the team toward the triple-crown as that year Split won the Yugoslav National Championship, Yugoslav National Cup and FIBA Korać Cup.
After 1978, Skansi went to work abroad, while he returned to Split in 2003 only to lead the team toward winning the Croatian National Championship. That still remains the last national title that this team have won.
In his final year before retirement, Skansi coached Krka in the 2003/04 season.
Petar Skansi has won four medals at the major tournaments while playing for the Yugoslav National Team, including gold at the 1970 FIBA World Cup, then silver at the 1967 FIBA World Cup, silver at the 1968 Olympic Games and silver at the 1965 FIBA EuroBasket.
He coached Yugoslav National Team at the 1979 FIBA EuroBasket in which his team won the bronze medal.
Petar Skansi was also the head coach of the Croatian National Team at the 1992 Olympic Games where his team reached the Final and eventually won the silver medal.
Photo: ABA League