Basketball coach, player nearly punch on

A basketball coach had to be pried apart from one of his star players after a fiery exchange during the three-quarter time break in a Euroleague Basketball game.

Alba Berlin coach Sasa Obradovic was giving a sermon to his players during their clash with Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv when he began remonstrating with American point guard Alex Renfroe.

With television cameras hovering, Obradovic shoved Renfroe, before the pair jumped to their feet.

The Serbian coach was then filmed moving head first to within 10cm of the American.

But quick to sense what looked to be evolving toward fisticuffs, other players immediately intervened to pull the pair apart, while one teammate of Renfroe's shielded the camera to block any further footage.

For the record Berlin won the match 66-59, but whether Obradovic and Renfroe can continue working together is anyone's guess.