In 1977, Juan Antonio Ortiz de Pinedo retired as a player to become the head coach of the team, replacing Pepe Laso. In 1978, José Antonio Querejeta, who had negotiated with other teams like Joventut and FC Barcelona, was transferred to Real Madrid. The club, in addition to financial compensation, obtained the young player Manuel San Emeterio from the white club. Iñaki Iriarte became the head coach of the team and the American who signed with the team this year was Webb Williams. Players like Junguitu, Txomin Sautu returned and Juan Manuel Conde was signed. Fernando Aranguiz assumed the presidency of the club in June 1978 and Carlos Luquero received the tribute to his entire career, he was the first to have a professional record accumulating more than 300 games and adding more than 7,000 points with the team. In the Copa del Rey, the team returned to reach the semifinals after defeating Mollet and Estudiantes in the previous rounds, but cannot defeat the winner of that year FC Barcelona.