In FIBA, timeouts are handled in a very different manner. The coach, in addition to the language barrier, may have been uncertain of how timeouts worked here.
IIRC, FIBA timeouts go through the table and are only recognized during a stopped clock dead ball or when the team is due a throwin (not yet started???) after a made basket....and if they don't have one, the table just ignores the request.
Just found this document that covers this difference and others...
http://www.fiba.com/asp_includes/dow...sp?file_id=518