Belgium basketball

[Tomtom]

Thomas Dreesen left Phoenix Hagen (Bundesliga) to a 2nd division team in Belgium. Anyone knows which team?
Source: http://www.schoenen-dunk.de/news_a36...ch-Belgien.htm

Kangoeroes-Boom

http://www.kangoeroes-boom.be/

[l'emigrante]

Okapi Aalstar still on the market

[l'emigrante]

Again Okapi Aalstar active on the market

[rikhardur]

Charleroi crowned Belgian champion for the third year in a row.

[Tomtom]

The belgian league starts on the 1st of october. Once again, there will be only 9 teams as no team from second division wanted to be promoted. The project of a new team called Limburg Energy based either in Hasselt or Bree has also failed and both clubs have disappeared from second division. So, it will be once again a closed league where the top 6 teams will qualify for the playoff at the end of the regular season.

Here are the current rosters:

Spirou Charleroi
C : Mouhammed Saer Sene (SEN) (form Hyères-Toulon) - Andre Riddick (USA-BEL) - Ioann Iarochevitch (BEL) (from Essor Charleroi : D2)
PF : Brent Wright (USA) - Christophe Beghin (BEL) (from Antwerp) - Brian Greene (USA)
SF : Brian Greene (USA) (from Okapi Aalst) - Dwayne Broyles (USA) - Yannick Moray (BEL) (from Essor Charleroi : D2)
SG : Justin Hamilton (USA) - Joseph Gomis (FRA) (from Malaga) - Chris Hill (USA)
PG : Demond Mallet (USA) (from Ankara) - Chris Hill (USA) - Amaury Jadin (BEL) (from Essor Charleroi : D2)
HC : Giovanni Bozzi (BEL)


Oostende
C : Caleb Green (USA) - Stéphane Pellé (CMR) - Leigh Enobakhare (NGA) (from Gistel : D3)
PF : Will Thomas (USA) (from Liège) - Stéphane Pellé (CMR) - Caleb Green (USA)
SF : Marcus Faison (USA-BEL) (from Peristeri) - Veselin Petrovic (SRB) - Yacine Baeri (BEL) (from Gistel : D3)
SG : Matt Lojeski (USA) - Veselin Petrovic (SRB) - Jean Salumu (BEL) (from Gistel : D3)
PG : Darell Mitchell (USA) (from Khimik Yuzny) - Trevor Huffman (USA) - Quentin Serron (BEL)
HC : Jean-Marc Jaumin (BEL)


Union Mons-Hainaut
C : Peter Van Passen (NLD) (from Eiffel Towers Den Bosch) - Sébastien Bellin (BEL) (from Ghent) - Ben McCauley (USA)
PF : Justin Cage (USA) - Ben McCauley (USA) (from Strasbourg) - Amaury Gorgemans (BEL) (from Mons B : D3)
SF : Ronell “Quincy” Taylor (USA) (from AEL Limassol) - Shan Foster (USA) - Justin Cage (USA) - Robin Mestdagh (BEL) (from Eastern Kentucky)
SG : Ron Lewis (USA) (from Nymburk) - Shan Foster (USA) (from Kepez Antalya) - Lorenzo Giancanterino (BEL) (from Mons B : D3)
PG : Marcus Hatten (USA) (from Casalpusterlengo : Lega due) - Alexandre Libert (BEL)
HC : Arik Shivek (ISR)


Liège
C : Len Matela (USA) (from Charleroi) - Andrija Stipanovic (HRV) - Mikhael Linskens (BEL) (from Liège B : D3)
PF : Taylor Griffin (USA) (from Phoenix Suns) - Ivan Papac (HRV) - Len Matela (USA)
SF : Nik Raivio (USA) (from Portland university) - Pierre-Antoine Gillet (BEL) (from Liège B : D3) - Ivan Papac (HRV)
SG : Michael Jenkins (USA) (from Tübingen) - Guy Muya (BEL) - Olivier Troisfontaines (BEL) (from Liège B : D3)
PG : Cedric Bozeman (USA) (from Beijing Ducks) - Xavier Colette (BEL) - Geoffrey Hockins (BEL)
HC : Dario Gjergja (HRV)


Okapi Aalstar
C : Chris Young (USA) (from Leuven) - Tyren Johnson (USA) - Hans Van Langenhove (BEL) (from Ghent)
PF : Tyren Johnson (USA) (from Louisiana-Lafayette) - Christopher Copeland (USA) - Hans Van Langenhove (BEL)
SF : Christopher Copeland (USA) (from Trier) - Anthony Hilliard (USA) - Pablo Gonzales (USA)
SG : Anthony Hilliard (USA) (from Pépinster) - Pablo Gonzales (USA) - Damon Huffman (USA)
PG : Stanley Burrell (USA) (from Pépinster) - Jorn Steinbach (BEL) - Damon Huffman (USA)
HC : Brad Dean (USA)


Antwerp Giants
C : Graham Brown (USA) - Salah Mejri (TUN) (from Etoile du Sahel) - Maarten Rademaekers (BEL) (from Antwerp B : D3)
PF : Darnell Wilson (USA) (from Pépinster) - Jef Vander Jonckheyd (BEL) (from Leuven) - Jean-Marc Mwema (BEL) (from Antwerp B : D3)
SF : Trent Strickland (USA) - Randy Oveneke (BEL) - Darnell Wilson (USA) - Jean-Marc Mwema (BEL)
SG : Bryan Hopkins (USA) - Roel Moors (BEL) - Brecht Guyllemyn (BEL) - Dennis Donkor (BEL) (from Antwerp B : D3)
PG : Tim Black (USA) - Roel Moors (BEL)
HC : Eddy Casteels (BEL)


Verviers-Pépinster
C : Rashaun Freeman (USA) (from Ludwigsburg) - Dimitri Jorssen (BEL) (from Ghent)
PF : Damian Hollis (USA) (from George Washington) - Dennis Horner (USA) (from North Carolina State) - Armand Kabeya (BEL) (from Lleida : EBA)
SF : Stefon Jackson (USA) (from Olympia Larissa) - Tornike Shengelia (GEO) (from Valencia) - Damian Hollis (USA)
SG : Antoine Agudio (USA) (from Albuquerque Thunderbirds : D-league) - Anthony Chada (BEL) - Stefon Jackson (USA)
PG : Jovan “Wink” Adams (USA) (from Oyak Bursa) - Gerrit Major (BEL) (from Charleroi) - Anthony Chada (BEL)
HC : Ivica Skelin (HRV) (from Leuven)


Leuven Bears
C : John Tofi (Samoa-USA) (from Pépinster) - Benson Egemonye (NGA) (from Kolejliler Ankara) - Chris Devine (USA)
PF : Chris Devine (USA) (from Pépinster) - Dior Lowhorn (USA) - John Tofi (Samoa-USA)
SF : Dior Lowhorn (USA) (from University of San Francisco) - Adeola Dagunduro (NGA) (from Weissenfels) - Wim Vuchelen (BEL)
SG : Brandon Freeman (USA) (from Pépinster) - Adeola Dagunduro (NGA) - Thomas Creppy (BEL) (from Pépinster)
PG : Jared Quayle (USA) (from Utah State) - Niels Marnegrave (BEL) (from Pépinster)
HC : Jurgen Van Meerbeeck (BEL) (from Pépinster)


Ghent Dragons
C : Monwell Randle (USA) - Luc Louves (FRA) (from Orléans) - Daniel Emerson (USA)
PF : Daniel Emerson (USA) (from Mercer) - Luc Louves (FRA) - J’Nathan Bullock (USA)
SF : J’Nathan Bullock (USA) (from Geelong Supercats : Australia) - Thomas Dreesen (BEL) (from Kangoeroes-Boom : D2) - Wim Dobbelaere (BEL) (from De Westhoek Zwewezele : D2)
SG : Michael Rose (USA) (from Melbourne Tigers) - Senne Geukens (BEL) - Olivier Foucart (BEL) (from Kangoeroes-Boom : D2)
PG : Domien Loubry (BEL) - Lionel Bosco (BEL)
HC : Erez Bittman (ISR)


The first official game of the season, the supercup was held yesterday:
Charleroi-Oostende: 85-73

[Tomtom]

Some news:

Mouhammed Saer Sene will probably never come in Charleroi. He was the first new player they sign but he never arrives because of some obscure visa problem. As Charleroi has already 7 foreigners, they won't replace him except if they can sign Thomas Van den Spiegel. Oostende is also interrested in signing him but he's still looking for a better contract elsewhere. Let's bet a qualification of Charleroi for the euroleague could motivate VDS to sign for them. They would definitly need an additional center if they qualify. I think Oostende also needs him because it's the only team along with Ghent that hasn't any correct center. I really love Will Thomas, he's a very promising young player and a great player at Belgium level but he's a power forward just like Pellé and Caleb Green.

Okapi Aalst sign former Liège player Alex Ruoff to replace Damon Huffman who is out for a few months.

Pépinster has released three players after a worrying preseason. American point guard Wink Adams was overweight while both rookie power forward weren't good enough according to the club. Their new PG will be rookie Dominic Waters from Portland State. He makes a good first impression scoring 18 in the win of Pépinster over Strasbourg. They are still looking for a PF. They'd like to bring back Maxime de Zeeuw who has still no club but it depends on Charleroi that owns the player.

Otherwise, there were only 3 games for the first week. Antwerp without their leader Tim Black surprises Liège. Oostende logicaly beats Leuven and Aalst destroyed Mons. Impressive performance by Aalst during the whole game. Painful performance from Mons. They were awful especially in defense. If Mons don't react quickly, let's bet Shivek will be the first coach to loose his job this year. Aalst was never in doubt, dominating every part of the game. I was especially impressed by Anthony Hilliard who was great. I already liked him in Pépinster last year where he was rookie coming from NCAA second division. He's a very unconventional player. The way he plays, I would bet the guy has probably played power forward for most of his carreer in the states.

[rikhardur]

Gent signed G/F Adam Hall.

[rikhardur]

Aaron McCarty is the new head coach of Verviers-Pepinster.

[rikhardur]

Dexia Mons-Hainaut signed F Ahmad Nivins.

[rikhardur]

Gent signed G Elton Nesbitt.

[rikhardur]

Dexia Edge Oostende In Cup Thriller

Dreams of a Belgian Cup and EuroChallenge double won't be realized this week by BC Oostende after the club endured a narrow defeat in the Belgian Cup Final on Sunday to Dexia Mons-Hainaut.

Jean-Marc Jaumin's team fell 68-66 to Dexia, with Quincy Ronell Taylor's shot 14 seconds from the end the game-winner for Arik Shivek's side.

Mons had hoped to be playing at the EuroChallenge Final Four as well this season but they failed to progress from the Last 16.

Now they are assured of at least one title this season and it could not have been achieved in more dramatic fashion.

Trailing 61-54 midway through the last frame, Mons clawed their way back with Justin Cage hitting a couple of key late baskets.

Shivek's team ended up with possession 32 seconds from the end and the game knotted at 66-66.

Coming out of a timeout, Mons put the ball in the hands Taylor and he backed up Darrell Mitchell before spinning, launching a shot over Oostende big man Will Thomas and burying it.

Oostende called a timeout and with 14 seconds to go.

When play resumed, Mitchell brought the ball up the floor, penetrated into the lane and tried to pass to Thomas but Dexia batted the ball away.

Mitchell managed to collect it under the basket and passed to Thomas who went up strong but drew a foul.

Thomas then missed both free-throws, the second one intentionally, and time expired as the ball went out of bounds.

But the referees ruled there was still a second on the clock and that the ball had last touched a Mons player, so Jaumin drew up a final play during a timeout that almost saw his team force overtime.

Marcus Faison delivered a perfect inbounds pass from the right side of the baseline to Matt Lojeski and he caught it with both hands and released it in time over Ahmad Nivins.

The ball, though, hit off the backboard and rim and stayed out and Dexia's Peter Van Paassen got the rebound as the buzzer sounded.

Jaumin looked on from the sideline and fell to knees in disappointment while Dexia's blue-clad supporters in the Antwerp arena piled onto the court and celebrated a famous win.

"It was a great game, great atmosphere," Taylor said.

"You knew it was going to be tough game before it even started because the crowd was all in it for both teams.

"And Oostende are a great team, so we knew it was going to be a fight."

Taylor finished with 16 points, four rebounds and a couple of steals.

His most important contribution came with the game-winning shot.

"I just wanted to take the initiative, go out there and put the team on my back," he said.

"Anyone (of us) could have won the game and luckily it was me.

"I was feeling it a little bit so, I put the shot up and it went in, so, we'll take it."

Oostende lost, despite getting 16 points from Lojeski.

Ben Ebong, a long-time Dexia player who joined Oostende this season, had eight of his team's 37 rebounds and added four points for Oostende while Caleb Green grabbed a game-high nine boards.

However Green, one of the Oostende long-range marksmen, missed all three of his shots from long range and finished with four points.

It was a painful defeat for Oostende, especially because of turnovers in the last minutes of the contest that Dexia capitalized on.

"We had the game fully in our grasp and yet we let the Cup slip out of our hands," said Oostende center Tomas Van Den Spiegel, who only played briefly at the end due to a back problem.

"It was indeed a fatal final five minutes. But we can't say that Dexia didn't deserve to win."

Oostende will try to regroup and win their EuroChallenge Final Four Semi-Final on Friday against KRKA Novo Mesto.

The Belgian club is hosting the event.

Mons In The Clouds

The team from Mons may not have tasted European glory this year but there is no group of players or fans in the country happier right now.

"This was a typical final with many ups and downs for both teams," Shivek said.

"Fortunately, we had a great up at the end.

"I am very happy, because I had said before the season that this year we finally had to go for a trophy."

Netherlands national team center Van Paassen was elated.

"This was a fantastic final, a great game," he said.

"It was a close game.

"I think we deserved a victory, but many congratulations to Oostende, who have a team that keeps fighting.

"Oostende indeed turned the ball over a few times (late), but maybe that's typical pressure of such a finale."

Meanwhile, it's been an eventful time of late for Taylor.

The native of the US state of Alabama also recently became a father.

"I've got a new baby and a Cup, so 2011 has started out good for me," he said.

http://www.fibaeurope.com/coid_yVWFVjByGI69oQiW-G1ld3.articleMode_on.html

[rikhardur]

Spirou Basket Charleroi's Demond Mallet was named the 2010-11 regular season MVP.

[Nico4nicolas]

Demond Mallet resigned for 2 more years with Charleroi and Jiri Welsch joined the team for the same duration.

[Dizz]

Think this thread has slipped into the wrong forum as its not the Belgian NT thread

[rikhardur]

Aalstar beats Antwerp 96-89 in OT thriller, wins the Cup

Generali Okapi Aalstar - Port of Antwerp Giants 96-89 OT

Generali Okapi Aalstar is the 2012 Cup winner in Belgium. They outplayed Port of Antwerp Giants 96-89 in the Big Final, which was held yesterday at Lotto Arena in Antwerp. It was a heartbreaking thriller and Aalstar needed an overtime to take the trophy. Kevin Kruger (186-G-83, college: UNLV) was a key player in victory with 31 points (MVP). Christopher Young (206-F/C-79, agency: Court Side, college: Michigan) secured a great help with double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Christopher Copeland (203-F-84, college: Colorado) added 16 points and 8 rebs. Nate Fox (206-F/C-77, agency: Pro One Sports, college: Maine) helped his team with 12 points. In the loosing squad, Timothy Black (178-PG-81, agency: Limelight Hoops, college: Barton, NC) scored 19 points Darnell Wilson (198-F-85, agency: Court Side, college: Canisius) had 18 pts, plus 7 rebounds. Salah Mejri (216-C-86) registered double-double of 16 points and 11 rebs. Aalstar made impressive 24-10 in the last quarter, including Kevin Krugers basket which sent the game to OT. Aalstar eliminated Leuven Bears in the Semifinals. In the QFinals they knocked down BBC Kangoeroes.

Aalstar: Kevin Kruger 31, Christopher Young 17+11 boards, Christopher Copeland 16+8 boards, Nate Fox 12
Antwerp: Timothy Black 19, Darnell Wilson 18+7 boards, Salah Mejri 16+11 boards

https://www.eurobasket.com/Belgium/basketball.asp?NewsID=267404