Belgium basketball

[rikhardur]

Some talked about the absence of a thread dedicated to Belgian basketball, so I decided to start one. Discuss anything about Belgian basketball, be it the national league, NT, players, etc..
If the thread becomes active enough I'll change its name for this season.


Current league standings:

http://www.basketleague.be/standings/

[Khalid80]

Thanks for the thread Rik!
Do u know if D.J Mbenga is playing in any games with the Belgian NT?

[Moros]

Thanks for the thread Rik!
Do u know if D.J Mbenga is playing in any games with the Belgian NT?

Thanks.

DJ isn't playing any games, he was waiting what contract he would get in the NBA, and the Coach of the NT couldn't wait anymore, sow he lost his spot in the team

now the league:

Last year Bree couldn't get a license because some money problems, sow the league is played with 9 teams.

Play-off's with 6 teams:
4-6 must play a pre-round (best off 3)
Half final against 1 and 2(best off 3)
final (best off 5)

The teams:
Mons, after they lost 2 finals(fiba, B-cup) last year they are back in business
Aalst, is playing really good, last year they defeated Ostend in de Pre-Playoff's
Charleroi, has a great team, but maybe to many players, the team to beat ?
Antwerp, hasn't lost at home, and surprises everybody
Ostend, had the worse season start ever, lost almost the whole team last year, and couldn't make a good new team (players come and go).
Leuven normally they play to be not the last in the standings,
Liege, last year they had a good team and good stats, now they are to low.
Gent, new sins last year
Pepinster, almost bankrupt and has some players from Charleroi

My prognoses:

1-4 : Charleroi, Mons, Ostend, Aalst
5-6 : Antwerpen, Liege
7-9 : Gent, Leuven, Pepinster

[rikhardur]

Belgium Announce Preliminary Squad, Schedule

Belgium have come up with a slogan ahead of this summer's Additional Qualifying Round games for the EuroBasket in Poland.

ONE TEAM, NO LIMITS!

If the Belgians keep on playing as they did in their final game last summer when they beat Ukraine 76-58 to avoid dropping into the relegation muck, the catchphrase is a perfect fit.

Indeed, the win for Belgium clinched a 2-4 record and one of the six spots for the additional qualifiers and they were subsequently drawn against Portugal and Bosnia and Herzegovina in Group A, with those games to be played in August.

The team hasn't played in a Final Round of the EuroBasket since 1993 and to do so this time will take a monumental effort, and luck.

They first must finish top of their pool above Bosnia and Herzegovina and Portugal - sides that have reached the EuroBasket in recent times - and then beat the winner of Group B (Italy, France or Finland) on aggregate in a home-and-away tie.

The Eddy Casteels-Jacques Stas coaching duo has selected a 24-strong preliminary squad that includes 2.05m forward Christophe Beghin, who played in all six games last summer and averaged 14 points, along with young point guard Sam Van Rossom, Dmitri Lauwers and Roel Moors.

There is a Jef Van Der Jonckheyd, a small forward who logged the fourth most number of minutes. The most prominent names, however, are the Real Madrid duo of Axel Hervelle and Tomas Van Den Spiegel and the Los Angeles Lakers' Congo-born center Didier Mbenga.

As Hervelle showed in the one game that he played last year, the decisive win over Ukraine, he has the potential to be the best player on the court.

In that triumph, Hervelle had 17 points and seven rebounds.

To get ready for the Additional Qualifying Round, Belgium have scheduled a training camp in Dallas, Texas, from July 10 to 20, where the NBA's Mavericks have invited them to use their facilities.

Dallas is where the 28-year-old Mbenga spent the first three years of his NBA career.

Belgium will return to Europe and be in France from July 24-26 and have friendly games against the French, the Czech Republic and Austria in Strasbourg.

Belgium will play games against New Zealand on July 29 in Courtrai and the following day in Anvers and then finish with a trip to Sofia and play against Bulgaria on August 2 and 3.

Belgium Preliminary Squad: Sam Van Rossom, Jonathan Tabu, Lionel Bosco, Domien Loubry, Gerri Major, Dimitri Lauwers, Roel Moors, Guy Muya, Thomas Dreesen, Randy Oveneke, Jef Van Der Jonckheyd, Bob Menama, Wen Mukubu, Axel Hervelle, Sacha Massot, Aleksander Lichodzijewski, Maxime Dezeeuw, Yannick Driesen, Kristof Ongenaet, Sebastien Bellin, Christophe Beghin, Piet De Bel, Tomas Van Den Spiegel, Didier Mbenga.

http://www.fibaeurope.com/coid_ZWgC1690G7MM-t,UeXpLt3.articleMode_on.container_frontpage.html

[Luíz for 3]

I believe Portugal will win against Belgium, their roster aren't great enough to beat our NT. But, Portugal has to find answers to stop the big man Van den Spiegel...

Where can I find Belgium League Stats??

[vaslover]

Guys, where is Erik Strulens now? What is he engaged in now? I can,t find any information about him. He was one of my favourite Powerful Forwards in the late 90s/early 00s. His dunks were so special!

[Nicksy]

Guys, where is Erik Strulens now? What is he engaged in now? I can,t find any information about him. He was one of my favourite Powerful Forwards in the late 90s/early 00s. His dunks were so special!

At 40 he is still playing. He just won the championship in Belgium's 3rd division with Excelsior Brussels. http://www.royalexcelsior.be/N3%20NL.htm

[vaslover]

At 40 he is still playing. He just won the championship in Belgium's 3rd division with Excelsior Brussels. http://www.royalexcelsior.be/N3%20NL.htm

Thanks for information.

[rikhardur]

Mbenga, Driesen Dominate As Belgium Beat CBA Selection

Belgium have played in two friendly games against a selection of CBA players in Dallas, Texas, and won both games.

Preparing for the Additional Qualifying Round of the EuroBasket, the Belgians won the first game 82-66 after Los Angeles Lakers center Didier Mbenga poured in 18 points and hauled in five rebounds.

Yannick Driesen contributed 15 points and five boards and Thomas Dreesen scored 11 in that victory.

Then, in an 83-77 triumph, Mbenga again stood tall with 14 points while Doum Lauwers poured in 11 and Christophe Beghin 10.

Belgium will play in Group A of the Additional Qualifying Round next month against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Portugal.

The side that finishes top will go up against the Group B winners (France, Italy or Finland) in a home-and-away tie to determine the last side to reach September's EuroBasket in Poland.

http://www.fibaeurope.com/coid_RMP848QTHjMOOfDew7XBu2.articleMode_on.container_frontpage.html

[rikhardur]

Mbenga Back But Belgium Fall

Didier Mbenga returned for Belgium but could not prevent them from slipping to an 83-81 loss to New Zealand in a warm-up for their EuroBasket Additional Qualifying Round campaign.

The Belgians routed New Zealand 98-76 in Oostende on Wednesday night, but it was a very different story a day later in Antwerp as they became only the second team to lose to the Tall Blacks in what was game seven of their European tour.

It took a basket from Alex Pledger with half a second left to win it for New Zealand.

Belgium let slip a 17-point second-quarter lead, which will be a clear cause for concern for coaches Eddy Casteels and Jacques Stas with only a week left before they tip off their AQR campaign against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Zenica on August 8.

Mbenga, who missed Wednesday's game, returned to score 15 points, while Sam van Rossum led Belgium with 16.

Jeff van der Jonckheyd and Yannick Driesen also reached double figures with 11 and 10 respectively.

http://www.fibaeurope.com/coid_q7,go,ZBIzAvu5iKrm1mF2.articleMode_on.container_frontpage.html

[Mindozas]

Does Hervelle and Van der Spiegel gonna join NT? As I understand they didn't play in all those friendlies, so what's the situation with them?

[Tomtom]

Does Hervelle and Van der Spiegel gonna join NT? As I understand they didn't play in all those friendlies, so what's the situation with them?

Hervelle and VDS are both on the bench during these friendlies. They are both injured. Normaly, Hervelle will play the games against Bosnia and Portugal. VDS probably won't. The roster is:

Sam Van Rossom (188-G-86) Scavolini Pesaro
Lionel Bosco (176-G-81) Oostende
Roel Moors (188-G-78) Antwerp Giants
Dimitri Lauwers (187-G-79) Air Avellino
Thomas Dreesen (200-F-88) Phoenix Hagen (german second division)
Randy Oveneke (201-F-86) Antwerp Giants
Jef Vander Jonckheyd (203-F-82) Leuven Bears
Piet De Bel (208-C-80) Okapi Aalstar
Christophe Beghin (207-F/C-80) Antwerp Giants
Yannick Driesen (215-C-88) Estudiantes Madrid
Axel Hervelle (205-F-83) Real Madrid
Didier Mbenga (214-C-80) Los Angeles Lakers

Reserves

Guy Muya (190-G-83) Belgacom Liège
Domien Loubry (186-G-85) Optima Gent
Maxime De Zeeuw (205-F/C-87) Verviers-Pépinster

Christophe Beghin is also injured but should play the important games. Spirou Charleroi forward Sacha Massot is also injured and is out of the roster. Also, Jonathan Tabu of Spirou Charleroi won't play.

The SF position is absolutly awfull with Van der Jonckheyd, Oveneke and dreesen. All other players aren't bad.

[rikhardur]

Raimondas Petrauskas signed by Oostende.
Stanley Pringle goes to Leuven.

[rikhardur]

Mons Take Shivek From Amsterdam

Dexia Mons-Hainaut raided Dutch side Amsterdam over the weekend and handed the coaching reins to the Dutch team's boss, Arik Shivek.

The move has come following the recent departure of coach Chris Finch to move to America where he will lead the Houston Rockets' NBDL team, Rio Grande Valley.

Shivek, an Israeli who is a veteran coach, has just over a week to get the Belgium team ready for its Eurocup Qualifying Round clash with Valencia Basket Club.

The first leg is to be played on October 20 in Mons.

Shivek coached Antwerp to a Belgian Cup win in 2007 before leaving for Holland and leading Amsterdam to back-to-back league titles.

Ironically, he orchestrated Mons' downfall in the 2008-09 EuroChallenge.

He guided Amsterdam to two victories over Dexia in the Top 16, including a do-or-die clash on March 10 that the Dutch giants won 93-86.

That victory allowed the Amsterdammers to clinch second place in Group L behind BC Triumph with a 4-2 record ahead of Dexia (3-3).

Without their injured star center Peter van Paassen against EKA AEL Limassol in the last eight, however, Amsterdam suffered two narrow defeats.

Shivek was still at the helm of Amsterdam this season, who have had financial uncertainty the past two years, when he got the call from Mons and received what Amsterdam described on their website "an offer he couldn't refuse".

"I have never experienced such a situation in my long career," Shivek said.

"This is new for me but the players must be patient and give us time.

"I know the Belgian league. It is played more and more tightly than in the Netherlands.

"We will want the top four and then in the play-offs, if the team is good, we could be more ambitious."

He then spoke about playing in the Eurocup, or EuroChallenge, depending on their tie with Valencia.

"Europe?" Shivek said. "It is very important for a club like Mons. It's part of history. In addition, players love to play two times per week.

"I know very well the atmosphere in the mons.arena. Whenever I came from Amsterdam, it was very hot! Fortunately, I did not understand what the public was saying to me (Shivek laughs). However, that was never threatening ... "

The departure of Shivek is a tough pill to swallow for Amsterdam, who nevertheless thanked him for his contributions to the club.

"Led by Arik in the past two seasons, we won the league title, the last under difficult conditions by the bankruptcy of MyGuide and EclipseJet," Amsterdam said on their website.

"Furthermore, we reached the Quarter-Finals of the EuroChallenge last season.

"Our reputation in Europe and the placement of the Eurocup is partly achieved by his actions. We are particularly grateful to him and wish him every possible success in the upcoming season."

Amsterdam are also trying to reach the Eurocup.

They have a Qualifying Round tie with Enterprise BC Dynamo.

http://www.fibaeurope.com/coid_vZI6QVVBG4w-fYdworQ9W3.articleMode_on.container_frontpage.html

[xtf_no4]

.

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