BRUSSELS (FIBA EuroBasket 2017) - Belgium head coach Eddy Casteels became the first playcaller to reveal his final selection for the FIBA EuroBasket 2017, reducing his squad to 12 players with preparations continuing to pick up steam.

Olivier Troisfontaines and Amaury Gorgemans were the last players to be cut from the candidate list before the Belgian Lions set out for a friendly tournament in Toulouse, while Matt Lojeski and Retin Obasohan were confirmed by the Belgian Basketball Federation as officially out for the tournament on Saturday.

However, there was some good news for the Belgians as well with point guard Sam Van Rossom, who was out for a couple of months after a knee surgery, and big man Kevin Tumba getting clearance from the medical staff. Maxime De Zeeuw, who had been away from the national team to attend the birth of his child, also rejoined the squad.

Meanwhile, 22-year-old forward Vincent Kesteloot remains on standby in case of an injury or other unforeseen circumstances.

Belgium split their first two games in Toulouse, picking up an 85-60 defeat against France before bouncing back with an equally emphatic 80-60 win over Italy, Jean Salumu leading the way with 19 points and 6 assists.

Pierre-Antoine Gillet added 14 points, while Quintin Serron and Maxime De Zeeuw chipping in with 12 apiece for the Lions, who will finish off the four-team tournament with a game against Montenegro.

The team will return returning to Brussels for their only preparation game on home soil against the defending FIBA EuroBasket champions Spain after defeating them on the road in Tenerife.

Belgium will play in Group D of FIBA EuroBasket 2017 in Istanbul, alongside the national teams of Great Britain, Latvia, Russia, Serbia and tournament hosts Turkey.

FIBA