BRUSSELS (FIBA EuroBasket 2017 Qualifiers) - Eddy Casteels will resume his role as Belgium head coach and try to steer the Lions to a fourth consecutive FIBA EuroBasket appearance, the Royal Basketball Federation of Belgium (FRBB) has confirmed.

On Saturday, the administration council of the FRBB decided unanimously to renew their collaboration with coach Casteels as well as his entire staff ahead of the FIBA EuroBasket 2017 Qualifiers, which are set to get under way on 31 August.

"The reason for this choice is to ensure continuity on the basis of the good results obtained in recent years and commence a new stage for the senior national team," the FRBB explained in a press release.

Casteels is to enter the 11th year of his tenure as the Belgian Lions boss and is consequently one of the longest-serving national team coaches in Europe.

The 55-year-old tactician assumed the reins of Belgium in the summer of 2005 and played a major role in the resurgence of the senior national team which saw them ending their 18-year absence from major tournaments.

Belgium took the big step in summer 2010 as they topped their FIBA EuroBasket Division A qualification group and punched their ticket to the big event in Lithuania the following year.

Casteels's troops finished in 21st place at FIBA EuroBasket 2011 but the experience the new generation of Belgian players accumulated in that tournament ushered in a new era for basketball in the country.

Belgium established themselves as a staple participant of EuroBasket in its following two editions, reaching a superb ninth-place finish in 2013 and advancing to the Round of 16 in 2015.

Casteels has successfully combined the Belgium head coaching position with club roles throughout his tenure.

He is currently in his second season as head coach of Dutch side Zorg en Zekerheid Leiden while he had spent two five-year spells in charge of Port of Antwerp Giants, leading them to the Belgian League crown on two occasions.

He was also the coach of Telenet Oostende from 2001 through 2004 and guided them to the Belgian championship title in 2002.

The Draw for the FIBA EuroBasket 2017 Qualifiers takes place on 22 January in Germany.

FIBA