TBILISI (Georgia) - Belgium aren't here to for a participation  ribbon for their fifth straight EuroBasket. Their preparation, physicality and cohesion allow the Belgian Lions to believe that they can come out on top in any game.

It all starts with the previous generation that laid the foundation for such a streak of quality play. Belgium guard Retin Obasohan is quick to pay homage to those who showed him the ropes.

"Lionel Bosco was there at my first national team camp. He was picking me up full court. I remember how tough he would play. The veterans who are with us right now definitely set the tone in terms of us being a team that prides itself on defense," says Obasohan.

 
In terms of EuroBasket experience, the veteran core is led by Jonathan Tabu and Maxime De Zeeuw who haven't missed any of the five competitions. Just this summer Tabu surpassed Christophe Beghin as Belgium's most capped player. De Zeeuw might be third when the EuroBasket is done.

"All these years we have qualified through our defense," Tabu points out. "This is what we do. We don't have so many 7-footers, we're not that tall. We have heart. And we have to go hard every time."

"THE HERVELLES, THE VAN ROSSOMS, THOSE GUYS ARE THE GIANTS ON WHICH WE STAND NOW IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THINGS THAT WE HAVEN'T DONE BEFORE."
RETIN OBASOHAN

 However, first Belgium had to take a step back. A disappointing finish in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers forced them to start their FIBA EuroBasket 2022 campaign with the Pre-Qualifiers. That's also the point at which Croatian-Belgian coach Dario Gjergja took over.

"Through the last few years we tried to convince the guys about our plans so that they believe that we can do something. Now, we have reached the place where we are. Qualifying from Pre-Qualifiers wasn't easy at all," Gjergja remembers.

The 11-time Belgian League champion as head coach of Filou Oostende has instituted a demanding and detail-oriented approach.

"If you work your ass off, you're good. Then he's going to love you," Jean-Marc Mwema laughs. "He's very emotional and driven. If you give back that same energy, you're going to have a good relationship."

With physical and smart defensive players at their disposal, Gjergja's staff do their best so not a second goes by where opponents don't feel Belgium up in their face. The allotted EuroBasket practice times don't even suffice for the meticulous practices Gjergja would like to conduct, laughs Obasohan who calls it "time-constraint preparation".

"Our coaching staff puts in countless hours. As small as our staff is, they put in tremendous effort. I really believe it's overlooked. We want to reciprocate our gratitude by being locked in every second on the court," Obasohan says.

And locked in they are.

First, there's the group on the perimeter that doesn't mind pressure defense or switching across many positions. Yet that also is possible, because they know that shot blockers like Ismael Bako and Kevin Tumba are behind them to protect the rim, Obasohan explains.

Moreover, such effort can only be given if everyone has done their homework. "That's making sure we are aware of the plays and what the opposing team is looking for. It's knowing that he knows just as I know what we are supposed to do when they run a pin down, a cross screen or a ball screen. It takes a lot of trust."

For the last few years the concept has been the same. Belgium analyze the strengths of the opposition's offense and adapt to them, adds Ismael Bako. The center speaks for Belgium's frontcourt players that frequently are asked to defend far away from the basket.

"I don't think it's a good idea to always involve too many people in the screen. It opens up too many options. If you can limit the ball screen defense with just two guys, it closes their offense. We have big men who can hedge a little bit and still also rotate to our guy. We have a real advantage there," Bako acknowledges.

With scrappy wins over Spain and Serbia this year, there is a sense of confidence that comes from Belgium. They don't spend time dwelling about the result and live with the mentality that important victories will only come with the appropriate level of intensity.

"Defensively we need to be on the highest level on every possession," coach Gjergja sets the standard for any achievements.

How far do they believe they can go? Mwema, Tabu and De Zeeuw were there in FIBA EuroBasket 2013 when Belgium placed 10th, the best result for the Lions in recent history.

"The times that we're happy to be at the EuroBasket should be over. We should be here to really compete and get more respect from the big teams," says Mwema.

 The younger crew is right there with the veterans, proudly carrying on the tradition. "If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants," Obasohan reveals the motto for his generation.

"The Hervelles, the Van Rossoms, those guys are the giants on which we stand now in order to achieve things that we haven't done before - like our first World Cup or our first Olympics. We don't want to be happy with the things that we achieved in the past."

FIBA