KAYSERI (FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017) - There's a real buzz in Belgian basketball as they await their return to the big stage at the FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017 Final Round.

Coming back to the event after a decade, Belgium have been pitched into a fascinating Group D, where they will face Latvia, Montenegro and Russia in Prague.

For veteran legend Ann Wauters, it's particularly exhilarating in the wake of their successful qualification. After all, she has previous experience of playing in a Final Round, unlike the majority of her national team colleagues.

She will also get to compete in the paint against a very familiar face in the form of a club team-mate who has been playing with her on both sides of the Atlantic for the Los Angeles Sparks and now Bellona Agu in Turkey.

"Everyone has a nice card to play in this very open group and we are happy with our own qualities and the team-spirit that reigns in our side," stated the 1.94m center.

"Russia comes out of the previous EuroBasket Women with a not very successful sixth place. Therefore they will want to catch up with a new generation.

"Montenegro is a dangerous team and I know their best player, Jelena Dubljevic, since she is currently my team-mate in Kayseri.

"Latvia remains a bad memory for me. We lost by three points to them during our last EuroBasket Women tournament in Italy during 2007, so overall it's a very interesting group," she added.

For a player like Julie Vanloo, who is making a big impression in the Italian League and EuroCup Women with Passalacqua Ragusa, it's going to be her first major tournament at senior level and she can't wait to get the chance to shine.

She said: "I think it's a beautiful group that offers a good chance to go to the next round.

"I watched the draw live and really hoped for a moment that we could move into Group C (with France, Serbia and Greece), but that's fine.

"This will naturally be very difficult, but I think it is possible with the qualities we have. I was already super excited by the draw and now I'm super excited to play in Prague."

Both Vanloo and Wauters will play in the EuroCup Women Round of 16 with Ragusa and Bellona Agu after the winter break.

FIBA