Belgium building two years at a time

RIGA (EuroBasket 2015) - Belgium's emphatic 84-55 EuroBasket 2015 Group D victory against Estonia on Sunday not only boosted hopes of a place in the Final Phase but also served to highlight the progression possible to developing basketball nations. 

Eddy Casteels' side were dominant from start to finish in Riga, Latvia on Sunday, but the ability to secure such comprehensive successes on Europe's biggest stage has not been built overnight.

After achieving qualification for the first time in 18 years, the Belgians Lions lost all five of their games at EuroBasket 2011.

But that experience benefitted them two years later as they reached the Second Round in Slovenia, and now they hope to go one step further.

Estonia, meanwhile, are back at EuroBasket after a 14-year absence, and could do worse than to follow the Belgians' lead.

That is exactly what we need, to show our younger talents in our country what it takes to play in a tournament like this. - Casteels

Coach Casteels' cited the individual progression of guard Jonathan Tabu, who has now represented Belgium at three consecutive EuroBasket competitions, as an example of the impact experience at Europe's highest level can have on a national programme.

"When he was younger, he stepped into it, he stepped into it when he was playing in Belgium and now he is playing all over Europe," Casteels said of Tabu, who now boasts club experience in Italy, Spain and Germany.

Jonathan Tabu (BEL)

"You recognise sometimes what experience is all about and recognition concerning identity and energy.

"They recognise when it is tough, when you have to step up, when you have to have the guts to take a bad or a missed shot, but they go after it.

"Young players are sometimes overwhelmed by the total picture of a tournament."

Belgium are certainly not intimidated by the big stage any more.

We are constantly moving up, creating a great programme for our country. - Casteels

The Lions face Group D favourites Lithuania on Monday, and while Casteels is aware of his squad's limitations, their ability to recognise their position and embrace the opportunity in front of them is one of their key strengths.

"We know what to expect [against Lithuania], you know what Belgium is all about," said the experienced coach. "We know we have one chance in one hundred, maybe. Belgians are like that, but we are going for that one chance."

That is an attitude shared by star point guard Sam Van Rossom, who has been with Casteels on each of his two previous EuroBasket runs.

"Qualification for EuroBasket three times in a row is a boost for basketball in Belgium," he said after a 14-point performance against Estonia.

"First of all we want to make it through the first round because anything can happen after that.

"You don't know who you are going to draw and if you take on a big country it is going to be difficult for us, but you never say never.

"The goal is to be in the Final Phase and from there, we will see."

Those goals have steadily developed over the past four years in line with Belgium's climb up the European basketball ladder, and only time will show where that upward curve might end.

Go to eurobasket2015.org for complete coverage of EuroBasket 2015.

FIBA