2024-09-11 21:32:49
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At the start of each season, the same question is put back on the table: will a team manage to dethrone Ostend? But for 13 years, the BCO has held its champion crown firmly on its head. An incredible longevity at the top of Belgian basketball that honors a club that always seems to be one or even several steps ahead of the competition.
The model based on the development of Belgian talents surrounded by a few big foreign calibers has proven itself. Beyond the work done on the field by coach Dario Gjergja and his team, we must also highlight the good work done behind the scenes. Because the BCO rarely makes mistakes in its recruitment. And what we have already seen in preparation tends to confirm this. Three of the four American reinforcements (Aldridge, Audige and Mintz) have shown great potential. While point guard Zegarowski, considered the strongest recruit, has been slowed down by back problems.
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The main rival of the Ostendais on paper is once again Antwerp . With the arrival of the new Chinese main sponsor “Windrose”, the metropolitan club has the biggest budget in the league. But to compete with the Coastals, the new Dutch coach Geert Hamminck, who defeated Ostend in the BNXT final in 2022 at the head of Leiden, will have to manage to establish the necessary alchemy within a largely renewed group.
Despite an XXL recruitment, with the arrivals of Belgian internationals Kevin Tumba and Elias Lasisi, as well as four Americans and a Bulgarian, the results in preparation have shown that the Giants still have a lot of work to do on a collective level.
L’outsider
Behind the two heavyweights of the championship, Limburg United will be labelled as an outsider. Winner of the Cup and eliminated after five rounds by Antwerp in the semi-finals of the playoffs last season, the Limburg club is increasingly establishing itself as a sure bet in the competition.
A status to be confirmed with a team reshuffled following several important departures such as those of American winger Myles Cale, pivot Osunniyi and Belgian Maxime De Zeeuw. To make up for these losses, Raymond Westphalen, the 2024 coach of the year, can notably count on the arrival of three new American reinforcements.
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The surprise
If a prize were to be awarded at the end of the pre-season preparation, Louvain would deserve the honours. Now led by Kristof Michiels, former successful coach of Mechelen where he went to recruit former Belgian servants like Wen Mukubu and Mattias Palinckx, the Bears have signed promising results. With the former Antwerp pivot Roby Rogiers, the young point guard Steff Schauvlieger who distinguished himself in Aalst, as well as three American players as other reinforcements, the team from Flemish Brabant could well be the pleasant surprise of the season.
The questions
For the last three teams, questions persist. Alost et Kortrijkcan count on renowned coaches such as Eddy Casteels and Johan Roijakkers to enhance the potential of their team. And on the side of Mechelenwho offered Hans Vanwijn a two-week contract at the last minute, doubts remain regarding the real value of the squad.
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Belgian Basketball Season Preview: Can Anyone Dethrone Ostend?
As the new season of Belgian basketball gets underway, the same question is on everyone’s mind: can anyone dethrone Ostend, the reigning champions who have held their title for an impressive 13 years? The BCO’s model of developing Belgian talent combined with a few big foreign players has proven itself time and time again, and their recruitment strategy has rarely faltered. With three of their four American reinforcements showing great potential in preparation, it’s no wonder they’re the favorites to win again [[1]].
Challengers: Antwerp and Limburg United
Antwerp, with their new Chinese main sponsor “Windrose,” has the biggest budget in the league and is led by Dutch coach Geert Hamminck, who defeated Ostend in the BNXT final in 2022. Despite an impressive recruitment drive that includes Belgian internationals Kevin Tumba and Elias Lasisi, as well as four Americans and a Bulgarian, the Giants still have a lot of work to do to establish the necessary alchemy within their team.
Limburg United, on the other hand, is increasingly establishing itself as a sure bet in the competition. With a team reshuffled after several important departures, they’ll be relying on their new American reinforcements to make up for the losses. Coach Raymond Westphalen, the 2024 coach of the year, will be hoping to lead his team to another successful season.
Dark Horse: Louvain
Louvain, led by Kristof Michiels, former successful coach of Mechelen, has been making waves in the pre-season preparation. With a promising new team that includes former Antwerp pivot Roby Rogiers, young point guard Steff Schauvlieger, and three American players, they might just be the surprise package of the season.
Belgian Basketball: A Growing Force
As the season gets underway, all eyes will be on the Belgian basketball league, which has been gaining popularity in recent years. With a growing fan base and increasing interest from sponsors, the league is looking stronger than ever. And with teams like Ostend, Antwerp, Limburg United, and Louvain all vying for the top spot, it’s shaping up to be an exciting season.
Get Involved with Belgian Basketball
If you’re interested in getting involved with Belgian basketball, be sure to follow Basketball Belgium, the official governing body of basketball in Belgium, on social media [[1]]. You can also check out their YouTube channel for live streams of games and other basketball-related content [[3]]. And don’t forget to learn more about the Belgium women’s national basketball team, also known as the Belgian Cats, which represents Belgium in international basketball competitions [[2]].
As the season kicks off, one thing is certain: Belgian basketball is on the rise, and it’s going to be an exciting ride. Will Ostend retain their title, or will one of the challengers manage to dethrone them? Only time will tell.
Belgian Basketball Season Preview: Can Anyone Dethrone Ostend?
The new basketball season is just around the corner, and the question on everyone’s mind is: can anyone dethrone Ostend, the reigning champion of Belgian basketball? For 13 years, Ostend has dominated the league, and it’s hard to imagine anyone else taking the crown. But, with new teams and new players entering the fray, this season promises to be an exciting one.
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Ostend, also known as the BCO, has been the team to beat for over a decade. Their model of developing Belgian talents and surrounding them with top-quality foreign players has proven to be a winning formula. Coach Dario Gjergja and his team have consistently produced results, and their recruitment strategy has rarely faltered. This season, they’ve added three promising American reinforcements – Aldridge, Audige, and Mintz – to their roster.
The main rival of Ostend is Antwerp, which has the biggest budget in the league thanks to their new Chinese main sponsor, Windrose. With a new coach, Geert Hamminck, who defeated Ostend in the BNXT final in 2022, Antwerp is looking to finally overthrow the reigning champions. However, their preparation has shown that they still have work to do to gel as a team.
L’outsider
Behind the two heavyweights, Limburg United is emerging as a dark horse. Despite being eliminated by Antwerp in the semi-finals of the playoffs last season, Limburg has consistently performed well and is now considered a sure bet in the competition. With a reshuffled team following several key departures, they’ll need to rebuild and find a new rhythm.
The Surprise
Will this season bring any surprises? Can another team rise to the challenge and dethrone Ostend? The BNXT League, which is the top tier in both the Dutch and Belgian systems [[2]], has brought a new level of competition to the region. With teams like Limburg United pushing the boundaries, anything is possible.
The Questions
As the season gets underway, several questions remain unanswered. Can Ostend continue their dominance, or will Antwerp or Limburg United finally break their stranglehold on the championship? How will the new teams and players adapt to the league, and which ones will make a breakthrough? One thing is certain – this season promises to be an exciting one for Belgian basketball fans.
References
[1] Eurobasket – Belgium Basketball, News, Teams, Scores, Stats
[2] BNXT League – Wikipedia
[3] FIBA – Basketball Belgium
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