Mestdagh draws and makes achttienkoppige pre-selection for european CHAMPIONSHIPS basketball known

Basketball Coach Philip Mestdagh afternoon in the buildings of the sponsor Crelan in Anderlecht a achttienkoppige pre-selection announced for the european CHAMPIONSHIPS vrouwenbasket, that from 27 June to 7 July in Serbia, and Latvia. In the margin, it was announced that Mestdaghs contract extended by one year.

compared with a first pre-selection beginning of april was made, only Manon Grzesinski ()) does not. Hind Ben Abdelkader, who in the WNBA with Chicago Sky active, makes her comeback in the selection. Last year at the world CHAMPIONSHIPS in Tenerife was the point guard. Power forward Celeste Trahan-Davis (Castors) was in the pre-selection included, but can be at the european CHAMPIONSHIP not in action. The U.s. spends now six years in our country and so it was two years ago, the naturalization process started. Now is the paperwork, however, not yet in order. The internship can Trahan-Davis smoothly, in order to get experience, but on the finals she will be there so not at. Also, Ann Wauters is in the preselection. The 38-year-old leading lady of the Belgian vrouwenbasket has in recent months, the recovery worked after a knee surgery, but is optimistic regarding its opportunities to play gigs at the european CHAMPIONSHIPS, for which the expectations are quite high.

The Belgian women were third at the european CHAMPIONSHIPS in 2017 in Prague and last year's fourth at the world CHAMPIONSHIPS in Tenerife. Belgium lost, however, his status as a seed in the draw and was in the group of death', from in Russia, White-Russia and host Serbia. The Cats start at the european CHAMPIONSHIP in Serbia in Zrenjanin against Russia on 27 June to 17: 45 hrs. On the 28th of June at 17: 45 hrs the team of Philip Mestdagh, the record against White-Russia, and finally, they work their last match in the group stage against host Serbia on 30 June at 20h30.

Aiming at top six

A heavy group, so for the Cats. About medals is currently not yet spoken, a little less than a month and a half before the start of the tournament. “Our main goal at the european CHAMPIONSHIP is a place in the top six, because that gives you access to the qualifier for the Olympics next year in Tokyo!”, explained assistant coach Pierre Cornia Wednesday during a press conference in Anderlecht.

coach Philip Mestdagh estimate the opposition at the european CHAMPIONSHIPS are very strong. “We're in group D and we can still say that it is the group of death. But from our past campaigns, we have confidence extracted and against which the large countries, we must still dare to play with belief in their own abilities. By our results we are also quite a bit of our role of underdog pushed. Such a heavy group stage opens also perspectives, because then you are prepared for the potential of strong opposition in the following rounds of the tournament,” said Mestdagh, who are eighteen players picked up in the pre-selection.

“Friday, we start our preparation with thirteen players. Julie Allemand plays with Lyon still in the play-offs in France and in Turkey is that the case with Kim Mestdagh at Fenerbahçe. After the play-offs travelling Kim, however, immediately off to Washington to be there at the Mystics Emma Meesseman to accompany and Hind Ben Abdelkader (Chicago Sky, red), and Lore Devos (Colorado State University) are still in the United States.”

the exercise is in the meantime fixed. What is striking is that there are a lot of top countries in the sparringpartners sit. “Our status is changed: now we are asked to play matches. So we have more choice, which translates into stronger oefenpartners. Also that thanks to the COIB on stage in Japan. The stagegedeelte in Belgium is the toughest chunk of the preparation. Then the tapering towards the CHAMPIONSHIP.”

The oefenkamp in Japan will be held from 25 may to 3 June, with two practice matches against the host country, on 31 may and 2 June. From 6 to 10 June there is a training camp in Spain, with a match against Italy (June 8) and a yet to be determined opponent (9 June). From 14 to 16 June there is a tournament in Brussels with games against Spain (14 June), Canada (15 June) and China (16 June). The preparation is ended with two matches against Italy on June 21 in Wevelgem and the uitwuifwedstrijd a day later in Kortrijk. On 24 June to leave the Belgian Cats to Serbia.

The first of each group qualify directly for the quarter-finals. The second and third of the group will barragewedstrijden have to play to get to the next round by punches. For the Belgians this would be against the second or third from group C are. Consisting of Hungary, Turkey, Italy and Slovenia.

The european CHAMPIONSHIP takes place in Latvia (capital Riga) and in Serbia (in niš and Zrenjanin). The barrages will be played in Riga and Belgrade and from the quarter-finals, the races are finished in Belgrade. The first six countries on the european CHAMPIONSHIPS, 2019 may in a mutually tournament, to determine places for the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020.

Philip Mestdagh has signed on as coach of the Belgian Cats until after the european CHAMPIONSHIPS of 2021. He followed in 2015 Daniel Goethals, as a first assignment, the qualifications for the european CHAMPIONSHIP 2017. At that european CHAMPIONSHIP in Prague won the Belgian Cats the bronze medal. A year later came the icing on the cake with a fourth place at the world cup. His previous commitment would be after the Olympic Games next year in the Japanese capital Tokyo off.

Ann Wauters works in the lee on comeback: “Emotional rollercoaster”

After surgery on the left knee in november of last year, it was for Ann Wauters, a race against the clock to make timely fit to get for the EK vrouwenbasket. “It has been a lengthy process, probably the hardest that I have ever had to do: suddenly wanted my body to do what I wanted. So it is really an emotional rollercoaster”, known Wauters during a press conference. “Over the last few weeks, however, I already had some on-site shoots with the coach and I noticed that I made a lot of progress. Friday, I hope already a big part of the training to be able to participate.”

With a bronze medal at the previous european CHAMPIONSHIPS and a fourth place at the world CHAMPIONSHIPS last year in Tenerife is Belgium meanwhile, the role of the underdog lost, and also to our country look. “The road to the summit is long and difficult, but the world is even more difficult. On the two previous tournaments we have surpassed and now we want to re-do, basketball play in which the team is paramount. Hard work has led us to the previous success, and that will from Friday have to re-start. Our group has the desire.”

Selection:

Julie Allemand (Lyon ASVEL/Fra), Hind Ben Abdelkader (Chicago Sky/VSt), Marjorie Carpréaux (Kangaroos Mechelen), Antonia Delaere (Nantes/Fra), Lore Devos (Colorado State University/Usa), Serena-Lynn Geldof (Names), Kyara Linskens (Gorzow/Pol), Emma Meesseman (Washington Mystics/VSt), Hanne Mestdagh (Names), Kim Mestdagh (Washington Mystics/VSt), Heleen Nauwelaers (Bembibre/Spa), Hatty Nahwezi-Gang (Rioja/Spa), Jana Raman (Valencia/Spa), Elise Ramette (Sint-Katelijne-Waver, belgium), Laure Resimont (Tarbes/Fra), Julie Vanloo (Townsville Fire/Aus), Celeste Trahan-Davis (Castors Braine), Ann Wauters