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DUTCH PICK UP WHERE THEY LEFT OFF
12.12.2014, FEATURE

"My goal, to put it quite simply, is to try and win the next game" - Netherlands Head Coach Toon Van Helfteren

In 1987 in Athens, the then 36-year-old Toon Van Helfteren pulled on the Dutch jersey for one final bow and stepped out at the last of the three EuroBasket tournaments in his international career.
Netherlands were also be present at the following EuroBasket, in 1989 in Zagreb, but that stands as their most recent participation in the show-piece European event.
That is at least, until next September, when the 61-year-old to be Van Helfteren is set to lead the Dutch national team, this time as their head coach, when they take on Georgia in the EuroBasket 2015 Group C premiere.
It has taken a quarter of a century, but Netherlands have come full circle as they are returning to EuroBasket and they are returning to Zagreb.
The symbolism could hardly be more evident, but Van Helfteren would have much preferred a strong dose of luck rather than a generous dose of omens.
"No, I am not happy with the draw, it could have been a little easier," the Dutch coach stated unequivocally when asked if pitted against Croatia, Slovenia, Greece, Georgia and F.Y.R. of Macedonia was good for his team.
"First of all I was hoping to be able to play in Germany (Berlin will host Group B) because it would be easier for Dutch fans to travel there," Van Helfteren explained.
"Zagreb will be more difficult for people from Holland to go and watch the games.
"Secondly, this [Group C] is a very difficult group.
"There are four teams from south-east Europe, from the Balkans, which are good teams, very fast teams and if you also throw Georgia in that mix, for us it will be very tough.
"My goal, to put it quite simply, is to try and win the next game.
"But I had hoped for a little bit more favourable draw, to have more hopes of winning one game in the group.
"Nobody can expect us to qualify to the Final Phase.
"It's not like we are not going to try to make it, but we return after 25 years, we are very happy to be there, we are going to play the hardest we can.
"But looking at the opponents, it's tough for us to win.
"Hopefully we will be back again in 2017 and we won't have to wait another 25 years for this to happen."

ORANGE SCARVES IN ZAGREB

Worthy De Jong starred for Netherlands in getting them back into EuroBasket

To say that the Netherlands were the surprise package of the 2nd Qualification Round in August is probably the understatement of the year.
Van Helfteren's troops defeated Montenegro and Bulgaria both home and away, to leave no doubt about how hard they worked to make it back to EuroBasket.
One of the reasons why this Dutch team achieved the feat of EuroBasket qualification precisely last summer, following a 25-year-wait, was the support of their fans.
It would make a big difference to them if they felt the same support when the big tournament tips off in September 2015.
"It's not as easy for our fans as hopping in a car and driving to Berlin or even Montpellier," Van Helfteren admitted.
"I still hope though that the fans will support us, because in qualifying this summer we saw that people in Holland are really interested in basketball.
"So, taking that into account, I am pretty sure there will be people dressed in orange showing up in Zagreb, too."
Another factor in the Dutch renaissance last summer was the work of a group of veteran players, such as Kees Akerboom Sr., father of active player Kees Akerboom Jr.
During a testing period for the Dutch Federation and the national team, this group took it upon themselves to raise funds and stand by coach Van Helfteren and the current generation of players.
"When we qualified, former Dutch international players came together and said 'we have to do something for the national team'," Van Helfteren explained.
"Now our slogan in Holland is: 'for the internationals, by the (former) internationals'.
"This group of former players has been allowed by the Federation to work (on the national team project) for five years.
"So of course next year's championship is the first thing but we want to make it more interesting for the long-term.
"That includes getting more people involved with basketball in Holland, giving it more exposure."

THE BEST TEAM

Henk Norel was one of the Dutch players absent during the 2nd Qualification Round

What made Dutch qualification last summer even more remarkable, was the fact that Van Helfteren put together a highly competitive puzzle while several of its supposed main pieces were missing.
The Netherlands had to make do without Akerboom, Henk Norel, Sean Cunningham and David Jansen, but they presented a hardened team which played possibly the best defence in the entire 2nd Qualifying Round.
While this element strengthens the allure of the Dutch masterpiece of August 2014, it also presents Van Helfteren with a crucial dilemma in the run-up to September 2015.
"Last year we missed a lot of players but qualifying to EuroBasket has made [the prospect of returning to the national team] interesting to them too," the Dutch coach stated.
"Our first thought was to take to EuroBasket the players that accomplished this.
"But the more time you have to think about it, it comes down to having the best team next year.
"I don't necessarily mean the best players, but the best team.
"Because that's what would give us the best chances possible.
"So I am going to sit down and talk to the players who declined [to play] this year and the year before.
"I know most of them had good reasons to do so, so this has not been a big issue.
"If we have achieved this goal after 25 years, we have to show up there with the best possible team."