FIBA.COM STORY / ORANGE LIONS - THOMAS VAN DER MARS / DO-6-JUNI GRONINGEN: 'Van der Mars, Dutch target big game against Romania'

Thomas Van Der Mars (20 points) Highlights vs. Croatia(uploaded 5-6-2018)

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GRONINGEN  (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - The Netherlands need to be firing on all cylinders when they run onto the court  to host Romania on June 28 or the aim of having the country at a World Cup for the first time since 1986 will be dashed. 

 

"It's basically do-or-die," Dutch center Thomas van der Mars said to FIBA.basketball. "At this point we're 1-3 so we really, really need that second win. That's our priority: get one win and then hopefully another. We have to beat Romania by 7."

Van der Mars poured in 20 points in February at Croatia(Photo: Fiba.com

A team that made it through the Pre-Qualifiers, the Dutch reconfirmed they are a very dangerous team to take on when beating Croatia in their first World Cup Qualifier on November 24, 68-61. Toon van Helfteren's squad wasn't ready for the next game at Romania, though. After falling behind by as many as 18 points, the Dutch ended up losing, 75-68.

"Our biggest struggle is following up a good performance with another good performance and not getting complacent," Van der Mars said. "That's where we need to improve as a team for sure. The funny thing is, when we have a bad performance, the next game we play better."

"JUST TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY BIG TEAMS ON DUTCH SOIL AND GETTING AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADVERTISE THE SPORT ITSELF IS PRETTY COOL.” Van der Mars

In February, after an 80-62 defeat at Italy, the Netherlands did indeed play better at Croatia  but ended up losing, 82-78.

Van der Mars had the hot hand in the second game against Croatia, making all 9 of his shots from the floor and scoring 20 points. He underlined his importance to the cause with that performance.
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