MOTIVATION AND PRIDE TO FUEL GB AHEAD OF DUTCH CONTEST

Great Britain head coach Marc Steutel has further highlighted the team’s motivation to represent the country and themselves ahead of a crucial final FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifying window starting Friday in the Netherlands.

Throughout his tenure, Steutel has emphasised, when talking about GB, how proud he is to be part of it as a coach and how proud the players are to represent their country.

“I know that myself and the guys are excited to get back together and hopefully build towards achieving our goals,” Steutel said.

“I think that we’ve continually demonstrated to play for GB. What it means to represent GB, and how we can do that consistently. So, we’re excited to get the window started and have a really effective camp in the Netherlands.”

And as they prepare for the final window of the Qualifying campaign, along with undeniable patriotism, a place at this summer’s FIBA EuroBasket is on the cards.

MISSION ON FRIDAY: WIN AND GB ARE IN

Friday’s objective for Great Britain is the same as every time they step onto the hardwood: to win.

Only this particular game against the Dutch is significant, with a win punching their ticket to FIBA EuroBasket this summer, a prestigious tournament, held every four years.

GB beat the Netherlands 98-94 in Newcastle last year in the opening window, but they made hard work of it in the final quarter.

They nearly let a 21-point lead slip, a moment that had the fans on the edge of their seats, before pulling together as a unit to secure the win.

This time around, a victory is all that stands between Steutel and the Finals. However, a loss for Great Britain would then open up Group F ahead of the final game of the pool, which will be played against Czechia on Monday night in Newcastle, making Friday’s clash against the Netherlands even more crucial.

And Steutel wants to get the job done in Den Haag with the Newcastle Eagles playcaller more than aware of the threat the Netherlands pose based on their past performances.

“The Netherlands have a clear style of play and a clear identity with some really talented players playing at high levels across Europe,” the GB tactician said.

“So, we know what their style of play is and what they want to achieve on both sides of the ball.

“So, we have to try and make sure that we’re prepared for that, and we make sure the game is more of our style, is more of ours than theirs, and that’s something that we’ll be trying to make sure we bring to life each and every day and build towards for tip-off.

“The motivation is internal from representing Great Britain on the front of the jersey and the players that we’ve got here continually go above and beyond for this program, guys who continually make themselves available, and give an incredible amount to this program.

“They represent themselves, their teammates, their clubs, their country, their families, their friends. That’s the motivation that drives us on the men’s program.”

LAST TIME OUT

GB’s four-point success over the Netherlands was a deserved victory. A dazzling team display that was hampered slightly by a Dutch fightback late on.

But Great Britain’s character and desire to win were evident as they held on to grab the win, led by 23 points from Myles Hesson on 7/8 shooting.

Keye van der Vuust led the visitors with 23 points. They went on to lose three straight before beating Czechia 77-70 in their last Qualifier.

Van der Vuurst led the way with 13 points in the victory over the Czechs, and he has been a constant for the Netherlands. The dangerous guard averages 16.3 points and 6.5 assists in their four games.

But GB will boast its own firepower on Friday, with Sasha Killeya-Jones leading the team with 15.5 points a game, Akwasi Yeboah posting 14.7 points, and Quinn Ellis, fresh off winning the Italian Final Eight tournament in Torino with Aquila Trento Basket, all in camp.

Ellis was the lone player not to feature against the Netherlands, but he played a huge factor in their success over Greece in the last window, amassing 15 points and dishing out eight assists in their 73-72 win over Greece in London.