Kie van der Vorst de Vries (22), Matt Harms (26) and Yannick Francke (27) are now used to the madness in Spain. A selfie here, a signature there, and when a car passes, the horn is always honked followed by rousing shouts of encouragement: “Vamos!” Vamos Palencia!”
Sonder Palencia has been the club of the Dutch trio since the summer. Basketball plays an important role in the northern regional city with a population of less than 100,000. “The stands are always sold out,” says van der Vorst de Vries. “It's hard to get a ticket. People live for our club. Fans even go to away matches in Gran Canaria.
Basketball players notice a big difference with the experience they had in the Netherlands, where this week they joined the national team to play the first two matches in the European Championship qualifiers. No one recognizes them or wants anything from them.
The first match is scheduled to be held on Friday: away from home against Great Britain, then on Monday in The Hague against Greece. Israeli national team coach Arik Shevek sees an important role for the Spanish trio.
The three are relaxing in the lounge of the Olympic Hotel in Amsterdam. They say qualifying for the European Championship in 2025 should certainly be possible. And also without Jesse Edwards, who hopes to break through in the United States. It is necessary to get a place among the top three in the group of four.
Dream competition
The Spanish League is the strongest in Europe. And after the NBA, the best in the world. The opposition is enormous. Valencia even at the bottom. Van der Vorst de Vries, from Ostend in Belgium, learns something new every match. “We're playing against Real Madrid and Barcelona, the opponents I've been dreaming of. I couldn't be in a better place.”
Harms, who previously played for Frankfurt in Germany, sees how the level is rising every week. “If we make a mistake, we are immediately behind by ten points. The speed of work is terribly high. There is no time to think.”
Their new experiences are much needed in Orange. The team has gone through difficult years, with an amazing series of defeats. During the last European Championship in 2022, the team also lost all matches. “We are in a better position,” says van der Vorst de Vries. “A new push is on its way. There is a lot of potential, we just need some time.”
effectiveness
The three international players believe that what could help achieve growth is a better infrastructure for Dutch basketball. On Monday, a maximum of 3,500 spectators can attend the Zuiderpark Sports Campus, the largest number that the Top Sports Center Almere can accommodate. A hall like the Ziggo Dome or Ahoy soon became too large and too expensive. In comparison: More than 5,000 fans come almost every week to this provincial Spanish city.
Tickets for the international match against Greece sold out quickly. “It would be great if we could slowly increase the number of spectators,” says Frankie, who has already participated in several competitions abroad. “But we cannot play basketball anywhere in the Netherlands in front of 7,000 or 8,000 people. This limits growth and interest. Not only for us as a national team, but also for everyone who comes after us. This applies to the entire spectrum of this sport. There is a lot of The potential is here!”
Basketball is already gaining popularity. During the coronavirus pandemic, many young people have started playing in the playgrounds, partly due to inspiring Netflix series The last dance. They want to join the association, but now they have waiting lists. There are very few rooms and hours available for all the boys and girls who play basketball.
He believes that if a solution to this problem is found, enthusiasm will also increase in the Netherlands Point guard Van der Vorst de Vries. “Maybe one day I'll be recognized on the street here.”
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