Filou Oostende is one of the few clubs that has participated in every season of the Basketball Champions League since its start in 2016-17, advancing from the Regular Season for the first time in 2019-20. The Belgian powerhouse is a therefore just a logical participant to appear in the YBCL's inaugural edition.

"For our young players of the Oostende COREtec Basketball Academy (the YBCL) means another level. We have been playing at a national level with our U18/U21 teams, and even play with them in the third division in Belgium. But an international level was limited until now to youth contacts such as USA colleges on tour or individual invitations or some international tournaments. The YBCL gives them the opportunity to face a higher level and an international level of high standard. Our players train every day, play two games a week and most of them live at our dorms. They already live a rather professional life, but the reality of a higher level will show them exactly where they are at that moment. Some of them are playing with national teams, but of course with your own teammates playing matches is completely different."

- Jurgen Vanpraet, CEO Filou Oostende

History of the Program | Domestic Success

U18
Belgian Champion | 2016,2017,2018,2019
Belgian Cup | 2015,2016,2017,2018,2019

U16
Belgian Champion | 2017
Belgian Cup | 2018

U14
Belgian Cup | 2018

2nd Team
Champion in Second Division | 2018

Recent Youth Developments

Oostende’s “Basketball School” started in 1994 with a project similar to the Ajax Amsterdam football academy. Current professional team head coach Dario Gjergja arrived at the club in 2011, and Oostende took a big leap in professionalism in 2012 with results starting to show in 2014. The COREtec Basketball Academy includes 20 players from ages 16 to 20, competing at the U18 and U21 levels as well as the third division. The academy is closely connected to the first team with Coach Gjergja showing an interest in developing the club’s young players. Once they are ready, Gjergja brings the players in to practice or play with the first team. The first team and youth players share the same buildings, fitness area and gym. The players have dorms as accommodation next to the gym, which also includes a fitness room. The players also work with the club’s physical coach and physiotherapist. The U18 players also study at the Athena Oostende school, which is located about 1 kilometer from the facility.

YBCL Player to Watch

Jarne Elouna Eyenga | 2006 | PF

Elouna Eyenga, born on December 31, 2006 playing for Oostende’s U18 team, has also already played for Belgium’s youth national team. He collected 6.8 points and 4.6 rebounds as Belgium finished third at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2022 Division B to earn promotion to Division A. He is a tall and physical player who works hard. The 2.03 big man has a great touch and feel for the game. He can shoot, pass and finish strong around the basket.

Program Alumni

Keye Van Der Vuurst De Vries | Servaas Buysschaert | Quentine Serron | Roby Rogiers | Thibault Vanderhaegen | Xander Pintelon | Jesse Waleson | Noah Tchendjou | Salim Kediambiko | Matteo Verstraete| Tim Lambrecht

Keye Van Der Vuurst De Vries arrived from Netherlands in 2017 - still at age 15. The playmaker would eventually start playing for Oostende’s first team in 2018-19 and debuted in the Basketball Champions League in 2020-21. He made his first appearance with the Netherlands senior national team in November 2018 - a month shy of his 17th birthday. Van Der Vuurst won’t turn 22 until December and he already has made 45 appearances for Oostende in the BCL.