BILBAO (FIBA EuroBasket 2017) - Much has been made about the absence of some veteran players for Belgium this past summer, when the national team made it safely through qualification and reached FIBA EuroBasket 2017.

But what should be noted was the presence of a few very important and established members of the squad, including Jonathan Tabu, who had a team-high efficiency rating of 13.8 and led all scorers at 13.5 points per game.

A young Belgium side led by the 30-year-old shooting guard won five of its six qualifying games.

So while some familiar faces in the set-up were missing, including Sam Van Rossom, Pierre-Antoine Gillet, Axel Hervelle, Matt Lojeski and Quentin Serron, the likes of Tabu, Jean-Marc Mwema and Maxim De Zeeuw were present and their leadership was important.

Less experienced players who got an opportunity to play were Vincent Kesteloot, Loic Schwartz and Retin Obasohan.

"It was very good because we had the chance to discover some new talents, young talents of Belgium," Tabu said to FIBA.com. "It was a good step forward for the Belgium national basketball team."

Tabu, who is now 30, had his highest scoring games at the end. He had 20 in a win over Switzerland and 21 in a defeat at Iceland.

Belgium have become a significant player on the old continent, with the national team having featured at the last three EuroBaskets. They progressed from the Group Phase in 2015.

That experience will come into play in Turkey at FIBA EuroBasket 2017 where the Belgians will square off against Russia, Serbia, Latvia, Great Britain and the Turks in Group D. All of the games will be played in the famous Abdi Ipekci arena in Istanbul. The knockout stage will be staged in the city, too.

"It's very hard," Tabu said of his team's draw. "Playing Turkey in Turkey is going to be really hard, but I think we're still going to have a chance. We know what we have to do.

"We have the experience, now. I think in those games, it's one game. Two years ago, no one expected us to go to the second round and we beat Ukraine, we beat Lithuania. You never know. We've got to go there and take our chances."

In addition to the competition that Tabu likes to be a part of, there is also the brotherhood that he is a part of in the Belgian team. Linking up with his good friends is always a priority.

"For the last 10 years, we've had almost the same players, the same staff so we know each other pretty good," he said. "It's almost like playing the summer league but as best friends.

"I always enjoy it and I think everyone in the team enjoys it, being together each summer and I think this is one of our strengths."

So count Tabu in. He plans on being with the Belgian Lions as they try to take another step forward in international basketball and improve on their Round of 16 appearance in 2015.

"Hopefully, if I can stay healthy, I hope to be there, of course," he said.

FIBA