OOSTENDE (FIBA EuroBasket 2017) - Pierre-Antoine Gillet had ups and downs this summer.

After a season with Oostende in which he was dogged by a left foot injury, Gillet took a break and returned to his beloved Belgian national team but the same problem that hobbled him at the end of his club campaign again reared its ugly head and forced him off the court.

Without him, though, and other senior players like Sam Van Rossom and Matt Lojeski, Belgium still accomplished their mission of qualifying for FIBA EuroBasket 2017.

"The young guys stepped up in an amazing way and showed that Belgium is coming with some amazing players and in a few years, we can reach a better level." - Gillet

Belgium finished top of a group that included Iceland, Switzerland and Cyprus. The Lions will next year play at EuroBasket for a fourth consecutive time.

"We knew that this year, the group that we had looked easy but we knew it wouldn't be easy because players like Van Rossom wouldn't be there," Gillet said to FIBA.com.

"But the young guys stepped up in an amazing way and showed that Belgium is coming with some amazing players and in a few years, we can reach a better level.

"Every year we are getting better and better. I think we can have a great national team."

Jonathan Tabu stepped up for Belgium this summer

If Gillet had to choose, he'd rather have withdrawn from the national side this year than next. At least he has a chance to recover and be healthy in time for 2017.

He made his EuroBasket bow in 2015, playing an average of 26.5 minutes per game. Gillet had a blast and got to experience the thrill of his team's upset of Lithuania in the Group Phase.

It was still frustrating for Gillet to watch this summer and not play.

"Last season, I really had a problem with my foot and I played on it and played on it," he said. "I finished the season on one foot. After that, I received an injection and had a month-and-a-half off, doing nothing.

"I then joined the national team but after the third game of the preparations, I got hurt again in the same spot, my left foot - something like plantar fasciitis. It was like a small tear so I talked about it with Oostende and the national team and now I'm working to get back to good health."

Gillet says it's been the worst injury he's had to put up with as a basketball player.

"Probably a few years ago, I twisted my ankle and was probably out two months but it was at the beginning of my career. Now I feel it's the most serious injury that I've had, but I can't do anything but rest. You can only rest."

The important thing for Gillet is that Belgium had another successful summer and that means they will not only play at the EuroBasket but also be assured of taking part in Division A of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 qualifying.

"I'm really happy they did it (qualified)," he said.

FIBA