On the evening before a meeting of domestic league officials, the Netherlands’ basketball federation announced that the country would not be fielding a men’s national team or a U20 squad in international competition for next summer and in 2014.
The reason? What else but money?
The NBB reported that a debt of €400,000 (over $510,000) has been run up by the club over the past two years; the austerity measures were further blamed on the lack of Netherlands’ clubs’ prestige internationally and the fact that no club could afford to play in pan-European competitions in 2012-13.
All women’s programs, men’s youth basketball and wheelchair teams will continue unimpeded.
Team Netherlands has not qualified for the men’s Eurobasket tournament since 1989.
Thanks to Gideon van der Hijden of Netherlands-based Basketball Plus for the tip!
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