Dexia Mons-Hainaut raided Dutch side Amsterdam over the weekend and handed the coaching reins to the Dutch team's boss, Arik Shivek.

The move has come following the recent departure of coach Chris Finch to move to America where he will lead the Houston Rockets' NBDL team, Rio Grande Valley.

Shivek, an Israeli who is a veteran coach, has just over a week to get the Belgium team ready for its Eurocup Qualifying Round clash with Valencia Basket Club.

The first leg is to be played on October 20 in Mons.

Shivek coached Antwerp to a Belgian Cup win in 2007 before leaving for Holland and leading Amsterdam to back-to-back league titles.

Ironically, he orchestrated Mons' downfall in the 2008-09 EuroChallenge.

He guided Amsterdam to two victories over Dexia in the Top 16, including a do-or-die clash on March 10 that the Dutch giants won 93-86.

That victory allowed the Amsterdammers to clinch second place in Group L behind BC Triumph with a 4-2 record ahead of Dexia (3-3).

Without their injured star center Peter van Paassen against EKA AEL Limassol in the last eight, however, Amsterdam suffered two narrow defeats.

Shivek was still at the helm of Amsterdam this season, who have had financial uncertainty the past two years, when he got the call from Mons and received what Amsterdam described on their website "an offer he couldn't refuse".

"I have never experienced such a situation in my long career," Shivek said.

"This is new for me but the players must be patient and give us time.

"I know the Belgian league. It is played more and more tightly than in the Netherlands.

"We will want the top four and then in the play-offs, if the team is good, we could be more ambitious."

He then spoke about playing in the Eurocup, or EuroChallenge, depending on their tie with Valencia.

"Europe?" Shivek said. "It is very important for a club like Mons. It's part of history. In addition, players love to play two times per week.

"I know very well the atmosphere in the mons.arena. Whenever I came from Amsterdam, it was very hot! Fortunately, I did not understand what the public was saying to me (Shivek laughs). However, that was never threatening ... "

The departure of Shivek is a tough pill to swallow for Amsterdam, who nevertheless thanked him for his contributions to the club.

"Led by Arik in the past two seasons, we won the league title, the last under difficult conditions by the bankruptcy of MyGuide and EclipseJet," Amsterdam said on their website.

"Furthermore, we reached the Quarter-Finals of the EuroChallenge last season.

"Our reputation in Europe and the placement of the Eurocup is partly achieved by his actions. We are particularly grateful to him and wish him every possible success in the upcoming season."

Amsterdam are also trying to reach the Eurocup.

They have a Qualifying Round tie with Enterprise BC Dynamo.