Italian Allianz (PowerVolley) Milano continues its consistent selection strategy – after parting ways with Ferre Reggers, another Belgian opposite hitter comes in his place. And not just anyone, but the top scorer in the Champions League group stage – Basil Derom.
The transfer was finalized after talks between Knack Roeselare and Milano, with the 23-year-old scorer replacing his compatriot in the squad of the current No. 7 in the Italian SuperLega. In his new club, Derom will be a teammate with another Belgian international and former Roeselare player – Seppe Rotty.
The parallel is more than curious – Milano doesn't just like Belgian players, but systematically relies on them specifically for the opposite hitter position.
An atypical path to the elite
Basil Derom's career does not follow the classic path of Belgian talents. He did not go through the sports school for young prospects and even played at a provincial level when, in May 2022, Belgium's new head coach Emanuele Zanini invited him to the national team – a move that surprised some specialists.
This earned him a contract with Decospan Menen, where Derom made significant progress – technically, tactically, and physically. However, a serious injury kept him out of play for an entire season. Despite this, the champion Knack Roeselare brought back its youth product and gave him their trust.
Months of focused individual work and a visible physical transformation followed. The result is a more explosive and effective opposite hitter, capable of carrying the main scoring burden.
An interesting detail is that Decospan Menen faced CSKA (Sofia) in the CEV Challenge Cup during the 2024/25 season, but by then Derom was already part of Roeselare.
Home dominance
With Roeselare, Derom played a key role in winning:
BeNe Cup
BeNe Conference
Belgian Cup
The championship title
Logically, individual recognition followed – Player of the Year with an impressive 371 points in the poll, far ahead of Stijn D'Hulst (120) and Seppe Rotty (84).
Top scorer in the Champions League group stage
This season, Derom appeared on the European stage with even higher efficiency. After the group stage concluded, he topped the scorers' rankings.
| No. | Player | Team | Matches (games) | Points | Average per game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Basil Dermo | Knack Roeselare | 6 (29) | 179 | 6,17 |
| 2 | Théo Faure | Trentino | 6 (23) | 139 | 6,04 |
| 3 | Nik Mujanović | Tours | 6 (25) | 139 | 5,56 |
| 4 | Nimir Abdel-Aziz | Ziraat Bank Ankara | 6 (21) | 138 | 6,57 |
| 5 | Jake Hanes | Berlin | 6 (22) | 125 | 5,68 |
179 points in 29 games mean stability of over 6 points per game on average – an indicator of consistency, not a single burst. Dermaux surpasses players from Italian, Turkish, and German giants, which adds extra weight to the achievement.
His performance during the away game against Halkbank Ankara was particularly impressive, where he scored 39 points (33 in attack, 4 on block, and 2 aces) – a production of the highest European level.
Profile
| Stat | Data |
|---|---|
| Name | Basil Dermo |
| Nationality | Belgium |
| Position | Opposite |
| Born | 09.02.2003 |
| Place of Birth | Izegem |
| Height | 195 cm |
| Attack | 348 cm |
| Block | 320 cm |
| Dominant Hand | Right |
Standing at 195 cm, Dermo is not a classically tall opposite hitter, but he compensates with excellent jump and dynamism. The combination of a strong serve, high scoring efficiency, and established physical presence makes him a suitable profile for the Italian SuperLega.
Strategy, not coincidence
The Reggers – Dermo change is not just a transfer, but a clear continuation of the Belgian line in Milan. The Italian club is replacing a Belgian opposite hitter with another Belgian opposite hitter – this time at a moment when the new addition is the #1 scorer in the Champions League group stage.
This no longer looks like a coincidence, but like a deliberate policy. Milan believes in the Belgian formula for the opposite hitter position – and is betting on it again.
photo:Knack Volley Roeselare
