Again stunning, the French basketball team won at the Oaka of Athens this Sunday, for its last preparation match before the European championship.
Bis repetita. In the hard time in the first period, at least on the offensive level, the Blues disposed of Greece (77-92) this Sunday, in Athens, for their last preparation match before the Eurobasket (August 27-September 14) in Latvia, in Cyprus, Finland and Poland. Lily or less the same scenario as against Spain (78-73) last Saturday, at Accor Arena. Undevected to prep (5 victories), the French team will land in Katowice Forter of a Top Trust Capital to start its tournament against Belgium on Thursday.
20 points for the Greek superstar of the Miwlaukee Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo, who only played his second preparation match for insurance issues. Five tricolor players at 10 points and more, Théo Malédon (16 pts, 5 pds), Guerschon Yabusele, Zaccharie Risacher (14), Alexandre Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly (10). 28 points collected only during a second act in which the Blues shone by their defensive force and their sense of the collective in attack. Impressive and promising before the Euro.
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Beginning of the chiaroscuro match on the side of Athens, with Blues in place defensively, especially on Giannis, but in pain on the offensive level. The three increased by Yabusele (3-9, then 6-11)? A misery cache. Aphone, France lost too many balloons (6 in the 1st QT) and therefore logically ran after the scoring (16-11, then 20-13). Finally, Greece only led 3 points at the end of the first quarter (20-17 at the end of 1st QT). Cheap paid … with two triple and stolen balloons, Greece left again (26-17). Failing to offer a licked game, the Blues recovered from their aggressiveness, like Malédon (30-29, then 33-32). Simple and direct. Giannis, however, rained the faults (46-36). With a very active risacher, the Habs returned to contact (46-40) and Coulibaly responded to the triple of Dorsey before the break (49-43 Mt). Already 13 points for Giannis.
Solid and released after the break
Well launched by Coulibaly, in view on both sides of the field, the Blues showed a more conquering and balanced face to the recovery (49-50, then 54-56). Big defensive pressure, with in particular … this against Jaiteh on the “Greak Freak”! Nothing simple for the Greeks and the tricolors released in attack, with this triple of “TLC” in the corner and the beautiful move of Sarr, improbable but effective tandem inside (58-68). Risacher to drive the point of three points (58-71, then 61-71 End 3e QT)! Regalade.
The Blues continued on their momentum to start the last 10 minutes of the game, always more relaxed offensively, Sarr and risacher in the rhythm (61-75, then 63-77). Symbol of these tricolors “in the zone”, Cordinier returned a basket from the logo at the end of possession (66-80, then 66-82). Clearly, there could be nothing more to this French team … Giannis provoked the fifth fault of the excellent Hoard before leaving, definitively, with just over 4 minutes to play (71-84, then 71-86). Frustration was read on the face of the 30 -year -old Greek superstar. The players of Freddy Faundhoux, they were quietly sailing towards the victory in the last minutes of the match (74-90, then 77-92 final score). Very good omen four days before the entry into the French team to the Euro.