Bad news to start the day and a good one to finish it. This Tuesday had badly starting for the Blues of Frédéric Faith. Via a press release, the French Federation informed of the package for the rest of the EUROBASKET DU PIVOT Alexandre SARR.
Injured against Slovenia (103-95) on Saturday, the 2.13 m pivot of the Washington Wizards in the NBA suffers from a calf lesion “whose healing period is incompatible with the player’s participation for the rest of the competition”.
A real blow for the Blues who have only three interior players with Jaylen Hoard, Guerschon Yabusele and Mam Jateh. The latter was the last professional pivot.
Not really ideal for tackling the shock against Poland, which had perfectly launched its euro at home with three victories including one (66-64) against Israel. Slovenia’s victory over Iceland (87-79), earlier in the day, offered the qualification for the 8th finals to France two games from the end of the group.
If the qualification for the round of 16 is a minimum, the lens of the Blues was quite different. After their confusion against Israel (69-82), they had to fill up against Poland and then against Iceland on Thursday to finish as high as possible and thus avoid the big arms like Serbia in 8th.
An issue that has not escaped the five -starting five with Mam Jateh at the Pivot post. The Blues had made their calculations: in the event of a victory, equality of three with Israel is looming. A success of more than 25 points made it possible to double everyone at the end point.
36 points pour Yabusele
This explains the start of the fanfare match of the guerschon Yabusele teammates (27-24 after the first quarter).
Despite an advance of + 9 in the 2nd quarter, Frédéric Faith’s troop will derail. Their game is disintegrated and becomes more approximate. The Poles, led by the Monegasque Jordan Loyd, do not take time to fire in mind (44-41) at the end of the second quarter.
The third quarter turns into a real showdown. Under the eyes of Robert Lewandowski, Guerschon Yabusele delivers a real recital, paying the luxury of improving his best score in the tricolor jersey with 36 points.
The French chain the baskets in the last quarter. The gap flourishes (68-55, 32nd). Finally, Elie Okobo with a last three-point basket, offers victory to the Habs (83-76).
One day from the end, France, Poland and Israel therefore have seven points (Israel is in the lead in front of Poland and France) and Slovenia is just behind with one less point.
The Blues have found colors. What to see the rest with more serenity and in particular the last group match against Iceland on Thursday.
