FIBA OQT: France rallies to take top spot over New Zealand

France vs New Zealand in FIBA OQT Manila. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Steady under pressure, France overcame a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter to stun New Zealand, 66-59, at the end of the preliminary round in the Fiba Olympic qualifying tournament Thursday night at Mall of Asia Arena.

France flaunted its firepower and went on an 20-2 run with its star guard Tony Parker on the bench to turn a 10-point deficit to a 60-52 lead with 3:51 left.

The French, who refused to take the risk and opted to sit Nicolas Batum for the second straight game, took the top spot in Group B and will face Turkey in the semifinals which begins on Saturday as the tournament takes a one-day break.

“We’re happy to win this game because in the three quarters, New Zealand was dominating the game,” said France head coach Vincent Collet.

“I think New Zealand played very well against the Philippines and they also played against us. Defensively, it wasn’t a bad game for us but on offense in the first three quarters, we didn’t play the right way.”

The French, who refused to take the risk and opted to sit Nicolas Batum for the second straight game, topped group B and will face Turkey in the semifinals which begins on Saturday as the tournament takes a one-day break.

France had nearly everyone on board with seven players contributing at least six points each led by Mickael Gelabale, who came off the bench and scored 11.

Boris Diaw and Kim Tillie added 10 points apiece while Thomas Heurtel, Joffrey Lauvergne and Nando de Colo chipped in seven each for France, which trailed by double digits in each of their first two games in the tournament.

France missed its first 14 shots from the three-point area before making its last three courtesy of Gelabale, Tillie and Heurtel, whose 3-pointer pushed the French’s lead to six, 58-52, with 4:36 left.

A night after ending the Philippines’ run, the Tall Blacks were poised for an upset when they held a 13-point lead at one point in the third quarter before France got its game going with Heurtel spearheading the team’s blistering rally.

Corey Webster led the Kiwis but he was the only Tall Black hitting in double figures with a game-high 21 points on 22 shots.

New Zealand, which came off an 89-80 win over Gilas Pilipinas, takes on unbeaten Canada in the semis.