By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
For 30 minutes, New Zealand was close to achieving a stunning victory over France, but “Les Bleus” thought otherwise, amassing their forces in the final quarter and ultimately winning 66 – 59.
It was the bench players like Mickael Gelabale (11 points, 5 rebounds), Kim Tillie (10 points) that led the comeback of the French national team from a 12-point deficit (38 – 50 in the beginning of the final period) helping it find a much needed offensive rhythm in order to take over the match.
With the score 46 – 52, coach Collet’s players completed a 14-0 run to make it 60 – 52, they never looked back until the final buzzer.
Apart from Gelabale and Tillie, captain Boris Diaw also scored in double digit numbers, finishing the match with 10 points, plus 6 rebounds. Corey Webster led New Zealand in scoring with his 21 points, albeit by shooting with a poor 7/22 from the field.
After this result France will play against Turkey in the semifinals of the pre-Olympic tournament in Manila and New Zealand will face Canada. Both games will be played on Saturday.