By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Louis Labeyrie is out of action and the French club had to act fast. With help needed on the paint, coach Vincent Collet decided to get it from an old friend.
Florent Pietrus signed with Strasbourg until the end of the season and he is expected to make his debut with his new team in the crucial Basketball Champions League game against Banvit on the road. It’s not a simple game. While Banvit is safe, Strasbourg and four other teams (Bayreuth, Estudiantes, AEK and Venezia) are fighting for three tickets in order to qualify for the next round.
And while Strasbourg can make it even with a defeat, they have to win in order to control their fate. That’s why Pietrus’ role can be more than crucial.
A power in the paint
The 37 years old player is nicknamed “Defense minister” by French fans and media. This was his calling card as a distinguished member of the Parker generation.
He was there in every big tournament of the “Bleus”. In September 2005, Pietrus won the bronze medal at the EuroBasket 2005 with the senior French National Team. He also won the silver medal at the EuroBasket 2011, the gold medal at the EuroBasket 2013 and the bronze medal at the EuroBasket 2015. He also played at EuroBasket 2003, EuroBasket 2007, and EuroBasket 2009.
Pietrus also competed with the French jersey at the 2006 FIBA World Championship, at the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey, at the 2012 Summer Olympics, at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, where he won a bronze medal, and at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
While his brother, Michael, made it to NBA, Florent had a long career that started at Pau Orthez back in 1999, included stops in Spain, where he played his best basketball with Unicaja Malaga, Estudiantes and Valencia, winning the Spanish league title and the Spanish Cup with Unicaja and also the Eurocup with Valencia.
He is proven winner and he has to work once more in order to save the day. He returned to Franch in 2013 for Nancy, he played also for Gravelines last year and he started this season signing with Levallois Metropolitans.
He has a three months contract that wasn’t extended after the end of November, averaging 1.4 points and 2.6 rebounds per game in the French ProA.
It’s not a secret that his best days are behind him, but he is not giving up and he has a great challenge ahead of him. Pietrus is the kind of player who knows that a rebound or a deflection can win a game. Can he do it again this week in Bandirma? Sit tight and get ready for a big game in the “Group C of death” after which Strasbourg may even claim the top spot in the standings.