By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Wonderkid Victor Wembanyama was held to nine minutes on the court, but France rallied past Serbia, 75-69, in the FIBA U-19 World Cup Semifinals on Saturday. The gold medal game brings up the USA tomorrow at Riga, Latvia.
Wembanyama, 17, projected among the top picks of the 2023 NBA draft, scored only one point and grabbed three rebounds in his limited outing. His four fouls prevented further contribution from the towering center.
Jayson Tchicamboud fired a game-high 19 points. Clement Frisch posted 14 points. Rudy Demahis-Ballou energizing the late comeback followed with 13 points. Yvan Ouedraogo added an 11-point, 15-rebound double-double.
Serbia remained in control until the fourth quarter stretching the lead to double-digits from the first half but failed to hold on. Nikola Jovic and Lazar Stefanovic shared a team-high 15 points.
The USA was the other side earning the opportunity for gold powered by a key 17-0 run to take down Canada, 92-86. The losing side will face Serbia in Sunday’s bronze medal affair.
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL