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| Composite Image/Philstar.com via Jonathan Asuncion | By Denison Rey A. Dalupang (philstar.com) |
MANILA, Philippines — One last ticket. Two last teams. France and Canda take the spotlight tonight to determine who will join Serbia and Croatia as the three final teams to advance in the Rio Olympics.
But while the Les Bleus are ranked way higher the Canada, captain Boris Diaw noted that they will not take the Canucks lightly.
“They are young,” Diaw told the press. “We’re really going to try to use our experience, for sure.”
He also added that Canada, in a way, will will field tested players as well.
“They haven’t played in many international games, but they have a champion player,” Diaw said referring to NBA champion Tristan Thompson.
“We have one more game. Our guys have to be prepared,” the Cleveland Cavaliers and Canadian big man said in a separate presser.
“Coach Jay (Triano) put a team together to come here and win. We traveled to many destinations to prepare for this,” he added.
In the past games, France has sluggishly started. But head coach Vincent Collet will look to flip the script and dictate the against the Canucks.
“They are very young and very athletic,” Collet said. “We’ll try to make them play half-court.”
Meanwhile, Triano hinted that they’re going to try to convert much more looks from the field.
“We’re a better shooting team than we’ve shown,” he said. “We eventually have to make shots. We have one more game to get that done.”
Both France and Canada will look to again tap on its backcourt in this final tussle.
French guards Nando de Colo and Thomas Heurtel were both key players in France’s previous assignments.
The same could be said for Canada’s guards. Corey Joseph and Tyler Ennis — who both are playing in the NBA, for the Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks respectively, have been essential to the Road Warriors’ victories.
Les Bleus’ De Colo also played in the American league. He suited up for the Spurs and eventually the Raptors before moving to the Euroleague and donning the CSKA colors — where he won an MVP and a championship.
Heurtel joined the NBA only to go undrafted in 2009. His current stomping ground is the Turkish Basketball League.
Canada will also draw their much needed scoring punches from former NBA No. 1 draft pick Anthony Bennett who was recently relegated to the Raptors’ D-League squad.
Another NBA-tested reinforcement for the Canada is Joel Anthony, a two-time NBA champion with the Heat and now Detroit Piston’s big man.
Meanwhile, France will also bank on the tested mettles of Boris Diaw and Tony Parker — who together had an illustrious championship run with the Spurs.
But while experience will greatly manifest in the final tussle set at 9:00 pm, Diaw believes there’s one thing that will better determine who will emerge victorious.
"I don’t think it’s going to be the one to decide the outcome...” he said. "I think it will be decided who wants it more and who is focused during the game."
In the two other OQTs, Serbia drubbed Puerto Rico in front of their home crowd, while Croatia held off hosts Italy for their respective berths in Rio.
“They are young,” Diaw told the press. “We’re really going to try to use our experience, for sure.”
He also added that Canada, in a way, will will field tested players as well.
“They haven’t played in many international games, but they have a champion player,” Diaw said referring to NBA champion Tristan Thompson.
“We have one more game. Our guys have to be prepared,” the Cleveland Cavaliers and Canadian big man said in a separate presser.
“Coach Jay (Triano) put a team together to come here and win. We traveled to many destinations to prepare for this,” he added.
In the past games, France has sluggishly started. But head coach Vincent Collet will look to flip the script and dictate the against the Canucks.
“They are very young and very athletic,” Collet said. “We’ll try to make them play half-court.”
Meanwhile, Triano hinted that they’re going to try to convert much more looks from the field.
“We’re a better shooting team than we’ve shown,” he said. “We eventually have to make shots. We have one more game to get that done.”
Both France and Canada will look to again tap on its backcourt in this final tussle.
French guards Nando de Colo and Thomas Heurtel were both key players in France’s previous assignments.
The same could be said for Canada’s guards. Corey Joseph and Tyler Ennis — who both are playing in the NBA, for the Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks respectively, have been essential to the Road Warriors’ victories.
Les Bleus’ De Colo also played in the American league. He suited up for the Spurs and eventually the Raptors before moving to the Euroleague and donning the CSKA colors — where he won an MVP and a championship.
Heurtel joined the NBA only to go undrafted in 2009. His current stomping ground is the Turkish Basketball League.
Canada will also draw their much needed scoring punches from former NBA No. 1 draft pick Anthony Bennett who was recently relegated to the Raptors’ D-League squad.
Another NBA-tested reinforcement for the Canada is Joel Anthony, a two-time NBA champion with the Heat and now Detroit Piston’s big man.
Meanwhile, France will also bank on the tested mettles of Boris Diaw and Tony Parker — who together had an illustrious championship run with the Spurs.
But while experience will greatly manifest in the final tussle set at 9:00 pm, Diaw believes there’s one thing that will better determine who will emerge victorious.
"I don’t think it’s going to be the one to decide the outcome...” he said. "I think it will be decided who wants it more and who is focused during the game."
In the two other OQTs, Serbia drubbed Puerto Rico in front of their home crowd, while Croatia held off hosts Italy for their respective berths in Rio.
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