France are Rio 2016-bound

MANILA (2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments) - Les Bleus are set to return to the Olympic stage after winning the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Manila at the expense of Canada, 83-74, in Sunday’s Final.

France also played in the 2012 Olympics in London, where they were eliminated in the Quarter-Finals.

Guard Nando De Colo, who was named Tournament MVP in Manila, continued to play at a very high level in the Final, scoring 22 points, grabbing 5 rebounds, handing out 3 assists and netting 3 steals. Not surprisingly, he was a big factor in France’s success.

“It was a tough game, like we expected,” De Colo said after the game. “We knew that they have very good quality and athleticism. They like to run on the court, and so we had to stop their fastbreak. We played well as a team, and I think this was great.”

Coach Vincent Collet is excited for his team’s making it to the Olympics, where he feels France have something to prove.

“We want so badly to get to the Olympics,” said Collet. “All the players love the national team, and all our success comes from this love. It’s not a sacrifice to play for the national team. We are ready to give everything for the national team. We know we have something to prove in Rio. In 2012, we were very close to getting a medal, so our goal is to go as far as possible in the tournament. Honestly, I would like to be with the USA in our group.”

France are grouped with USA, Venezuela, Serbia, China and Australia in Rio after the tournament's draw was completed in Manila on Sunday.

FIBA