FRA/ESP - Olympic-bound De Colo is MVP of week

SAN SEBASTIAN (ACB/Olympics) - Nando De Colo evolved into one of France's biggest weapons at the EuroBasket as they reached the Final and qualified for the London Games.

The flashy guard scored no more than four points in Les Bleus’ first six games but in a pivotal Round Two clash with hosts Lithuania, he erupted for 21 and also came up with five steals.

In a crucial Quarter-Final against Greece, De Colo had 16 points, and in a crunch Semi-Final against Russia, the 1.95m guard played 29 minutes and had nine points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals.

De Colo had a slow start to this season’s Spanish Liga Endesa with Valencia Basket but after pouring in 22 points in a triumph over Unicaja Malaga on October 30, he had a 28-point explosion in an 86-80 victory at Lagun Aro GBC in San Sebastian on Sunday night.

In just under 21 minutes, De Colo was eight of 11 from the field, including a perfect three of three from beyond the arc, and nine of 10 at the free-throw line.

He also finished a rebound shy of a double-double as Valencia improved to 4-2.

He had a valuation of 37 and earned the Player of the Week award in Spain as a result.

"Even if I won the MVP award, this is not only about De Colo," he said.

"I believe the team has been training really hard for three weeks.

“We know that we're able to lose games, like we did at the beginning of the season, and now since the beginning of the campaign, we know that we what's it like to win important games like the one in San Sebastian."

Valencia will get the ultimate test next week when star-studded Barcelona visit La Fonteta.

De Colo will then return home to France to take on Tony Parker and ASVEL Basket in the Eurocup opener for both sides.

FIBA