FRA - No regrets for Jackson

NOVI SAD (FIBA U19 World Championship) - Sharp-shooter Edwin Jackson insists France will learn from their FIBA U19 World Championship semi-final loss to the USA at the weekend.

France led the USA for 38 minutes of the game in Novi Sad before falling to defeat.

They went on to defeat Brazil in the third-place play-off to win the bronze medal, while the USA finished as runners-up to hosts Serbia.

France were jubilant in their podium celebrations, but 17-year-old Jackson is adamant he and his team-mates did their best to succeed.

He said: "You come to play for the gold medal, but after we lost we decided that we didn't want to go home with nothing."

And Jackson, who played a fringe role in France's European junior gold medal-winning campaign, does not view the bronze as a consolation.

"It's different, but it brings joy anyway," he said. "We have no regrets over the loss to the USA.

"We had a very good game against Brazil for the bronze medal as they came back and showed great heart."

Jackson is now a key member of the France side after finishing the championship as his side's top scorer, averaging 13.8 points a game in addition to an impressive 50% from the arc with 22 three-pointers.

Reflecting on the semi-final defeat, he added: "We were very physically tired in the game and though we played with our heart the whole game, in the end we made bad decisions.

"It's a lesson for the future that we need to play 40 minutes and not just 38.

"Sometimes it's better to lose to learn a lesson, and gain experience."

France lost three times in the tournament, but Jackson says the defeats did not affect the team adversely.

"It seems like a mental problem, but every time we showed we can recover from such losses," he said. "We group together and try to show that we can do better.

"We never get too down after a loss, because in a tournament you must stay focused the whole time."

Yarone ARBEL
FIBA