OQT Final cast complete after France drub Turkey

MANILA (2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments) – France joined Canada in the Final of the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Manila after they drubbed a lackluster Turkey, 75-63.

Turning Point: Turkey were still in this game at the half and early in the third period when they cut the deficit, 37-33. France, however, went on a 10-0 tear that all but broke the game open. Anchored on the exploits of Boris Diaw and Joffrey Lauvergne, Les Bleus stretched the lead to fourteen points at 47-33, and they never looked back.

Stats Don't Lie: France may have been outrebounded in this match, but they more than compensated for that with their efficient shooting. As a team, the French made 52% of their field goals, including netting 7 triples. France’s supporting cast also gave them a huge lift as coach Vincent Collet’s bench outscored their Turkish counterparts, 42-18.

Game Hero: Much has been said about the talent of Tony Parker and Nando De Colo, but it was Thomas Heurtel who basked in the spotlight of this affair. The playmaker who plies his trade for, ironically, Turkish club Anadolu Efes Istanbul, tallied his best stat-line so far with 17 points, 4 assists and 2 triples. His great performance is an outstanding testament to this team’s backcourt depth.

The Bottom Line: France set up what promises to be a titanic clash in the Final opposite Canada, which, like the French, have so far been unscathed. For sure, Diaw, Lauvergne, De Colo, Nicolas Batum and Tony Parker will all figure prominently in tomorrow’s Final, where only the winner will earn the last Olympic ticket. For their part, Turkey have to re-evaluate their performance and perhaps focus on the future with young guns Cedi Osman and Furkan Korkmaz at the spearhead.

FIBA