MANILA: Dusting off another bum start, France on Thursday night got the lift from its second stringers and stayed on course towards a title clash with another heavily-favored side, Canada, in the Manila Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
With NBA stars Boris Diaw and Tony Parker taking a breather, the French came up with a 22-2 run in the fourth period as France topped Group B play with a hard-earned 66-59 victory over tough New Zealand at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Like what happened when they beat Gilas Pilipinas in the inaugurals, the French needed to finish strong to dodge the upset axe as the Tall Blacks played efficient all night only to lose steam in one crucial stretch in the fourth period.
“Like against the Philippines, we struggled early,” power forward Kim Tillie, who had seven points in that telling run, said. “We have to improve to beat a bigger team in the semifinals.”
Tillie was referring to Turkey, which booked No. 2 in Group A after a 66-62 victory over Senegal in the first game.
New Zealand was thus relegated to No. 2 in Group B and will play the Group A topnotchers Canadians in the other Final Four pairing. Both games are slated Saturday night also at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Kiwis, the only team here without an NBA veteran, looked ready to post the first upset of the tournament as they led by 13 in the first half and were 50-38 ahead after a Corey Webster basket at the start of the fourth period.
But the French dug deep offensively and played harder on the other end, dropping that crippling bomb and allowing the Tall Blacks just two free throws.
The next New Zealand basket came with 3:32 left in the fourth courtesy of Isaac Fotu, but it was all over by then as the French had momentum and were able to put Parker and Diaw back for the finishing touches.
Nicolas Batum sat out a second straight game for France, still awaiting to sign his $120 million, five-year extension with the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA. July 7 is the day of signing and Batum could be available come the Final Four.
In the first game, Ali Muhammed took over in the endgame, scoring Turkey’s last 15 points inside the final 3:48 that keyed the Turks’ advance to the semifinals.
Born Robert Lee Dixon in Chicago in the United States, the 5-foot-10 Muhammed finished with 23 points to pace Turkey. He was held to just a single free throw in a loss to Corey Joseph and the Canadians on opening day.
Big man Semih Erden had 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Turks, the eighth-ranked team in the world, which won the silver medal in the 2010 World Cup.
Muhammed dropped two of his three triples in that whirlwind performance, which he touched off with two charities that gave Turkey a 55-50 lead.
Senegal thus joined the Philippines in the sidelines after also going winless in first round play.
Team captain Maleye Ndoye scored 15 points and had nine rebounds to lead Senegal.
After those two free throws, Muhammed completed a three-point play off Antoine Mendy before drilling the first of those three treys in the next Turkey possession, which made it 61-52 going into the final 1:57.
France on course for title clash against Canada
France on course for title clash against Canada
