Carried by the sparkling duo Zacharie Perrin – Melvin Ajinca in the first half, the French team crushed Serbia (98-59) in the quarter-finals of the U19 World Cup this Friday evening in Debrecen (Hungary). Lamine Kebe’s boys have an appointment with the United States for a place in the final this Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
A real demonstration. Quite clearly beaten by Spain in the group stage, the France U19 team appears – all things considered – as a serious contender for the world title. After defeating Madagascar in the round of 16, Les Bleuets have this time, under the eyes of legend Dirk Nowitzki but also Olivier Sarr or Tima Pouye, shattered a Serbian team which, until now, has not had not yet lost in this U19 World Cup (98-59).
Much more athletic and aggressive, the boys of Lamine Kebe and Maxime Bezin showed great control against the Serbs, left with a sad 16% from 2-points and 18% from 3-points in the first half (56 -27, +29 at the break). Of course, there was a kind of relaxation in the second half, but it was all relative when you realize the French domination, at all levels, including among the substitutes, against the Serbs that the one announced among the favorites with the medals.
The Perrin – Ajinca show in the first half
If all the French have shone, some have done it more than others. We must underline the overwhelming domination in the first half of Zacharie Perrin (16 points at 8/8 on shots, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals for 31 evaluation in 14 minutes!) and Melvin Ajinca (17 points 6/8 on shots, 3 rebounds for 18 evaluation in 15 minutes), both well preserved after the break (18 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals for the first, 23 points, 4 rebounds for the second in the end).
The performances of Noah Penda (11 points, 6 rebounds), Alexandre Sarr (10 points), Zaccharie Risacher (9 points, 5 steals) or Lucas Fischer (9 points, 3 steals, 1 – splendid – against) are not either more to pass over in silence.
On the one hand, such a success allows the Bleuets to fight their way to the medals, since they will play their place in the final this Saturday at 5:30 p.m. But it also whets the appetite before challenging a team from the United States that is certainly still undefeated but not unbeatable, especially as it was challenged by Slovenia in the first round (77-72).
In the other part of the table, Spain and Turkey, respectively winners of Argentina (85-47) and Canada (97-73), will face each other in the semi-finals on Saturday evening at 8 p.m.
Boxscore France – Serbia / Tableau phase finale
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Photo : Melvin Ajinca (FIBA)
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2023-06-30 19:50:42
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