Almost four months after the Olympic final and the silver in Tokyo, the Blues, without their medalists - with the exception of the convalescent Andrew Albicy - overthrew the Montenegrins who led by seven points at the edge of the last quarter.

"We are a strong group, we never give up, relishes the rear of Virtus Bologna Isaïa Cordinier (16 points). We showed great qualities from this point of view tonight. We have character, it's good sign for more. "

In qualifying for the Eurobasket, the Blues had "had to whip" in February in Podgorica recalled Cordinier the day before.

In their pool in Pau also on Friday with a plucked team.

With the exception of Paul Lacombe, released by Villeurbanne, all the other Euroleague players were selected to play the matches scheduled simultaneously in this window.

A duplicate consequence of the latent conflict between the private league and the International Basketball Federation (Fiba).

As if this were not enough, Andrew Albicy, uncertain but hoped the day before by Vincent Collet for his "leadership and his experience", did not last two minutes on the floor before giving up his place.

And the back of Limoges Nicolas Lang, the first “offensive weapon” cited the day before by the coach who praised his “shooting skills”, injured his left ankle in the process.

"Missiles" by Nicolas Lang

But the CSP player pushed back the floor at the end of the third quarter and embodied the rise of the Blues by stacking 11 points in the last seven minutes: three shots behind the three-point line and a lay-up that has them allowed to come back to the top (65-63).

"Nicolas Lang, by his missiles, allowed us to come back, analyzed Vincent Collet. As he forced the Montenegrins to watch him, that gave us space."

"We can give satisfaction to our medical staff who put him back on his feet."

he added.

In the meantime, it was the returning Louis Labeyrie (18 points) and therefore Isaïa Cordinier who kept France in the match.

The latter, by scoring a basket of 10 meters (32-28) then a raging dunk, (35-32) largely helped the Blues, led almost the entire first period, to pick up at half-time (38- 38).

"We had the courage, the self-sacrifice and the determination not to let go", retains the coach "not sure that the two additional training sessions (between now and the match in Hungary on Monday) allow us to display better basketball".

© 2021 AFP