France takes down valiant RP team in Fiba 3x3 World Cup

France takes down valiant RP team in Fiba 3x3 World Cup

In one of the highly-anticipated matches of the Fiba 3x3 World Cup, France asserted its height, experience, and talent in dispatching a young Philippine team, 22-11, to go up 2-0 in Group B play.

France, earlier winners over El Salvador, 21-5, once more found its strength in Angelo Tsagarakis who finished with a team-high 14 points while teammate Charles-Henri Bronchard provided the best dunk of the day.

The Philippines looked to attack the taller Frenchmen in hopes of keeping them off balance. Paras, looking to reprise his earlier heroics in the Philippines first win of the tourney (21-15 winners over Romania) missed on a drive with pressure from his taller French defender.

France missed a three-pointer but secured the loose ball and missed another three.

The 6’6” Charles Bronchard foiled Jeron Teng’s first two attempts. But the Filipinos showed that they too can play defense as JR Quinahan stripped Tsagarakis off the post up.

But Angelo Tsagarakis found teammate Dominique Gentil for a jumper to open the scoring, 1-0 France

Teng once more found difficulty against Bronchard and was unable drive. Unable to get inside the lane, Kiefer Ravena found JR who swished a three for a 2-1 lead.

But France, as they would do all match long, replied immediately, with a Tsar long bomb, 3-2. Gentil and Bronchard hit their lay-ups for a 5-2 lead but Paras went to the long bomb the deficit to one, 5-4.

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Going back inside, Charly Pontens drove up the middle for a lay-up, 6-4, forcing the Philippines to call time out at the 6:57.

With the Filipinos double-teaming inside, France’s marksmen found the range. When the Filipinos played one-on-one defense, the home side attacked the basket.

Pontens ended the match with a long two with 1:47 left in the game clock.

The Filipinos ended their June 18 matches with a 1-1 record.