France’s NBA veterans skipping OQT

MANILA, Philippines - For all the talk of France’s NBA veterans skipping the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Manila, they still have enough to mount a challenge for one of the last three slots to the Rio Summer Olympics.

Nicolas Batum, the Charlotte Hornets’ guard, is now in training camp for head coach Vincent Collett’s squad. France’s camp,which opened in June 10, is happy that Batum is present although he is just limited to drills and workouts while avoiding scrimmages. 

There is concern if his paperwork will get done in time for him to board a plane to Manila as he is currently in negotiations with his NBA club. The same contractual problem has eliminated Rudy Gobert, Evan Fournier, and Ian Mahinmi from participation.

Batum, a 6-8 forward, was named France’s Best Player during the FIBA World Cup in Spain in 2014.

Without Gobert, Les Bleus’ inside presence, Collett will turn to seven-foot-one center Alexis Ajinca to man the slot. Ajinca was in uniform when France won EuroBasket 2013. He currently plays for the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA.

Aside from NBA veterans Tony Parker, Boris Diaw, Florent Pietrus, France will count on Nando De Colo who is tabbed to be their future leader. The 28-year old shooting guard suits up for CSKA Moscow in the VTB United League in Russia.

The aggressive De Colo who was Parker’s teammate in San Antonio from 2012-14 and who also suited up for the Toronto Raptors in 2014, was recently named Euroleague Final Four Most Valuable Player. He averaged 18.9 points a game for CSKA Moscow.

As part of their preparation, the French are playing some tuneup matches at Pau’s Palais des Sports. Les Bleus takes on Latvia on June 16, Serbia at the AccorHotels Arena in Paris on June 21 and in Belgrade on June 25 before facing Japan back home, this time in Rouen on June 28. That will be their last friendly match before flying in to Manila.

France is bracketed with the Philippines and New Zealand in Group B. They take on the host nation on July 5 then the Tall Blacks on July 7.