Nando's from Colo won his time trial. Severely injured in the ankle at the end of April, the Asvel point guard/back was long uncertain for the Paris Olympic Games. But after reassuring Vincent Collet and his staff at the start of the preparation, the Ch'ti is indeed part of the list of 12 of the Blues.
What to be able to pass the milestone of 200 selections on the occasion of the second match against Germany, in Montpellier.
For the occasion, the president of the FFBB, Jean-Pierre Siutat, and the general manager of the Blues, Boris Diaw, had reserved a little surprise for Nando de Colo before the match, with a jersey bearing the name “200”.
200 selections: ✅#TeamFranceBasket | #PassionatelyBlue
pic.twitter.com/dmSfP9z0AH— French Basketball Teams (@FRABasketball) July 8, 2024
But at 37, the oldest player in the group must now get used to a different role. Yesterday, he was particularly discreet, not scoring a single point (0/2 shooting) and not distributing a single pass in 12 minutes.
A “Spanish” role
“In the French team, I never had the same role” he confided in the mixed zone, in remarks transcribed by L'Equipewhile he is looking for rhythm. “If we go back over the years, it was always based on where I was needed on the field. Today, I know that players can bring more over longer playing times. I am more in a role where over a few minutes, I can bring my experience.”
Vincent Collet wants to take inspiration from the Spanish model, with key players (Sergio Llull, Rudy Fernandez, etc.) whose playing time has been gradually reduced with La Roja, but who remain valuable.
“We are in this Spanish vision, a different role, more the role of a major player but of a player who will accompany the team with a mastery that will be useful to us in certain situations. We see in training that he finds Victor (Wembanyama) very well and when he is taken in pairs, it will give open shots to others and we would like Nando to be one of those to benefit from it”confirmed the coach.
SELECTION RECORDS FOR THE BLUES
Hervé Dubuisson: 259
Jacques Cashmere: 250
Boris Diaw: 247
Florent Pietrus: 230
Eric Beugnot: 212
Jean-Michel Senegal: 210
Jacques Monclar: 201
Nando de Colo: 200
