ESP - EuroBasket warm up games

FRA - France's Badiane rebounds from tough day against Greeks

STRASBOURG (EuroBasket 2007) - Pape Badiane didn't receive much fanfare while helping Roanne capture the 2006-07 French title, but his performances didn't go unnoticed by Claude Bergeaud - the France coach who is giving the big man a chance to make this summer's EuroBasket squad.

The 2.08 center, who had 11 points and 12 rebounds in Roanne's championship clinching victory over Nancy back on June 2, led Les Bleus on Sunday with 16 points and five rebounds in an 80-60 triumph over Slovenia.

The victory meant France won the Strasbourg Tournament with two victories in their three games (they also beat Serbia while losing to Greece).

"I think it was a good reaction after the difficult game yesterday," said Badiane, who scored just two points at the free throw line and missed all four of his shots from the floor in the 74-55 mauling by the Greeks.

Badiane also had just one rebound in more than 14 minutes on the floor.

"From a personal point of view, I don't think that I approached that game against Greece in the right way, perhaps others may have seen that as an error.

"Today it was better."

Tony Parker played 24 minutes and finished with eight points, five assists and five rebounds.

"My ankle is getting better and better," Parker said. "Today I was able to play for a long time.

"The game was satisfying in that we were without Boris Diaw. We played well collectively.

"We were very quick on the fastbreak. This encounter bodes well for the future."

Diaw is unable to play for France because of a dispute with the Phoenix Suns over insurance.

Slovenians encouraged

Slovenia's players boosted their confidence by winning two of their three games at the Strasbourg Tournament.

Ales Pipan's men defeated Greece 65-54 and Serbia 79-66 before falling to France.

Team captain Radoslav Nesterovic says that work must be done before Slovenia can challenge in Spain, though, where they will play in Group D with Poland, Italy and France.

"No doubt about it, we still have a lot to do, but we are on a good road," he said.

"I am very satisfied with the approach of all the players, who want to achieve a great result at the EuroBasket. We still have three weeks to get rid of the bad things in our game."

Tsartsaris on the mend for Greece

While EuroBasket 2005 champions Greece lost two of their three games, there was good news back in Athens, where power forward/center Kostas Tsartsaris has been rehabilitating a foot injury.

"I am waiting for the team to come back, to start practicing with the other guys again," Tsartsaris said. "I hope and believe that everything will be fine."

Erceg upbeat about Serbia

One player who could be a major factor for Serbia this summer is Zoran Erceg, a 2.11m forward who played well in the ULEB Cup in 2006-07.

Erceg averaged 13.6 points in Strasbourg and he was particularly impressive in 17 minutes against the Greeks, when he scored 12 points, including a perfect six of six from the line, and also pulled down five rebounds.

"We are on the right track, but there are still lot things to do," he said.

"Against France, but also against Slovenia, we didn't play well on defense, but this last game showed that we are improving that part of our game, too.

"Overall, I'm satisfied with our performances so far, but I'm more satisfied with the hard work, both at training and during games."

Latvians in good fettle

Latvia are quietly having a very good build-up to the EuroBasket with 21-year-old center Andris Biedrins a key reason why.

The Golden State Warriors star scored 14 and grabbed 11 boards in the August 10 win over the Andrei Kirilenko and the Russians, and Latvia followed that victory up on Sunday with a 77-75 triumph over Poland.

Italy's Rocca ailing

Mason Rocca, a key figure for Italy last summer at the FIBA World Championship when they finished runners-up to Team USA in Group D, has been given a leave of absence from the national side because of left knee inflammation.

Italy, meanwhile, beat the Czech Republic 88-57 in the Torneo Sardegna

FIBA