FRA – Collet explains inclusion of uncertainties Noah, Diot in preliminary squad

PARIS (2010 FIBA World Championship) - France coach Vincent Collet admits there are big doubts over the availability of Joakim Noah and Antoine Diot for national team duty this summer.

But the importance of both to France heading into the FIBA World Championship in Turkey is such that Collet isn’t willing to rule either player out and that’s why he named both in his 18-man preliminary squad on Wednesday.

Noah, the Chicago Bulls starting center, is in contract talks with the Bulls.

“I hope he can be our pivot,” Collet said.

“There is a strong desire on his part to join us but it is conditional on the renewal of his contract. "

As for Diot, whose season ended early in the play-offs for Le Mans, the point guard is trying to recover from a herniated disc.

Diot was a revelation on the international stage last summer at the EuroBasket in Poland where France finished fifth to clinch a spot in Turkey.

"We did not rule him out knowing there is a small chance he will come back,” Collet said.

France have a deep and talented pool of players to choose from so no matter who shows up, they will be a force in Group D against defending world champions Spain, FIBA Oceania winners New Zealand, FIBA Americas Championship semi-finalists Canada and wild-card teams Lithuania and Lebanon.

Yvan Mainini, the French Basketball Federation president, said: "This team has been rejuvenated and certainly does not lack ambition."

One of the players that figures to be important to France for the first time since the FIBA World Championship four years ago in Japan is Mickael Gelabale.

Unable to cement his status as an NBA player, Gelabale returned to his former club Cholet earlier this season and on Sunday led them to the French title.

He was so good that Gelabale was named most valuable player of the championship game triumph over Le Mans.

“I'm pretty happy to have been the MVP,” he said.

“To all those who wondered why I came back to France ... here is my answer.

“I wanted to find the rhythm of playing time and a real competition.

“This season has enabled me to fulfill all these objectives.

“I am eternally grateful to the Cholet club for it.

“They proved once again to me they are a great family.”

FIBA