France's Tony Parker and Boris Diaw (Photo : Reuters)
Host team France battles heartbreak squad Latvia in the quarterfinals of the 2015 Eurobasket at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille, France on Tuesday, September 15.
Vincent Collet will once again rely on his crafty floor general from the San Antonio Spurs, Tony Parker, to lead his team to the semifinals past Ainars Bagatskis' gutsy crew.
The Frenchmen sailed through their Round-of-16 affair on September 12 with a 76-53 rout over the Ersan İlyasova-led Turkish side in front of a European indoor crowd record of 26,153 at the Pierre-Mauroy Stadium, as reported by ESPN.
Former NBA player Nando de Colo led France with 15 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists versus the overmatched Turkey squad.
Collet once again unleashed his superior bench headed by shooting guard Evan Fournier with 12 points as it outscored Turkey's, 35-13, en route to the win.
Meanwhile, Latvia upset perennial contender Slovenia in their other Round-of-16 match also last Saturday, 73-66, as the Goran Dragić-less team of head coach Jurij Zdovc missed all night from the three-point distance, even going 0-of-7 in one stretch.
Point guard Janis Strelnieks led the Latvians with 17 points, six boards, and eight dimes to barge their way into the quarterfinals, via Reuters.
Latvia is expected to have a much harder time against the hosts, though, as France had been playing inspired basketball as of late and are determined to repeat as gold medal winners in this bi-annual event.
Prediction: France wins, 83-73
France starting five: Rudy Gobert (C), Boris Diaw (PF), Nicolas Batum (SF), Nando De Colo (SG), Tony Parker (PG)
Latvia starting five: Kaspars Berzins (C), Rolands Freimanis (PF), Kristaps Janicenoks (SF), Dairis Bertans (SG), Janis Strelnieks (PG)
