By Steve Keating
PARIS (Reuters) – The French men’s basketball team announced their arrival in Paris with a rip-roaring 82-73 win over Canada on Tuesday that propelled the hosts into the Olympic semi-finals riding a wave of national emotion.
Feeding off the energy crackling through a seething Bercy, France gave the home crowd what they came to see, storming to a 19-5 lead in the opening minutes they would never relinquish, each basket triggering a thundering roar that rocked the arena to its foundation.
After repelling a Canadian fight back with 90 seconds on the clock the rafters rattled again as the packed arena broke out in a rousing flag-waving rendition of “La Marseillaise”.
After a less than inspiring performance in the group stage that saw the Olympic hosts lose to Germany and need overtime to see off Japan, the French delivered their best effort when it mattered moving onto the semi-finals and a rematch with the Germans.
Leading the way for Les Bleus was Guerschon Yabusele with 22 points while Isaia Cordinier added 20 in what was a total team effort with four players getting into double figures.
(Reporting by Steve Keating in Paris; Editing by Toby Davis)
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