AS Monaco Basket player, Matthew Strazel, has to withdraw from EuroBasket, which starts this Wednesday. Other players from the Roca Team will begin the competition.
It’s a big blow for the French team! Matthew Strazel, point guard for the French national team and AS Monaco Basket, has withdrawn this Sunday from EuroBasket. A thigh injury forces him to leave the team. Parisian Nadir Hifi has been called to replace him. As a reminder, the French team starts their competition this Thursday at 5 p.m. against neighboring Belgium, and the French point guard was an essential player in Frédéric Fauthoux’s lineup.
Matthew Strazel was gaining momentum during this preparation. In the two matches against Spain, the point guard participated in both French victories. In the first game, the Monaco player scored six points and made two assists. In the second, he raised the level with ten points, including a 2/3 from three-point range, and four assists. He notably scored the “dagger” (a decisive basket at a crucial moment in a tight game, editor’s note).
Three members of the Roca Team at EuroBasket
Although Matthew Strazel will not compete, Elie Okobo will be present. The shooting guard from the Roca Team is in good form during this preparation. He started with 12 points, two rebounds, and two assists in the first match against Spain. For the second game, Elie Okobo scored six points and distributed four assists. Against Greece last night, the Roca Team guard scored six points.
Jordan Lloyd will participate in this event with the Polish team, of which he is the leader. It is hard to imagine Poland performing well without a great Jordan Lloyd. During this preparation, the shooting guard showed a strong performance (14.5 pts — 2.2 reb — 2.5 AST on average). These statistics didn’t allow Poland to beat the Finnish team twice in the last two preparation matches.
The German team also has a member from the Roca Team. The center, Daniel Theis, is selected for EuroBasket. He only played in two preparation games. He contributed to the victory against Turkey with six points and six rebounds. He then took part in the double victory against Spain. The Roca Team center will play in his third European Championship.
Coach Spanoulis also joining
Vassilis Spanoulis, coach of the Roca Team, will be present at EuroBasket. Indeed, he will coach his home country, Greece. The team will be led on the court by the country’s star, Giannis Antetokounmpo. During the preparation, the Greek team played seven preparation games, with mixed results (4 wins and 3 losses). Last night in the final match, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s teammates faced the French team. They led by six points at halftime before being overturned and losing (77-92).
The competition begins this Wednesday, August 27, at 12:30 p.m. It takes place in four countries: Finland, Latvia, Cyprus, and Poland.
