It is called “the Arrow”, “the Arrow”. And it’s not because of a straight path to the highest level… Surprise guest on Vincent Collet’s list for the World Cup (August 25-September 10), Sylvain Francisco, 25, is not bad scrambled to get there. Departure for the United States at 14, return to young people then the pros in Boulogne-Levallois (2017-19) without going through the NCAA box and even less NBA, passage to Paris Basketball in Pro B (2019-20), revelation in Jeep Elite with Roanne (2020-21), experience in the powerful Spanish Liga with Manresa (2021-22) before landing in Greece, at Peristeri, last season. And this under the orders of a certain Vasilios Spanoulis, best scorer in the history of the Euroleague. “Spanoulis always told me that when I hesitate, I’m a lambda player, but when I play with my instinct, I’m a” One million dollar player “”, laughs the native of Créteil with AFP . Message received. Although the person concerned, a real electric battery on the floor, did not need to be pushed in this area.
It is above all in the register of management that Francisco has developed, achieving a five-star season in Greece. 16.2 points and 5.8 assists on average, a selection for the local All Star Game, a place in the best Greek five of the season (alongside the pivot of the Blues Moustapha Fall) and… a signing at Bayern Munich, resident of the Euroleague. Pablo Laso was seduced by the qualities of the Ile-de-France bombshell measured at 1.79m according to the French Basketball Federation (FFBB) and… 1.85m for his club. In any case, it is the smallest player in the group of 12 who will defend the colors of France at the World Cup. “I did not expect that; I was really shocked when I saw my name, and everyone at home went crazy”, swears the double zero number of the Blues, who had ample opportunity to admire his relaxation and his side ” show”, like this dunk of madness against Montenegro (80-69).
What appealed to Vincent Collet? An atypical profile, in a leading position where France does not have an unlimited reservoir. Especially since Thomas Heurtel is non-selectable as long as he plays in Russia. Frank Ntilikina was forced to forfeit during preparation. And there are others, too tender at least for the moment, like the NBAers who are Théo Malédon (little seen last year at the Euro) or Killian Hayes. For the coach, the choice fell between the experienced Andrew Albicy and Sylvain Francisco, the latter describing himself as a “very quick and versatile player. I like to play in transition, to attack the basket, to take three-point shots, to read the pick-and-roll and, of course, not to neglect the defense”, he explains to Bayern supporters, on the site of his new team. Explosive. Collet had already had the opportunity to launch it in Blue during the windows during the season. And this from February 2022, followed by a 21-pawn card against Lithuania last November (90-65), alongside the prodigy Victor Wembanyama.
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Why not Albicy? “It is certainly the position on which we hesitated the most, explained Collet at the time of the announcement of the list. The emergence of Sylvain, what we saw on the windows and the season, he finished strong in Greece, his development, his age. We wanted to integrate it this year in the perspective of the Olympics. We considered that two small point guards was a luxury that we could not afford. We made another choice with Frank, a more defensive profile, like Andrew. We thought a lot in terms of balance and complementarity around the leaders, Nando De Colo and Evan Fournier in the back line. We tried to associate them with complementary players in terms of defining their role in the team.
So far, the hitch works rather well, Francisco having the mission to “change, in a short time, the physiognomy of a match. He has an attacking instinct and it is an asset that we will try to use in certain circumstances”, as Collet indicated after his 14 points against Japan (88-70), at the end of the preparation . Francisco had not played in the previous meeting, in Lithuania (70-76). “I didn’t play in Vilnius but it’s not a disappointment, he swore. I am on the bench, I will always be ready if Vincent calls me”. A joker.
Given the lack of competition currently leading, and knowing that Nando de Colo (36) is not eternal, Sylvain Francisco in any case has a big card to play for the future. “I know where I come from. I want to prove what I am capable of at the top level,” he said when he signed for Bayern. Words that can easily be transposed to the context of the France team, even if he does not leave to have a huge playing time during the 2023 campaign. “Whether on or off the pitch, he brings something something different, something that we haven’t had in the France team since I’ve been there, and even less in this position, savors Nicolas Batum. He brings a madness, an athletic side. It’s something that will bring us. He fears nothing. He’s not the biggest, but he might be the one who will want the most on the pitch. Leaving with a guy like that is always a joy, we know we can count on him no matter what.” That’s all we ask of him. It’s up to him to respond.