“I want to play with them”: the great joy of Ronny Turiaf after the qualification of the Blues from the basketball 3 x 3

2024-08-05 00:41:40

Marquee Concorde is waiting for that. After the tears of the girls, fourth in Tokyo but next to their sneakers all week, the boys achieved a great effect on Sunday evening. They qualified for the last quarter of the Olympic tournament by beating the Serbians (22-19), six-time world champions and world no. They will face Latvia this Monday (7 pm), in the semi-finals.

Former French Lakers player Ronny Turiaf. Sports logo

When he left the stadium, Ronny Turiaf still couldn’t believe it. Called to start this 3 x 3 day, the former pivot of the NBA and the French 5-a-team team (41 years old) said this historic moment. The Blues are playing, as a reminder, their first Olympic Games.

What was your first immediate reaction?

RONNY TURIA. There, I’m not hot, I’m dancing. My words may not make much sense. I am happy for my friends, for Karim Souchu the coach, for Richard Billant, who is already there. I’m happy for basketball, I’m happy for the young people who gave it all. It’s the first time I’ve seen a 3 x 3 match in real life.

What do you want to say about Karim Souchu (coach)?

Karim, I see it through the prism of someone who went to America, who followed his path and who continues to improve what he has been doing since he was 18. He is someone who has great values, who you have a vision and you know how to channel your winning energy to go into the unknown and face the great mountains. The end, it has been ten years since I last touched the ball, and now I want to play with them for real.

Is there a player you particularly like?

No, they are all big. Even the one who put the draw in the end, Timothé Vergiat, had a game that was sometimes complicated, with success sometimes escaping him, and on the final draw, we saw all his anger. I have already seen them playing on TV. (Jules) Rambaut too, he is very good in the racket and under the basket, but there he made two shots that won in the beginning. He launched his team. It is a great activity. I am very happy and grateful to be able to watch this match. Seeing the happy faces of all these people here, this is what entertainment is all about.