Soliman's Masterclass Powers France Past Italy
Nathan Soliman delivered a dominant performance, pouring in 23 points to steer France to an 88-68 victory over Italy at the FIBA U17 World Cup.
The contest at the BDC National Teams Venue saw both teams head into halftime deadlocked at 36-36 after a tightly contested first half.
France, however, pulled away decisively in the fourth quarter, outscoring Italy 29-16 to seal the win. The French bench provided a crucial 31-20 scoring advantage, while Italy struggled with 15 turnovers to France's 11. Amadou Fall chipped in 14 points off the bench for France, as Simone Ventura starred for Italy with 29 points and 7 rebounds despite the loss. France's stout defence, registering 9 steals and 5 blocks, stifled the Italian offence in the second half. This win serves as a significant statement for France in the global tournament.