France Secures FIBA World Cup Qualifier Win
France clinched an 80-72 victory over Belgium in FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, fending off a late Belgian surge. The French established control early, building a nine-point lead in the first quarter and extending it to 13 points by halftime (30-43). Although Belgium narrowed the gap to four points entering the final period (55-59), France responded decisively to secure an eight-point final margin. Key to the win were France's rebounding advantage (31-29) and a substantial 46-36 edge in bench scoring. Rudy Gobert anchored the defence with 8 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 blocks, while Andy van Vliet was Belgium's top performer with 14 points and 6 rebounds. This crucial road win signals strong momentum for France in the tournament.