Cagliari, Italy – Without Tony Parker, who is nursing a mild ankle spain in San Antonio, Team France squeezed out a 80-77 win over Italy in the EuroBasket 2009 Additional Qualifying Round.

With the win, France takes a key step in qualifying for the Eurobasket tournament in September.

After two free throws by Marco Belinelli with 33 seconds remaining, the game was tied at 66.  Ronny Turiaf and Nicolas Batum both missed as regulation ended, taking the game to overtime.  Les Bleus went on a 10-2 run in the extra period to seal the win.

Is France a stronger team with Tony Parker?  Without a doubt.  However, let us not forget that France still boasts a talented roster that features Turiaf, Batum, Boris Diaw, Florent Piétrus, Johan Petro, and 2009 NBA draft pick Nando De Colo.

Florent Piétrus, Mickaël’s older brother, and Batum led Team France with 20 points a piece.  Boris Diaw added 15 points for Les Bleus.  The 21-year old Batum added 8 rebounds for the winners.

Italy was led by Marco Belinelli’s 26 points while Angelo Gigli added 13 and Andrea Bargnani 10 for the Italians.

In Group A action, Bosnia & Herzegovina defeated Portugal 62-56 led by rising star Nihad Dedovic’s 15 points.

France along with five other teams, Italy, Finland Portugal, Belgium, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, are battling for the last berth to Eurobasket.  The tournament’s winner will head to Poland for the all-important Eurobasket 2009.

France’s next game will be against Finland on Saturday.  Parker leads the team with a 26.8 point average in AQR games and is expected to be back in uniform in time for the match against Finland.