<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">NANJING (FIBA World Championship) - Johan Petro admitted feeling awkward displaying his delight at making the 12-man France squad for the FIBA World Championship. The 20-year-old center was selected ahead of Cyril Julian, which has all but ended the veteran?s international career after 10 years and 135 caps. "I am happy, of course, but it's difficult to express my joy as I know I earned my place over another player," said Petro in L'Equipe. "Everyone is a little bit frustrated. I did not want to go back home and I know Cyril didn?t either." Coach Claude Bergeaud conceded his choice was "painful" to make, then went on to warn Petro and his fellow young team-mates they would have to live up to expectations in Japan. But Petro is confident he can repay Bergeaud?s faith at the tournament, which runs from August 19 to September 3. He said: "I now have to show Claude that he made the right choice. During our last tournament in China I showed what I was capable of. "Every match I played I felt it was the last one so I gave my best. I have to continue making a tremendous effort. "I have a lot of respect for Cyril, who had been a key element in France's successes in the past 10 years. Now I am taking over and I must impose my style too." </div> Source
Good to read that he's been given a great opportunity like this. He has potential for sure just that he's not too bright though, I know him in person.
Just finished watching France play and Petro really isn't a factor at all on the team. He gets spot minutes and rarely get the ball on the post. He scores either in transition or on offensive rebounding. He is fouling a whole lot, too. Mickael Gelebale has also been a bit of a disappointment. He isn't assertive at all offensively and although he is a pretty good perimeter defender he seems to be a bit lazy/passive to me. He also isn't as good of a shooter as I thought he was either and he rarely looks to penetrate unless someone is closing out to him. I might be a little harsh given that I only saw one game but I don't expect him to break into the rotation next year and get over 15 minutes a game. He really isn't built for extended minutes yet.
