http://www.sportstwo.com/Story/View/BKF/FRANCE/6291</p> </p> </p><h2>Diaw cheered by Les Bleus return</h2> Saturday, August 18, 2007 12:20 PM By Steve Douglas Special to PA SportsTicker </p> PARIS (Ticker) -- A relieved Boris Diaw expressed his delight at being back in a French jersey after seeing his insurance saga between the Phoenix Suns and country eventually come to a successful conclusion. </p> Just minutes before Friday night's clash between France and Portugal in the EuroBasket 2007 warmup tournament in Paris, Les Bleus captain Diaw was given the go-ahead to return to the court. </p> The versatile forward had been unable to train with France for the past few weeks, with the Suns insistent on him having an insurance policy that would absolve them of liability if he was to aggravate his back injury. </p> But he is back, and after scoring four points 21 minutes of action in an 86-64 win over the Portuguese, he is raring to go with the start of EuroBasket just two weeks away. </p> "I am happy to be back playing," Diaw said. "We were given the green light towards the end of the day. I was persuaded that I was going to be able to play at some stage or another. But it is true that it is important to return to training and preparation as quickly as possible. </p> "We are trying to put a team in place - there are a lot of players with whom I have never played and with whom I must learn how to position myself. It was important to return as quickly as possible. I have done no team training but I had the opportunity to live with the squad and to get to know the players on a daily basis." </p> With Diaw back on the squad, France will be hoping to push on and put the finishing touches to its EuroBasket preparations that have been hampered by Diaw's absence and injuries to the likes of Tony Parker and Florent Pietrus. </p> "I have watched the progression of the team in the series of matches, and what is being put in place," said Diaw, who insisted his fitness was fine. "We are already getting a better defensive cohesion and we know that this will be our strong point. We had this last year and two years ago. </p> "It is a question of being strong individually, but also collectively, in defense. It is getting better and better. Now we must improve our offensive cohesion, which is more difficult to nail." </p> Les Bleus coach Claude Bergeaud was thrilled to see the return of Diaw, who was so important to his team in last year's FIBA World Championship. France finished fifth in that tournament, with Diaw inspirational in the absence of the injured Parker. </p> "We are basically back to full strength and that gives me enormous pleasure," said Bergeaud, who said he first heard Diaw would be available for the match an hour before tipoff. </p> The game itself was memorable for the return to something like his best form of Parker, who was back on the Stade Pierre de Coubertin court he last played on in 2001 with former club team Paris Basket. </p> The San Antonio Spurs star, fully recovered from his ankle injury, had a game-high 21 points and was superb in the 27 minutes he played. But he said there was much more to come. </p> "I believe I am still at only 70 percent," the NBA Finals MVP said. "I am happy to be back with the team. Collectively, we are two weeks behind. The return of Boris should bring more intelligence to our game." </p> Portugal, who will also play in EuroBasket next month for the first time since 1951, suffered its second defeat in three days, following on from an 85-65 setback to Spain on Tuesday. </p> After a bright first half when their defense was solid, the Portuguese faded away, with Joao Santos finishing their top scorer with 11 points. </p> France will play the Czech Republic on Saturday, while Portugal will square off with Russia earlier in the day. </p>
