Team Canada’s senior men’s team will spend September continuing to fight for qualification for the FIBA Basketball 2019 World Cup. The team will play in Laval, Quebec against Brazil on September 13, and then in Valdivia, Chile against Chile on September 17. Canada and Brazil both finished the first round of qualifications with a 5-1 record, while Chile struggled at 1-5.
Canada will only play two games in September, with more qualifying play coming in the winter. When the second round is complete by the beginning of 2019, the top three teams from each pool will qualify for the FIBA World Cup, along with the better fourth-place team between the two groups. At 5-1 and leading their new group for the second round, Canada is in pole position to qualify.
Before continuing international play, Team Canada will have to select a roster for September. These will be the names coming into training camp.
Of particular note to Raptors fans should be ex-Raptor Cory Joseph, along with former and/or current 905ers Aaron Best, Brady Heslip, and Kaza Keane. Best and Heslip will certainly add their feathery strokes to the roster, while Keane will offer defensive tenacity. RJ Barrett will not be in camp, though other stars helped lead Canada to their 5-1 record record in the first round of play. Melvin Ejim scored 14.8 points per game while also leading the team in blocks and rebounds and finishing fourth in assists. Heslip added 12.5 points per game while shooting 50 percent from behind the arc.
Team Canada will be lead by head coach Roy Rana along with a variety of support staff, including Rowan Barrett as assistant GM / Executive VP. For more information click here.
