Team Canada has announced its 12-man roster for upcoming qualification games against Venezuela and Brazil. Canada will be on the road for both games, traveling to play Venezuela on November 30 at 5:15 PM ET and Brazil on December 3 at 5:00 PM ET. Both games will be broadcast live on DAZN.
Through eight games thus far, Canada has a 7-1 record, but their upcoming opponents have been equally strong. Venezuela (7-1) and Brazil (6-2) round out the top of the group. However, the top three teams from each group advance to the FIBA World Cup, as well as the better fourth-place team between both groups. If they continue on their present course, Canada should advance to play in China between August 31 and September 15, 2019.
Followers of the Raptors 905 will be familiar with many names on Canada’s upcoming roster. While Duane Notice – who has thrived recently in the G-League – is the only current 905er, Aaron Best, Brady Heslip, Kaza Keane, and Kyle Wiltjer have all played for the Mississauga squad. Xavier Rathan-Mayes has starred against the 905 while playing for the Westchester Knicks last year.
Canada is guard-heavy, with a variety of talented shooters in Heslip, Best, and others. Joel Anthony is the only player with extended NBA experience, though Rathan-Mayes and Wiltjer have appeared in the NBA at times. Phil Scrubb has led Canada in scoring thus far during qualification, with 14.8 points per game on incredible 54.5-47.1-78.9 splits. Heslip has chipped in 11.3 (on 48.1 percent from deep).
The team is young and talented, with Morgan, Wiltjer, and Landry joining Canada for their first time during this extended FIBA qualification tournament. Regardless, with Melvin Ejim injured and unavailable, and with Brazil and Venezuela sporting strong rosters, Canada will face difficult matchups in a few weeks.
