Canada working to lead Group D
The Canadian National Team seeks to repeat what they did in Toronto —but this time in the capital city of Ottawa — to be better positioned for the second phase.
OTTAWA (FIBA Basketball World Cup Americas Qualifiers 2019) - The Canadian National Team seeks to repeat what they did in Toronto —but this time in the capital city of Ottawa — to be better positioned for the second phase of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Americas Qualifiers for China 2019.
The Canadian team will recieve this Monday, at The Arena at TD Place in Ottawa, the US Virgin Islands’ team on their last game of the first round of the Americas qualifying window.
Canada (4-1) is coming from a convincing victory against the Dominican Republic, 97-61, in a match last Friday in Toronto, that gave the Canadians the momentary lead in Group D.
The Canadian team, who got to this window reinforced by players from the NBA and promising player R.J. Barrett, is looking for solid support from their fans.
“These guys deserve it because they represent Canada, they love the game of basketball, they love to play the game of basketball and they love their country, so I hope more people will come out and celebrate that,” said Canadian coach Jay Triano on statements published by the Ottawa Citizen.
Canada will meet a Virgin Islands team that they already defeated in the Qualifiers. On February’s qualifying window in Nassau, Bahamas, the Canadians dominated 118-89.
Meanwhile, the Virgin Islands (2-3) need this win to have a good record for the matches against the National Teams from Group B in the windows that start in September.
However, the Virgin Islands will face Canada without their best player, point guard Walter Hodge, who cannot travel to the North American country because of a legal issue that prevents him from leaving Puerto Rico. Still, Hodge trusts his team, especially since the Virgin Islands surprised Canada in the first game of the 2017 AmeriCup.
“We have beaten them already and they have a great team. We don’t have anything to lose; that is what I say in the locker room everytime we face one of the big teams,” pointed out Hodge to FIBA.basketball.
“The idea is to go out to have fun, play a strong game, and do what we know: defense and rebounds. I think the past few years have been key in winning these games. We showed it at the AmeriCup when we beat Canada,” said Hodge.
Canada, the Virgin Islands, and the Dominican Republic were the three National Teams of group D that advanced to the second window of the Qualifiers that starts next September.
FIBA