CAN/LIB – Lebanese fall to Canada in Jack Donohue opener

HAMILTON (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament) – Canada got an impressive performance from 35-year-old veteran guard Rowan Barrett and rolled to an 89-67 victory over Lebanon on Monday night.

In the first game of the Jack Donohue International Classic – a warm-up event for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (July 14-20) in Athens, Greece, Leo Rautins’ team opened up a 44-29 half-time advantage and cruised to victory.

Barrett was four of six from behind the arc and finished with 16 points. The Canadians tore apart the Lebanese from long range, drilling 14 of 26 (54%).

Carl English, who scored a team-high 18, and Andy Rautins were each three of five on their three-point attempts.

Canada, who now have a solid one-two punch down low with NBA centers Samuel Dalembert and Joel Anthony, out-rebounded Lebanon 38-25.

Dalembert, who played at last summer’s FIBA Americas Championship, had 11 boards to go with his 10 points while the impressive newcomer Anthony had nine points and nine rebounds.

"I was happy with the effort," said Canada coach Rautins.

"We made mistakes, but the first game you're going to make mistakes.

“I thought there were too many fouls at the defensive end, but everybody was trying to make the extra pass, trying to move the ball. I thought we had spurts where we were trying to get after people.

"You're not going to be perfect right now but I was happy with the effort the first game."

Veteran Fadi El Khatib had a game-high 20 points for Lebanon, who also got 14 apiece from Joseph Vogel and Rony Fahed.

Lebanon were just 23 of 66 (35%) from the floor overall and six of 25 (24%) from long range.

Canada will be taking on Slovenia and Korea in Group C of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament and if they finish in the top two, Rautins’ team will advance to a quarter-final against Croatia, Cameroon or Puerto Rico.

“We have a lot of things to clean up, and as the level of competition rises, our margin for error is going to be less and less,” Barrett said.

“These games are the ones we can take to clean stuff up.”

Lebanon will take on Brazil and hosts Greece in Group A of the qualifying event. If they finish in top two, a quarter-final against Germany, New Zealand or Cape Verde awaits them.

In all, 12 teams are battling for the three remaining spots at the Beijing Games.

FIBA