Sports

Canada exorcises Venezuela demons to book FIBA World Cup spot

Published

2 years ago

November 11, 2022

You had to be there.

I was among the few that were lucky enough — or unlucky enough — to watch first-hand one of the most excruciating losses in the history of the Canadian senior men’s basketball team.

Sept. 11, 2015, Mexico City, if you need specifics.

Anyone who cared about Canadian basketball was about to raise a celebratory beer — the cold frothy head just inches from hitting the hatch when they stumbled on some loose laundry and fell face first into the coffee table — beer and broken glass everywhere.

Just like that, the party was over. Canada was up seven with three minutes to play against Venezuela, Olympic berth on the line. Then came a cavalcade of turnovers, missed shots, miracle opponent threes and a phantom foul at the buzzer that was the difference in the game.

[brightcove videoID=6315363807112 playerID=JCdte3tMv height=360 width=640]

Everything that has happened since has been about recovering the momentum Canada was building. The first wave of Canada’s golden generation looked poised to make the 2016 Olympics after missing them in 2004, 2008 and 2012.

Flash forward seven years and the Canadian men’s Olympic drought is now at five Olympic cycles and counting.

So yeah, having a chance to advance to the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup by beating Venezuela on home soil, in Edmonton?

The prospect was sweet for Canada Basketball chief executive officer Michael Bartlett over the phone from Alberta.

“Doing it in Canada was nice, it’s been a long time since we’ve been able to do that on home soil. Doing it with this winter core, the group that started this [qualifying] journey last November just shows how our roster consistency strategy is working and doing it against Venezuela would be nice because we’ve had some tough beats against them,” said Bartlett, who has been charged with creating the business infrastructure to both support Canada’s podium quest and leverage the knock-on effects if and when it happens.

“And there are a lot of people in the program who remember that and were a part of it. We wanted this one. It’s been circled on the calendar.”

And now they can put an ‘x’ through it: Nov. 10, 2022, marks the spot.

Canada gained some measure of revenge with a thorough 94-56 win over Venezuela on Thursday that clinched its year-long quest to qualify for the 2023 World Cup — which will be played in Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines in August and September — in front of a sold-out crowd at the Flair Airlines Hangar at the Edmonton Expo Centre.

Canada improved to 9-0 with three games left to play to remain the only undefeated team in qualifying while Venezuela fell to 7-2.

Canada had six players in double figures in scoring, led by Kassius Robertson who had 16 on perfect 6-of-6 shooting, while two more players chipped in with eight points in a perfectly balanced attack. Canada held the visitors to 34.4 per cent shooting and owned a 20-10 edge on the offensive boards. Canada led 46-31 at halftime and blew the game open with a 24-11 third quarter.

The game very nearly didn’t happen. Venezuela was late getting its visa applications submitted and was only cleared to travel to Canada on Wednesday. The team flew from Mexico to Vancouver on Thursday and then connected to Edmonton landing three hours before the tip.

When they arrived they were greeted by -15C weather — or about 35C colder than it had been in Caracas on Thursday.

Serves them right. For years it’s been Canada travelling to far-flung places to play in hostile environments. Having the Sorels on the other foot feels good for a change.

It was fitting too that a Canadian team featuring stalwarts from the ‘winter core’ — the group of more than 20 athletes that have made themselves available for the qualifying windows that NBA players aren’t able to play — were the ones that got it done.

Canada wouldn’t have made it this far without them. Sure, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Kelly Olynyk led Canada to blowout wins in the summer qualifying windows, and Canada will be looking to Jamal Murray, RJ Barrett and other members of the summer core to join them next summer, but it’s been the likes of Robertson, Phil and Thomas Scrubb, Trae Bell-Haynes and others that have been in the lineup game after game.

Advancing to the 32-nation World Cup is just one step, of course.

Being the first team in the Americas allows Canada to get a head start on planning the logistics for next summer: training camp accommodations and details, exhibition games and the like. Every bit of certainty helps.

The ultimate goal is a place in the 12-team Olympic field in Paris in 2024. The surest way for Canada to manage that is to be among the top two teams from the Americas at the World Cup.

Failing that there is the opportunity to play in and win one of the last-chance Olympic Qualifying tournaments in the summer of 2024 that will determine the final four spots in the field.

But Canada doesn’t want to come in through the back door. There’s been too much time, too much effort, too much money and too much hope invested in building a program that can compete with the world’s best on the brightest stages, any time, any place. It’s been proven on the women’s side and it’s been proven in age-group basketball. It’s just the talent-rich senior men’s category that hasn’t been able to put it all together.

The loss in 2015 was the first in a string of heartbreaks: A close miss in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in 2016; a disappointing 21st- place finish at the 2019 World Cup, the loss to the Czech Republic in overtime at the last-chance Olympic qualifier in Victoria that kept Canada out of the most recent Summer Games in Tokyo.

It’s time for Canada to make its mark.

“I get it. For people who have been following this program for a long time, they’re going to say ‘prove it’,” says Bartlett. “Well, the World Cup gives us a chance to say prove it before we go to the Olympics and prove it again.”

“… Nothing would be better than giving the county a reason to cheer,” says Bartlett. “It’s the coolest thing ever.”

The Canadian men’s team got another big step closer on Thursday and put to bed an old demon in the process.

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Sports

Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.

“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”

Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.

The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.

Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.

“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”

Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.

Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.

“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”

The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.

“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”

Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.

“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.

___

AP cricket:

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Sports

Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.

Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.

The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.

The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.

Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.

Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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Sports

Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.

The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.

Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.

There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.

Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.

But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.

The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”

The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.

Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.

Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.

Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.

Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.

“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”

“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.

Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.

Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.

The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.

Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.

Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.

Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.

Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.

Canada Roster

Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).

Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).

Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).

Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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