Canadian men clinch berth at FIBA World Cup with dominant victory over Venezuela

Canada goes to the FIBA World Cup.

Kassius Robertson’s 16-point efficiency helped Canada’s men’s basketball workforce beat Venezuela 94-56 on Thursday to clinch a berth in subsequent summer season’s main worldwide match.

“It’s clearly a very good feeling,” stated Thomas Scrubb, who completed with 12 factors and 4 assists, and has travelled throughout the Americas for all 9 of Canada’s qualifying video games. “It’s a number of totally different home windows, a number of journey, so, to have the ability to do it at residence and fairly early within the course of is nice for us. Now we will deal with the World Cup going ahead.”

Canada completely dominated Venezuela on the glass, out-rebounding the guests 54-26. The Venezuelans couldn’t get offensive boards to stretch possessions, getting simply 5 second-chance factors on the evening.

“We actually talked about rebounding in making ready for this recreation,” stated Klassen. “We appeared at the 2 massive guys they’ve they usually had been averaging 4 offensive rebounds per recreation. It was our focus to take their video games away and let the guards get the rebounds in the event that they should.

“We needed to ensure these guys did not get second possibilities.”

The two Venezuelan rebounders Klassen referred to had been Miguel Ruiz and Nestor Colmenares, they usually had been held to 2 offensive boards every.

WATCH | Canada beats Venezuela to assert spot at FIBA World Cup:

Chery, all of five-foot-11, completed with seven rebounds, which spoke to Canada’s dedication on the defensive finish.

“It’s 5 guys rebounding each time,” stated Klassen.

Jhornan Zamora led Venezuela (7-2) with 14 factors and three rebounds.

The recreation’s begin time was pushed again 25 minutes due to the Venezuelan workforce’s late arrival. When Canada received onto the ground for pre-game warm-up, the Venezuelans had been nonetheless nowhere to be seen.

‘We had been prepared, regardless’

Canada got here out laborious early within the first quarter and pressed the Venezuelans, who simply received off a airplane a few hours earlier than the sport.

“We had been advised from the get-go that this may need been a bit distraction tactic, so we had been fairly locked in,” stated Klassen. “We had been laser-focused. We had seen articles on the information that they did not have visas, that in the event that they had been going to get on a flight, it was going to be the identical day.

“But, we got here to play a basketball recreation. We had been prepared, regardless.”

The Venezuelans didn’t converse to the media after the sport.

Most leagues around the globe break for the FIBA qualifying home windows, however not the NBA. So, the Canadian workforce that certified Thursday was made up nearly totally of gamers who’re plying their trades in Europe.

“It means so much,” stated Robertson, who performs for Italian membership Reggio Emilia. “Lots of us come from distant to come back play these video games. For me, and I can converse for lots of fellows on the workforce, that is nearly like a trip for us.

“We’re tremendous centered, however being with our countrymen and being on Canadian soil is wonderful for us.”

Remaining video games may enhance world rating

With Canada placing excessive stress on the ball, and infrequently double-teaming the participant on the dribble, the Venezuelans missed their first six pictures. Of their first eight makes an attempt, three had been air balls. It took nearly 4 minutes for the Venezuelans to hit a shot, a Zamora three-pointer.

A towering block by Klassen, stuffing a Windi Graterol layup try, introduced the gang in Edmonton to its toes. Canada completed the primary quarter up 25-10.

Venezuela went on a nine-point run within the second quarter to cut back the deficit to 10 factors, nevertheless it was as shut as they received.

In the second quarter. Klassen had the highlight-reel basket of the primary half, ending an alley-oop move from Chery.

Canada stretched the lead within the third quarter, outscoring Venezuela 24-11 within the body. If there was any life left within the guests, it was taken out of them by Robertson, who hit a three-pointer, was fouled within the act of taking pictures, and iced the four-point play by making the free throw.

By the fourth quarter, with the outcome nicely in hand, baskets from the guests generated well mannered applause from the house crowd.

“The guys who’re right here, we have to play laborious, and characterize our nation nicely,” stated Scrubb.

Panama’s nationwide workforce (2-6) will play Canada Sunday in Edmonton.

Canada is ranked No. 15 in men’s basketball by FIBA. Venezuela is seventeenth. At 9-0, Canada is the one undefeated workforce of the 12 groups remaining in two Americas qualifying teams. In FIBA, groups get two factors for a win, however one for a loss. The solely solution to get nothing out of a recreation is through forfeit. Of the 12 groups in Americas qualifying, Canada has essentially the most factors, with 914 over 9 video games. Canada is the one workforce averaging greater than 100 factors per recreation.