TORONTO, Ont. (November 25, 2020) – The Canadian Senior Men’s National Team will be unable to participate in the November window of the FIBA AmeriCup 2021 Qualifiers due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic.
“After in-depth evaluations with Canadian medical experts, it was deemed that we could not participate in the upcoming window of the FIBA AmeriCup Qualifiers,” said Glen Grunwald, Canada Basketball President & CEO. “The COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenging time for all of us and we would have liked nothing more than to proudly represent Canada in these two games. We are working with FIBA on options to reschedule these games.”
This decision was made with the health and safety of all athletes, coaches and staff in mind and following extensive consultation with team doctors and support staff, as well as medical professionals throughout Canada’s sport system, including those with Sport Canada, Own The Podium, the Return to Sport Task Force, as well as the Canadian Olympic Committee.
Participation in the upcoming window would directly contradict not only the recommendations of the aforementioned medical professionals, but also the current mandates of the federal government.
Canada’s games were scheduled for November 29 against Cuba, followed by November 30 versus the US Virgin Islands in a “bubble” format in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
Canada remains committed to the FIBA AmeriCup 2022 qualification process and will resume competition in Group C along with Cuba, Dominican Republic and U.S. Virgin Islands when it is deemed safe to do so. The next FIBA AmeriCup 2022 Qualifiers window is scheduled for February 18-22, 2021.
Each team currently sits tied in the standings with a 1-1 record following the completion of the first window. The top three finishing teams in each group will earn a qualifying berth in the FIBA AmeriCup 2022.
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