THE CANADIAN PRESS
TORONTO — The Canadian national men’s basketball team can breathe a sigh of relief.
One night after an ugly 77-69 loss against unheralded New Zealand, Canada took a step in the right direction on the eve of its trip to Europe for Olympic qualifying with a convincing 100-68 win over Lebanon in the final game of the Jack Donohue International Classic Saturday night at Ricoh Coliseum.
“I feel good,” Canadian coach Leo Rautins said after his team finished 3-1 at the event against New Zealand and Lebanon, two long shots at Olympic qualifying.
“Friday was kind of an embarrassment. I think it’s an anomaly for our team, that’s not our team. We have to clean a lot of things up, but I haven’t changed my mind about this team. Everything I felt coming in I still feel. I think, this team, if they stay focused, stay committed and realize we have no room to monkey around, we can accomplish this thing.”
That will be easier said than done as Canada attempts to earn one of just three Olympic berths in the 12-team, last-chance qualifying tournament, July 14-20 in Athens.
Canada travels to Germany on Sunday to prepare for exhibition games against the talented German squad on Wednesday and Friday before opening the qualifier on July 15 against Slovenia.
While Canada earned full marks in its blowout against Lebanon, it will be much tougher to beat out dangerous opponents like Slovenia, Brazil, Croatia, Germany and Greece in Athens.
“You’re always going to feel like an underdog if you’re coming from Canada playing basketball, it’s not the sport here,” said Canadian guard Rowan Barrett, who was honoured for playing his 120th game with the national team Saturday.
“You ask Croatians or Yugoslavian guys, they’re celebrated in their country, they’re an institution. They never feel like an underdog. Here, basketball is growing and we’re trying to do our part to help it grow. There might be some underdog status there. But there is a lot of heart within this team. That Canadian grit has been here. Guys were out playing hockey, guys were taking guys into the boards. That’s still in us.”
Canada’s biggest strength will be its frountcourt. Playing without resting star centre Samuel Dalembert of the Philadelphia 76ers for the second game in a row, Canada relied on starting big men Joel Anthony (11 points) of the Miami Heat and Levon Kendall (14) for much of its offence in a dominant 59-point first half in which it shot 57 per cent.
Forward Dave Thomas of Brampton, Ont., led Canada with 17 points as the home side responded to Rautins’ desire to run a fast-paced offence.
With an emerging swingman in Olu Famutimi and a promising point guard in Jermaine Anderson, Barrett feels Canada has the roster to make some noise in Athens even without two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash, whose days with the national team appear to be over.
“This team is deeper and more talented than our group from 2000,” Barrett said in comparing this team to the last Canadian squad to make the Olympics. “Our starting five, I would put up against anybody at any time.”
The frontcourt will face a much stiffer test against a German team led by Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki and Chris Kaman of the Los Angeles Clippers.
“The competition goes up a notch,” Rautins said. “It’s more size, more finding out who we are. We’re still looking at what combinations (to use), we’re still waiting to get guys healthy and in a rhythm.”
That includes Dalembert, who isn’t at 100 per cent after playing just five minutes in the second game of the Donohue event on Canada Day. Rautins said Dalembert and forward Jesse Young (hamstring) will return to practice Monday in Germany.
After facing Slovenia, Canada squares off against Korea on July 16. The Canadians will need at least one win in those two games to secure a spot in the sudden-death, eight-team playoffs.
Canada made one roster change before the game against Lebanon, replacing forward Juan Mendez of Niagara Falls, Ont., with Rans Brempong of Brampton, Ont.
“If it’s not working, we have the ability now to make changes and do things,” Rautins said, “whereas a couple years ago, whatever was there we took.”
