J9 Highlights: Canada secures critical win against defending champs Spain

Spain 🇪🇸 vs Canada 🇨🇦 | J9 Highlights | FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023

The Canadian men’s basketball team achieved a significant milestone in their quest for an Olympic berth at Paris 2024. Despite a setback with a 69-65 defeat against Brazil in the second round’s opening game last Friday, their strong showing in the group stage against France, Lebanon, and Latvia positioned them for a crucial showdown with reigning champions Spain.

Scheduled for Sunday, September 3, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Canada emerged victorious with an 88-85 win, marking a pivotal moment in their pursuit. This victory has taken them to a 4-1 record and secured them a quarterfinal spot in the FIFA. Their next game will take place in Manila against Germany.

Important matchup

Prior to the game, Canada head coach Jordi Fernandez emphasized the importance of gearing up against the defending champion Spain.

“We haven’t faced anything like this and I believe in our guys that they’re gonna work. They care,” Fernandez said after they suffered a defeat against Brazil. “We’re going to watch film and we’re going to prepare for Spain.”

Fernandez, currently serving as an associate head coach with the Sacramento Kings, previously worked as an assistant coach with Spain’s men’s under-19 team. The 40-year-old coach assumed the role of Canada’s head coach in late June, replacing Nick Nurse.

Regarding their defeat to Brazil, Fernandez said that Canada “didn’t deserve to win on Friday.” Star point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander also agreed with this.

“They wanted it a little more. Especially with the rebounding, that really hurt us,” the 25-year-old Ontario-born said. “We lose, we learn from it. On to the next one.”

Gilgeous-Alexander stands out in the tournament. He leads his country in points per game with 22.3. Ranking sixth overall, he also tops Canada’s charts in rebounds (7.3) and assists (4.8).

In the match against Brazil, Gilgeous-Alexander displayed a brilliant performance. Near the end, he made both free throws that propelled his team to a four-point difference and a victory.

Another star player with 12 points and five rebounds for Canada, Luguentz Dort, said this was not the first time the team had faced such a game with such a high stake.

“We’ve all played a lot of games and we’ve all been in those types of situations where we really need a win to achieve our goal,” the shooting guard said. “We have bigger goals and we have the right group of guys for that. We’ll all lock in and do it game by game. We’ll be ready for the next game.”

Spain ends title defense campaign

With a 3-1 record, Spain previously defeated Ivory Coast, Brazil, and Iran, but suffered a setback against Latvia, ending their 11-game winning streak. Notably, they are without reigning MVP and veteran Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Ricky Rubio. He is on a basketball hiatus to focus on his mental health.

Despite Rubio’s absence, the Spanish squad boasts international experience, featuring talents such as former Toronto Raptors forward Juancho Hernangómez and EuroBasket MVP Willy Hernangómez.

Losing to Canada has marked the end of Spain’s title defense and their first consecutive loss in the FIBA World Cup since 1990. In the lead-up to the critical showdown, Spain had placed considerable faith in head coach Sergio Scariolo. The 62-year-old Italian from Brescia has earned silver in London 2012, bronze in Rio 2016, gold in the 2019 FIBA World Cup, and four EuroBasket titles for Spain.

“This is a team that’s probably above us. Physicality, athleticism, NBA experience,” Scariolo said about the opposite team. “What is in your hands is do your best. And if your best is not enough, you shake their hands and wish them good luck for the rest of the championship.”