NASSAU (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers) - The second window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers will tip off with a game that could define the immediate future of the featured National Teams.

At Nassau, the capital city of the Bahamas, the Canada and USVI National Teams will commence the Group D action at the Kendall G. L. Isaacs Gymnasium.

Both sides have a 1-1 mark and are tied for the second place of a group that is currently dominated by the Dominican Republic (2-0).

The Canadians and Virgin Islanders will duel for the first time in the Qualifiers. In the first window Canada powerfully started and overpowered Bahamas, 93-69, at the city of Halifax. However, as visitors in Santiago de los Caballeros, the North Americans fell, 88-76, against host Dominican Republic.

In November, small forward Thomas Scrubb was the Canadians’ leader, with an average of 11.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and a 13.5 efficiency rating. Point Guard Brady Heslip closely followed, with a 15.5-point and 2.0-assist average. Both players are coming back to the February Qualifiers next to well-known faces, such as Jermaine Anderson, Joel Anthony, Anthony Bennett and Jevohn Shepherd.

For their part, the Virgin Islands expect to repeat the result they achieved against Canada at FIBA AmeriCup 2017, when they surprised everyone with a 83-71 triumph. The Caribbean team’s leader, point guard Walter Hodge, recognized early on that his side cannot put their guard down against Canada and rely on last summer’s result.

“EVERY TIME IS NEW. FOR SURE, THEY WILL BE READY FOR US” - Hodge

Virgin Islands lost their first game against the Dominican Republic (99-89), but came back to defeat Bahamas, 93-85. The USVI are still unable to play as locals due to the damages caused by Hurricane Irma to their island.

Center Jamaal Samuels was key for USVI's offensive, with an average of 25.5 points; followed by Hodge, with 19.9 and 7.0 assists.

After this Thursday's game, on Sunday, Canada will face the Bahamas, and the U.S. Virgin Islands will play against the Dominican Republic.

All Group D games in this window will be played at Nassau.

FIBA