Toronto (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers) - Much like the United States where the national team head coach is also an NBA coach, Canada has handed the responsibility of getting them to China next year to an interim coach.

But Roy Rana is no stranger to Canada Basketball or the international game.

Rana, the head coach at Ryerson University in Toronto, will continue to guide the Canadian men's national team in place of Canada boss Jay Triano who is joining the bench of the Charlotte Hornets this season after serving as the interim head coach for the Phoenix Suns most of last season.

With the USA reins being handed over to San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, who is also limited by his club duties, responsibility for qualifying the American team was bestowed upon former NBA coach Jeff Van Gundy, who led an ever-changing roster of primarily G League players to a 5-1 record in the first phase.

Canada sports the same record going into the second round in Americas Group F. Both Brazil and Venezuela are also 5-1 with the Dominican Republic at 4-2. The Virgin Islands are 2-4 and Chile 1-5. The top three teams will make it to China along with the best fourth place team between Group F and Group E (Argentina, USA, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, Panama, Mexico).

"I'll be coaching right through until we’re done in February," Rana confirmed in an interview with the Toronto Star.

Rana coached one two-game set in the first qualification window which included Canada avenging their lone loss, (76-88) away to the Dominican Republic in November with a dominant win (97-61) on June 29 in Toronto.

Roy Rana instructs Brady Heslip against the Bahamas in FIBA World Cup Qualifying last November.

The Canadian training camp roster for the September qualifiers features six NBA players including Khem Birch, Dillon Brooks, Justin Jackson, Cory Joseph, Kelly Olynyk, and Tristan Thompson.

Rana has NBA experience himself, serving on the staff with the Utah Jazz, San Antonio Spurs and Atlanta Hawks in the NBA Summer League. He's also participated in the NBA's Basketball Without Borders program and has assisted NBA coaches at development initiatives in Nigeria and Senegal.

Canada plays on September 13 in Laval at Place Bell against Brazil before traveling to Valdivia to face Chile on September 17. 

"None of this has ever been a goal of mine, I just want to do whatever we have to do to qualify," said Rana, setting the tone for Canada's team spirit. "If that means I have step up and help, I’ll give it my best shot."

 FIBA