SÃO PAULO (FIBA Basketball World Cup Americas Qualifiers 2019) — At the Wlamir Marques Gymnasium in São Paulo, Canada defeated Brazil, 94-67, and earned their dreamed ticket to the FIBA Basketball World Cup in China. Now, the Brazilian team must wait for the Group F and E results of the Americas Qualifiers to define their qualification status.

The North American squad rank up 8 victories and 2 defeats, the last one against Venezuela. Meanwhile, the South Americans hold a 7-victory and 3-defeat record. Both teams were coming into this encounter at second place in Group F behind leaders — and already World Cup ticket holders — Venezuela.

 Kyle Wiltjer led the Canadian offense with 25 points (6/7 in 2 Pts) and 7 rebounds, Phil Scrubb came next with 15 points and 6 assists. Thomas Scrubb collaborated with 14 and Duane Notice contributed 10 units, as well as Kyle Landry, who also added 7 rebounds. For the Brazilian team, the 17 contributions by Marquinhos Sousa and the ones by Vítor Benite (16 points, 4/4 in free throws) weren’t enough — and they were the only two players that reached double digits. Leandro Barbosa scored 9 and Anderson Varejão, 6.

Canada left Brazil at 67 points, after having scored 100 against the Dominican Republic — another one of the national teams that will be a direct rival for a place in China.

Canada's victory, quarter-to-quarter

Brazil won the first quarter, 20-18 that was equal from the beginning, with Vítor Benite as leader with 8 points (2 three-pointers), and the Canadian team — also with two three-pointers, by Wiltjer — ended with 8. Both teams had good percentages in their free throws, with 6/7 and 3/4, respectively.

During the second quarter the locals started to waver and couldn't score at the start, remaining for more than 5 minutes with only 2 scores by Augusto Lima. The inclusion of Scott Machado shortened the distance, but Canada made use of their great offense led by Wiltjer, the only one that scored in double digits (16 points) to close the quarter in the lead (27-14), 45-34.

The Canadians achieved a difference of more than 20 points in the third quarter and won it 31-18 (67-52) with Notice, the Scrubb brothers and Wiltjer as offensive leaders against a very erratic Brazil in the long-distance throws (4/19) despite Leandro Barbosa's inclusion (6/8). The conclusion of the encounter favored the squad coached by Roy Rana, that despite playing an even game, managed a 30-point distance that was insurmountable for the locals. During the first duel between them, the Canadians had won in a very fought encounter, 85-77, in the city of Laval.

The team coached by Roy Rana captured 42 rebounds (31 defensive) and scored 24 of 40 in two-point shots (60%), 11 of 28 in three-pointers, 13 of 15 free throws, and scored 51.46% in field throws. As for the men led by Aleksandar Petrović, they suffered very much with the long-distance shots, throwing 24% from the three-point area (6/25) and 31.67% in field goals (19/60), 13 of 35 two-pointers. Their best weapons were the free throws (23/29) and capturing 36 rebounds (22 defensive).

Canada got their ticket to China for their seventeenth appearance since 1954 at the World Cup and are closing their participation in these Qualifiers as locals against Chile and Venezuela in February. Meanwhile, Brazil will have to wait and see other results and then visit the Virgin Islands and the Dominican Republic in February.

FIBA