KAZAN (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers) - Playing for the Canadian national team has made a major impact on Melvin Ejim's career. It has taught him about the highs of playing for your country at home and lows of disappointing losses.

It has also opened his eyes to different cultures while making him a better player. All that makes the power forward gladly answer the bell for his country such as for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers.

Ejim made the long trip from Russia to play for Canada in the February window, and he led the team in scoring over those two games.

"It's always great to put on the Canadian jersey and leave with wins," said Ejim, who averaged 21.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists in the two February games. "We know Canadian basketball is improving and our talent is growing, but we still have a lot to prove on the national scale and winning always helps that."

One of the February wins - the 118-89 triumph over Virgin Islands - had an extra special meaning for the Canadians. The North Americans had lost to Virgin Islands last summer at the FIBA AmeriCup.

"I think that was really important. Although some of us were not there for the FIBA AmeriCup game, when we lose we all lose," said Ejim, who was not on the Canadian team that lost and ended up missing the Semi-Finals. "This was a bit of a revenge game in our eyes because we know we are a capable team no matter who is on the roster, and we felt that we needed to win this game and erase any doubt."

Even though both of the February window games were on the road - played on Bahamas - Ejim has experienced playing for Canada in front of the home fans.

"There is nothing like representing your country in your country," said Ejim, who helped Canada grab second place at the 2015 Pan-American Games in Toronto. "The atmosphere is always electrifying, and the basketball I feel is played with even deeper passion when you know everyone, not only in the stands but outside or at home in the country, wants to see you win and is doing their utmost to support that." 

"It's always great to put on the Canadian jersey and leave with wins. We know Canadian basketball is improving and our talent is growing, but we still have a lot to prove on the national scale and winning always helps that."Melvin EjimMelvin Ejim

And the 27-year-old Ejim said playing the Qualifiers in front of the home fans is a great help in developing the game back home.

"I think any time you have an opportunity to see people who come from the same place you do, are in the same position you were as a youth can have a profound influence on the success you think you can have and then in turn positively affects the success you will have," he said. "And when young athletes get to see us compete up close I think it has a profound influence on their success and pushes forward the development of Canadian basketball."

Ejim insists that playing for the red-and-white has shaped his game in many ways.

"The national team has done so much for my career, often times I have played my best basketball while representing Canada. As well as the fact that I have been in a position to experience so many different cultures, play against the world best athletes in our sport as well as learn from some of the best," said Ejim, who plays with Russian club Unics Kazan. "It has been a profound influence on my success and I don't know how good I could have become without it."

Playing for the national team has also taught Ejim some difficult lessons.

Ejim was part of the Canadian team that disappointingly lost to Venezuela in the Semi-Finals of the FIBA AmeriCup 2015, missing out on direct qualification for the Olympic Men's Basketball Tournament 2016. Ejim was also on the Canadian team that was defeated by France in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2016.

Ejim said those losses were character builders.

"We need to take advantage of the opportunities in front of us. And as a nation on an upward trend we needed it to develop some character," he said. "Unfortunately that's not the way you want to do it but I believe that it has helped a lot of people who were part of those teams mature in a sense and know how every game matters and can affect your chances of making the Olympics which is our goal."

"There is nothing like representing your country in your country. The atmosphere is always electrifying, and the basketball I feel is played with even deeper passion when you know everyone, not only in the stands but outside or at home in the country, wants to see you win and is doing their utmost to support that." Melvin EjimMelvin Ejim

Next up for Canada are the summer Qualifiers against Dominican Republic on June 29 and against Virgin Islands on July 2 - both of those coming at home. And Ejim urged at how important the Group D games will be.

"I expect that the games in June and July will have a great atmosphere but will also be key for us to continue to improve our unit as well as improve our record going into the next round," he said. "Every win or loss can affect you down the road and we need to put ourselves in the best position."

The big goal is the 2019 World Cup - which is a must for Canada's development on the international basketball landscape, Ejim said.

"The national team has done so much for my career, often times I have played my best basketball while representing Canada. As well as the fact that I have been in a position to experience so many different cultures, play against the world best athletes in our sport as well as learn from some of the best. It has been a profound influence on my success and I don’t know how good I could have become without it."Melvin EjimMelvin Ejim

"It is key to us really establishing ourselves as a great nation when it comes to basketball," he said. "We have the talent but now I think we need to show it on the international level and getting to China would be the first step in doing so."

And that would be just another high for Ejim in his national team career.

FIBA