No more excuses for Thomas Scrubb, Canada in next windows

AVELLINO (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers) - For years, Canada have been receiving a lot of attention about the development of high level talent. Despite this, the North Americans have yet to really deliver in international play.

The time to look for excuses is over, according to Thomas Scrubb, who feels the Canadians have more than enough talent to get through the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers and reach the first-ever 32-team edition of the sport's biggest competition.

"NO MATTER WHO IS ON OUR TEAM, WE HAVE ENOUGH TALENT TO QUALIFY FOR THE WORLD CUP. THERE CAN BE NO MORE EXCUSES" ScrubbScrubb

Canada did not qualify for the World Cup 2014 in Spain and also failed to reach the Rio Olympics.

"As a program, we made a commitment before 2014 that we were going to be more successful at the senior level. So it's disappointing that we haven't qualified for the last two major competitions," said Scrubb, who played in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2016. "It's just more motivation to qualify for the next one."

When asked how crucial it is for Canadian basketball to qualify for China 2019, Scrubb said: "It's very important. No matter who is on our team we have enough talent to qualify for the World Cup. There can be no more excuses."

Canada enter the February window of the Americas Qualifiers with a 1-1 record after winning at home over Bahamas 93-69 and suffering an 88-76 defeat at Dominican Republic. Next up next month for coach Roy Rana's team will be two road games against Virgin Islands and Bahamas - both played in the Bahamas capital Nassau.

"We need to be the more aggressive team in each of our next two games. As long as we match their physicality and effort we will be fine," said Scrubb, who plays his professional ball with Italian Basketball Champions League side Sidigas Avellino.

"WE EXPECT TO WIN THE REST OF OUR GAMES IN THE NEXT TWO WINDOWS" ScrubbScrubb

The 6ft 5in (1.95m) swingman thinks the Canadian team also needs to come into these Qualifiers with a different mindset.

"I think a lot of the smaller countries in the Americas who have had success against Canada on many occasions may be tired of hearing how Canada is on the rise in terms of basketball. We haven't really proven anything to these countries yet so we have to come into these games with more of an underdog mentality and fight for every possession," he reasoned.

Scrubb, who averaged 11.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals in last November's Qualifiers, says the goal for February's window - and beyond - is clear: "We expect to win the rest of our games in the next two windows."

No more excuses.

FIBA