Canada opens AmeriCup 2025 Qualifiers campaign with dominant win

ST. CATHARINES (Canada) – Coming off a fourth place finish at the 2022 edition of the FIBA AmeriCup, Canada looked to improve to a place on the podium this time around, and started off their 2025 campaign with a 96-51 win over Nicaragua.

While Canada has had a rotating roster throughout FIBA competitions in the last three years, familiar names like Thomas Kennedy, Kadre Gray, Kalif Young and Trae Bell-Haynes showed up to open Canada's journey to hopefully qualify for the AmeriCup once again.

Another familiar face Canadian face in Aaron Best led the team early, tallying double digits in the first quarter while Jackson Rowe also added 11 points.

Francisco Garth tallied 10 points for Nicaragua, but with the rest of the bench in single digits Canada held a 28-18 lead.

Nicaragua kept it closer in the second quarter, but Gray also joined his teammates in double digit scoring with 11 points as Canada's rotation added 18 points in the first half while forcing 13 turnovers resulting in 9 points.

The veteran presence was seen from both countries as Jared Ruiz added 8 points in the first half for Nicaragua, but the chemistry that Canada's players with AmeriCup experience brought to the court allowed them to lead by 16.

The second half was all Canada, holding Nicaragua to just 16 points including just 3 in the fourth quarter, while other veterans like Kennedy, Bell-Haynes and Phil Scrubb helped Canada reach 96 points in their opening match.

Andy Hodgson added baskets for Nicaragua along with Ruiz and Garth, but Canada's squad was a tough match up with their history not only with the AmeriCup, but as many of these players have been part of Canada's national team for years playing together.

Canada shot 51 percent from the floor while also controlling the offensive boards, grabbing 23 while keeping Nicaragua to just 9.

27 turnovers plagued Nicaragua as it resulted in 25 points for Canada, who were already dominating offensively in the paint.

Best led Canada with 21 points, while Rowe added 14 points and Scrubb added 13 points and 8 assists. Young led Canada on the boards with 9 rebounds.

Garth led Nicaragua with 14 points as Ruiz added another 12 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists.

FIBA