CAN – Canada’s Gabriele targets berth at 2010 FIBA World Championship for Women

TORONTO (FIBA Americas Championship Women) - Olympian Teresa Gabriele was this week named in Canada's preliminary squad for the FIBA Americas Championship for Women.

The 29-year-old point guard played for Canada at the Sydney Games in 2000 and at the 2006 FIBA World Championship for Women in Brazil.

Canada will be hoping for a strong finish in Brazil, where the Americas Championship will be staged September 23-27, to qualify for the 2010 FIBA World Championship for Women in the Czech Republic.

"What I have in my head now is try to qualify for this worlds and then for another Olympics and go out with a bang," Gabriele said, when asked how long she intended to keep representing her Canada.

"It's definitely a motivating factor for me to want to go to another Olympics.

"I think that once you've been to one Olympics, one worlds, you have a taste of what it's like, and you want to do it again."

Chelsea Aubry and Kim Smith, two other members of the Canada team at the 2006 FIBA World Championship for Women, have also been named in Allison McNeil's squad.

McNeill said: “We have a great mix of young and veteran players invited this year and the entire coaching staff is excited to work with our talented players to build a strong, competitive team.”

To reach the 2010 FIBA World Championship for Women, Canada need to have a top three finish at the FIBA Americas Championship.

Canada will hold an invitational tryout at the University of Toronto campus in Mississauga, Ontario, from May 27-29.

That will be followed by a training camp from May 30 to June 5.

Canada are to then travel to China in early June to compete in a three-game friendly series.

McNeill's team will return to Canada for a second phase of training, followed by a visit to Cuba in August for three further friendly games, with a final two-game warm-up series in September against Brazil.

“We have three phases and are using this summer to develop our players not only for 2009 competitions, but further as we prepare for the 2010 World Championship and the 2012 Olympic Games,” McNeill said.

Canada preliminary squad: Natalie Achonwa, Jordan Adams, Kelsey Adrian, Uzo Asagawara, Chelsea Aubry, Janelle Bekkering, Kaela Chapdelaine, Leanne Evans, Teresa Gabriele, Marie-Michelle Genois, Kadie Riverin, Kim Smith, Chanelle St. Amour, Alisha Tatham, Tamara Tathman, Laurelle Weigl.

FIBA