CAN - Canadian senior men's national basketball team begins quest for the Worlds

TORONTO (2009 FIBA Americas Championship) - Canada Basketball unveiled the 2009 program for the Senior Men’s National Team (SMNT) today, including the training/tryout schedule, summer competitions and the roster/staff for the first phase of the program.

After the launch in 2008, the “ROAD WARRIORS” return for an intense three-phase season that will see the team compete against seven national teams and various club teams in Spain, Italy and Puerto Rico, all in preparation for the FIBA Americas Championship for Men August 26- September 6 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

“Our ultimate objective for the Senior Men’s Team this summer is to qualify for the FIBA World Championships in 2010 and the journey begins next week," said Maurizio Gherardini, Managing Director of the SMNT.

“We have put together a rigorous three-month training and competition schedule that we believe will help us achieve this goal.”

The SMNT summer season begins with a young men’s development camp.

As part of Canada Basketball’s long range strategy, the new phase is dedicated to identifying and developing top young Canadian prospects that are currently playing professionally or in the NCAA.

The young prospects camp will take place June 15-22 at Air Canada Centre, followed by exhibition games in Spain.

Invited players include Tyler Kepkay (British Columbia), Kai Williams (Saskatchewan), Aaron Doornekamp (Ontario), and Jevohn Sheppard (Ontario), who have sported the red and white for Canada on one of the national teams.

Joining these basketball rising young stars are Kyle Landry (Alberta), Ryan Bell (Ontario) and Mike Tuck (Ontario), who all play professionally overseas.

“I’m excited to work with these young guys who have the talent and the drive to compete at the international level,” said SMNT Head Coach, Leo Rautins. “I have been watching them play with their respective teams throughout the season, and Canada’s basketball future looks very bright.I look forward to working with and developing future senior national team players who will one day represent Canada.”

The second phase of training camp will take July 18-22, again at Air Canada Centre.

This group of athletes will feature many current members of SMNT that played last summer and in the 2007 FIBA Americas Championships.

After four days of intense training the team is slated to travel to Italy July 25 – August 2 to compete in a series of exhibition games with national teams from Italy, New Zealand, Portugal, and Turkey.

“Competing against national teams in other FIBA zones is great preparation for our team,” stated Rautins. “Every country is in the same position, in that we are all competing in zone championships this summer, vying for a spot in the 2010 World event. We have a strong core group of players that have been together for a few years and if we play hard in these European exhibition games, Canada will be in a great position to place well in the FIBA Americas Championship this August.”

The final training phase will take place August 12-16 at Air Canada Centre. The team then travels to Puerto Rico for the Tuto Marchand Cup August 18-20. Participating teams include Brazil, Argentina and Puerto Rico. Canada will look to repeat their first place finish in 2007.

Following a three-day break in Puerto Rico, Canada will moves on to the FIBA Americas Championship August 26 - September 6 at Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Canada was selected to 'Group A', playing Uruguay, US Virgin Islands, Mexico and Puerto Rico in the preliminary round.

In total, ten of the best national teams will compete, with the top four qualifying for the 2010 FIBA World Championship to be played in Turkey.

FIBA