Team Canada has been tearing its way through the Tuto Marchand Continental Cup, which is apparently some sort of basketball tournament whose primary function is as a tuneup for the upcoming FIBA Americas Championship at the end of the month, which itself doubles as a qualifier for next summer’s Olympic games in Rio.
After handily beating an undermanned Dominican Republic team on Tuesday, the Canadians matched up against the host country in San Juan, Puerto Rico Wednesday, during which the Minnesota Timberwolves’ reigning Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins absolutely dropped the hammer on J. J. Barea, who made the mistake of attempting to take charge as Wiggins came barreling down the lane. But he didn’t exactly get posterized. It’s more that Wiggins used his unearthly athleticism to simply avoid the diminutive point guard entirely.
This and the FIBA Americas tourney are serving as a sort of coming out party for Team Canada as they look to make a significant splash on the international hoops scene. Their men’s national team features a bevy of current NBA players, including Wiggins, teammate and former number one pick Anthony Bennett, Corey Joseph, Kelly Olynyk, Nik Stauskas and Robert Sacre. If Canada can take gold or silver at the FIBA tournament, they automatically qualify for the 2016 Olympics.
(Via FIBA)
