Canada to start road to basketball World Cup against the Bahamas in Halifax – BarrieToday

Canada will begin its road to qualification for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Halifax.

Canada Basketball announced Thursday that the Canadians will host the Bahamas on Nov. 24 at Scotiabank Centre to kick off the first phase of qualifying for the World Cup.

The Canadians will play home and away games against the Bahamas, Dominican Republic and the U.S. Virgin Islands in the first phase. The top three teams in the pool following move onto a second phase of competition against three new FIBA Americas opponents.

The top seven teams overall in the Americas Region will advance to the World Cup, which starts Aug. 31, 2019 in China.

Canada is currently ranked 24th in the world and eighth in the Americas Region.

"Canada Basketball is excited to begin our road to China by hosting our first qualifying game in Halifax," presidentand CEO ofCanada Basketball Michele O'Keefesaid in a statement. "The introduction of the new FIBA system allows us to showcase our national team to Canadians from coast-to-coast-to-coast and put Canada on display as a world-class destination for international basketball events."

The Canadian Press

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Canada to start road to basketball World Cup against the Bahamas in Halifax - BarrieToday