Canadian senior men national basketball team launch training camp

Canada Basketball officially announced the 2010 training camp roster for the Senior Men’s National Team (SMNT) today, including the summer competition schedule and staff. The “Road Warriors” kicked off an intense training camp on Tuesday, August 3 in Toronto, Ont. and will compete in a series of exhibition matches in preparation for the FIBA World Championship August 28- September 12 in Turkey.

“I feel good about our team,” said Leo Rautins, Head Coach of the SMNT.  “Our guys are confident and excited about this opportunity to play at the World Championship. The one thing about our players is that they have grown and developed in their professional careers and bring these experiences back to our national team program.  The team has been together for a few years now, so our depth and chemistry has become part of our strength.”

Training camp invitees include Canadian NBA stars such as Joel Anthony (Montreal, Que.) of the Miami Heat and Andy Rautins (Syracuse, NY.) of the New York Knicks. Joining them are international veterans Levon Kendall (Vancouver, B.C.), Jermaine Anderson (Toronto, Ont.) and Olu Famutimi (Toronto, Ont.), who have sported the red and white jersey for Canada as well as national team returnee in Denham Brown (Toronto, Ont.). The camp also features new comers in Robert Sacre (Vancouver, B.C.) and Kelly Olynyk (Kamloops, B.C.) of the Gonzaga Bulldogs and Michael Fraser (Brampton, Ont.).  

The camp for the Road Warriors runs through Sunday, August 8 at Air Canada Centre before the team departs for Vancouver, BC for an exhibition match on Tuesday, August 10 against the Chinese National Team. Following the match at Rogers Arena, the Senior Men travel back east to Toronto, Ont. to face the French National Team on August 12 -13 at Air Canada Centre before heading off to Europe.

Rautins added, “We have to use these games as practice right up to worlds.  We have the rare opportunity this year of being able to play at home.  The Jack Donohue International Classic is a great lineup, with domestic competitions against China in Vancouver, and France in Toronto.  I really encourage the fans come out, celebrate their Canadian pride and support our guys on the quest to the World Championship.” 

Their European exhibition tour begins in Athens, Greece from August 17-19 where the SMNT play a series of matches in the Acropolis Eurobank International Tournament. Team Canada will then travel to Anakara, Turkey to compete in the Efes Pilsen World Cup from August 21-23 for their final preparation for the World Championship.