By Canadian Press

Veterans Ejim, Scrubbs to lead Canada in key FIBA World Cup qualifying game

Nov 10, 2022 | 8:27 AM

EDMONTON — Canadian veterans Melvin Ejim and Phil and Thomas Scrubb headline the national men’s basketball roster for Thursday’s World Cup qualifier against Venezuela. 

The Canadians are just one win away from qualifying for next summer’s World Cup. They’re 8-0 and the only undefeated team in Americas zone qualifying. Venezuela is 7-1. 

The team gathered earlier this week for training camp in Edmonton ahead of the game at the Edmonton EXPO Centre.

While several of Canada’s top NBA players were part of the team in previous windows, the conflict with that season means No. 18-ranked Canada has none of its NBA players for this window. The team, instead, is stocked by players mainly playing overseas.

Nate Bjorkgren, an assistant to Canada and Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse, is the acting head coach for this window.

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Eighty national teams are playing games across six qualifying windows to secure their place among the 30 teams who will join hosts Japan and the Philippines in the 32-team FIBA World Cup, Aug. 25 to Sept. 10. 

Canada roster:

Melvin Ejim, small forward, Toronto; Thomas Kennedy, power forward, Windsor, Ont.; Owen Klassen, centre, Kingston, Ont.; Conor Morgan, power forward, Victoria, B.C.; Jean-Victor Makama, guard, Hamilton, Ont.; Kassius Robertson, guard, Toronto; Phil Scrubb, shooting guard, Richmond, B.C.; Thomas Scrubb, small forward, Richmond, B.C.; Kalif Young, forward, Toronto. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 10, 2022. 

The Canadian Press