Canada Ends Olympic Drought With Nail-Biting Victory Over Spain to Qualify for Paris 2024
The drought is over.
For the first time in 23 years, the Canadian Senior Men’s National Basketball Team is heading to the Olympics. It took a herculean effort from this Canadian squad who bounced back from a crushing loss to Brazil to vanquish their FIBA demons, knocking off the Spanish, and advance to the World Cup quarterfinals with an 88-85 victory Sunday in Jakarta.
The pressure was on right from the jump. Not only was it do-or-die for Canada in the tournament, but losses by Brazil and the Dominican Republic earlier in the day meant a Paris 2024 berth was on the line. A loss would have meant another trip to the last-chance qualifiers next summer.
In other years, the Canadians would have folded against a team as organized and talented as Spain. Frankly, a 10-point deficit entering halftime seemed like a death knell for Canada’s chances, having never overcome a double-digit halftime deficit at a World Cup before.
But not this time.
When Canada needed to respond, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander answered. He found Dillon Brooks for a crucial three-pointer above the break to tie things up late in the fourth and then called his own number, shaking off his Spanish defender for a step-back jumper that gave the Canadians a late lead. From there, he was as cool as can be at the free-throw line, converting every one of his late free throws to ice the game. Spain’s last-second three-pointer that would have tied the game hit the back of the iron and Canada punched its ticket to the next round and a trip to Paris next summer.
This is what the Canadian program has been building toward for years. They demanded a commitment from the group and even as those commitments waivered, the group remained focused. Jordi Fernandez stepped in to take over for the departing Nick Nurse and Canada didn’t miss a beat.
Barrett responded after a lackluster showing against Brazil with a hot start for the Canadians. He was aggressive in transition, keeping Canada’s offense going despite its half-court woes. Eleven of his 16-point came in the first quarter with his lone hiccup being an ill-advised off-ball foul that allowed Spain to convert a four-point play.
The issue for Canada was in the frontcourt where a lack of high-end talent was exposed by Willy Hernangomez and the Spaniards. Kelly Olynyk couldn’t handle the veteran forward who racked up 18 of his 25 points in the first half. It got so dicey that Olynyk was benched in favor of Dort to start the second half.
Olynyk did respond, though, nailing a pair of three-pointers when Spain collapsed defensively around Gilgeous-Alexander. He pulled the Canadians to within one, but Spain’s Santi Aldama wouldn’t let the Canadians break through, nailing a pair of threes of his own.
After all the work Canada put in to erase Spain’s double-digit halftime lead, the Canadian second unit gave it right back. A 21-6 run to end the third thanks to shaky defense from Canada put the Canadians in a 12-point hole heading into the final frame.
But Canada never wavered. Brooks, who battled foul trouble all game, carried Canada with crucial buckets at the rim. His toughness shined through, never panicking despite Spain’s unwavering poise. When the Spanish offense began to flounder, Brooks ramped up his aggressiveness, eventually hitting the momentum-swinging three-pointer. He finished the game with 22 points while Gilgeous-Alexander led all scorers with 30.
The pressure now shifts for Canada with the Olympic monkeys off their backs. Now it’s truly about the World Cup as they get set to take on Luka Doncic and the Slovenians in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
