Follow usCanada’s national basketball team qualified for the semi-finals of the World Cup for the first time in their history after beating Slovenia 100:89 (26:24, 24:26, 30:21, 20:18) in Manila, Philippines.
On Friday, the Maple Leaves will face Serbia in a battle for a place in the final. The other semi-final contest will be between the USA and Germany.
The Canadians’ best ranking at world championships to date was sixth place, won in two consecutive championships – in 1978 and 1982. Slovenia, on the other hand, did not manage to reach another chance to win a medal from a major tournament.
Apart from the missed opportunity for the semi-final of the World Cup, Luka Doncic and his teammates failed to earn a place for next year’s Olympic Games. The two places from the Europe will be for Serbia and Germany, who have already qualified for the semi-finals in the Philippines.
Shay Gilges-Alexander finished with 31 points and 10 rebounds for Canada’s 40-point average. RJ Barrett contributed another 24 points and 9 rebounds, while Nickail Alexander-Walker and Dylan Brooks each scored 14 points.
Luka Doncic had 26 points and 5 assists for Team Slovenia. Klemen Prepelic scored 22 points and grabbed 5 rebounds, and Zoran Dragic scored 10 points.
Canada lose out to Czechia in World Juniors 1/4 finals 
Canada edges out US 127-118 in OT to clinch bronze at World Cup 
Tyrese on Canada: ‘They will try to defeat us’ 
