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Press Release issued earlier today by Canada Basketball...

CANADA’S ROAD WARRIORS SENIOR MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM PREPARE TO BATTLE THE COURTS (Toronto, ON) Canada Basketball announced today the training camp roster for the 2009 ‘Road Warriors’ Senior Men’s National Team. Coming off an intense European exhibition tour that saw Canada beat national teams from New Zealand, Turkey, Portugal and Angola, the 14- member team, including NBA centre, Joel Anthony (Miami Heat) and Euroleague guard Carl English (Tau Ceramica), will embark on its final phase of training August 12-16 at Air Canada Centre.

“Team Canada has a solid nucleus of talented guys that have been working hard and played together for several years,” said Senior Men’s National Team Head Coach Leo Rautins. “We are seeing the passion and commitment of our players who unite for one common goal – to win for Canada. The team is looking forward having Joel and Carl for this last stage of competition, bringing their skills on both ends of the court as we continue to build for the Tuto Marchand Cup and the FIBA Americas Championship.”

In total nine players will be returning back from the 2008 squad including: Jermaine Anderson (Toronto), Olu Famutimi (Toronto), Levon Kendall (Vancouver), Andy Rautins (Syracuse, NY), and Jesse Young (Peterborough, ON), Tyler Kepkay (Vancouver) and Aaron Doornekamp (Odessa, ON). Ten players on the roster currently play in various professional leagues and four members are competing at the NCAA/CIS level.

Furthermore, as part of Canada Basketball’s long term strategy to develop players, a select few elite athletes have been invited to camp to work out with the senior team, as has been done throughout the summer.

Following this final training phase, the ‘Road Warriors’ hit the road as they embark on their quest to qualify for the World Championship. The first stop is the Tuto Marchand Cup, being held August 18-20 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Participating teams include Brazil, Argentina and Puerto Rico. Canada will look to repeat their first place finish in 2007. Visit FIBA Americas web site for more information and tournament results.

The SMNT season culminates with the FIBA Americas Championship August 26- September 6 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This tournament features ten of the best national teams in the zone, all competing for a top four finish in order to qualify for the 2010 FIBA World Championship being held in Turkey. For complete tournament information on participating teams and players, visit FIBA Americas Championship tournament web site.

“Watching our team’s performance this summer takes me back to the days of the late, great Jack Donohue, when everyone on Team Canada united as one and protected each other on the floor,” added Wayne Parrish, Executive Director & CEO for Canada Basketball. “Our senior men are really starting to demonstrate this togetherness, which is absolutely essential in striving to gain respectability on the world stage, particularly in the physical and competitive FIBA Americas zone.”

Attached is the SMNT schedule for the remainder of the summer as well as a complete list of team staff and athletes. Please note all training sessions are closed to the public.

2009 ROAD WARRIORS - SENIOR MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM

TRAINING CAMP ROSTER (AUGUST)

Jermaine Anderson*
Guard
6'2
Toronto, ON
Tuebingen (Germany)

Joel Anthony*
Centre
6'9
Montreal, QC
Miami Heat (NBA)

Ryan Bell
Guard
6'5
Ottawa, ON
Schalke (Germany)

Jermaine Bucknor
Forward
6'7
Edmonton, AB
Maurienne (France)

Aaron Doornekamp*
Forward
6'7
Odessa, ON
Carleton University (CIS)

Carl English*
Guard
6'5
Patrick's Cove, NF
Gran Canaria (Spain)

Olu Famutimi*
Forward
6'6
Toronto, ON
Khimik (Ukraine)

Levon Kendall*
Forward
6'10
Vancouver, BC
Panionios (Greece)

Tyler Kepkay*
Guard
5'10
Vancouver, BC
University of Utah (NCAA)

Kyle Landry
Forward
6'9
Calgary, AB
Mons-Hainaut (Belgium)

Phil Martin
Forward
6'8
Hamilton, ON
Banco Sardegna (Italy)

Andy Rautins*
Guard
6'5
Syracuse, NY
Syracuse University (NCAA)

Jevohn Shepherd
Guard
6'5
Toronto, ON
University of Michigan (NCAA)

Jesse Young*
Forward
6'10
Peterborough, ON
Murcia (Spain)


*Indicates players from the 2008 Senior Men's Team

2009 SENIOR MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM STAFF

Name
Position

Leo Rautins
Head Coach

Mike Malone
Assistant Coach

Wayne Yearwood
Assistant Coach

Renato Pasquali
Assistant Coach

Sam Gibbs
Athletic Therapist

Paul Elliott
Team Manager

Jake Presutti
Video Coordinator

Dr. Andrew Pipe
Team Physician

Maurizio Gherardini
Managing Director


2009 SENIOR MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM TRAINING CAMP SCHEDULE

Wednesday, August 12
5:00pm – 7:30pm
Air Canada Centre

Thursday, August 13
10:30am – 12:00pm

5:00pm – 7:30pm
Air Canada Centre

Friday, August 14
10:30am – 12:00pm

5:00pm - 7:30pm
Air Canada Centre

Saturday, August 15
10:30am – 12:00pm

5:00pm – 7:30pm
Air Canada Centre


2009 SENIOR MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM COMPETION SCHEDULE

August 16-23
Tuto Marchand Continental Cup; Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico

August 18
Puerto Rico
8:30 p.m.

August 19
Argentina
6:00 p.m.

August 20
Brazil
6:00 p.m.

Aug. 26 - Sept. 6
FIBA Americas Championship

Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico

August 27
Mexico
4:00 p.m.

August 28
US Virgin Islands
4:00 p.m.

August 29
Uruguay
4:00 p.m.

August 30
Puerto Rico
9:00 p.m.

September 1-6
Second Phase / Semi-Finals/ Finals
TBD