Ameri-Cup men’s qualifier: Canada looks to Bell-Haynes to lead the way

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Any time he can suit up for Canada’s national team is a good thing for Trae Bell-Haynes.

Bell-Haynes and Canada’s national senior men’s basketball team are in Saskatoon this week for a pair of FIBA AmeriCup men’s qualifier games against Dominican Republic and Mexico.

Game-time is 7 p.m. Thursday against Dominican Republic and 2 p.m. Sunday against Mexico at SaskTel Centre.

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Bell-Haynes also represented Canada at the 2023 FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup, where the team captured a historic bronze medal.

He is one of two players invited to the Saskatoon training camp pool who took part in the national team training camp prior to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, but was among the final cuts.

Bell-Haynes is expected to be one of Canada’s top players this week in Saskatoon.

Canada opened the FIBA Men’s AmeriCup 2025 qualifiers with a pair of victories over Nicaragua in February and currently sits undefeated, at 2-0, atop Group C. During three windows, in February 2024, November 2024, and February 2025, each team will play each opponent in their group twice under a home-and-away format.

There are 16 teams in the FIBA Men’s AmeriCup 2025 qualifiers, divided into four groups of four teams apiece. The top three teams in each group (12 in total) will qualify for the FIBA Men’s AmeriCup 2025.

Nicaragua has automatically qualified as the FIBA Men’s AmeriCup 2025 host. As a result, the top two teams from Group C (Canada, Dominican Republic and Mexico) will qualify for the tournament.

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Q: How important is it to sweep the games this week in Saskatoon?

A: It’s very important. You don’t get a lot of opportunity to play two games in Canada. For a lot of us, it’s very rare. In that sense, you want to put a good foot forward in front of a home crowd. Some of the players will be playing in front of their families. You want to play well in front of them.

Then, obviously, two wins puts us in a really good position to qualify, if not this window then February, for sure. Obviously, that’s the goal — qualifying. So, for us, two wins puts us in pole position to do that. That should be the goal for everyone and I’m pretty sure it is.

Q: How does this team look and what’s going to be the key to victory this week?

A: It’s definitely a different group — a few guys that are new or not so new but haven’t played that many games with the senior team. At the same time, there are guys who have been here for a long time.

I think what you will get will be typical of window Canada teams that defend 94 feet, rebound well, play really hard, unselfish basketball. I think A.B. (Aaron Best) will probably be the leader of this group and he’s somebody who plays 100 per cent every possession, no matter what the score, and I think we’ll follow in step with that.

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But I think what you can expect are guys just playing hard for 40 minutes. There are no egos here. We’re just trying to win for Canada and then put ourselves in the best position to qualify for the tournament.

Q: For you, what does it mean each time you represent Canada internationally?

A: It’s an honour. It means I’m doing something right every time they call. Every time they call, it means my career is going in the right direction and I’m playing the right way and people are noticing. I never take it for granted. I think this is Year 6 playing for the national team and hopefully there’s a lot more where that came from, but I’m just super honoured and proud to put on this jersey every time I do it.

Q: I believe you were one of only two players on the current window roster that took part in Team Canada’s training camp for the Paris Olympics. What was that experience like, especially to be alongside so many current NBA players and stars?

A: I think there were 18 guys, just a high-level competition that was there. You can learn from so many players, so many good guys. I think the summer just showed me that I belong with those guys, guys who are obviously known around the world. It’s personally gratifying to be called and be a part of that.

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Obviously I was disappointed to not be with the team during the Olympics, but I think I learned a lot from those guys, competing with Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander), Jamal (Murray) and R.J. (Rowan Barrett). It’s really fun. It increases your level as a player for sure.

Q: What do you think of the state of basketball in Canada now compared to, say, 10 years ago? How good is it right now?

A: It’s tremendous. I think 10 years ago is right when I was finishing high school and beginning university (Vermont NCAA). I think from then to now, it’s been exponential change in regard to basketball in this country, just the amount of people playing, the skill level. I think everything has increased and continues to move in the right direction. I think that will open to new opportunities.

The way the summer went, we’re happy, as a nation, to be in the Olympics but then, at the same time, not happy with how we did in the Olympics and I think that will continue to motivate the current guys and the next generation of guys to continue to make history for Canada; and obviously the AmeriCup and these qualifiers are kind of the first step in the next cycle of Canada basketball history.

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Q: Personally, what’s next for you career-wise, professionally?

A: Right now, I’m just focusing on the moment. I’m in Spain with Basket Zaragoza. I love it there. It’s one of my favourite places that I’ve been in my career. So I’m focused on just finishing the season there. We have a pretty good team playing at a high level, and then seeing where it goes from there. Now it’s just trying to stay in the ‘now’ and focus on the day and, right now, the focus is the Dominican Republic and after that will be Mexico.

Q: Are you still hoping or looking for any possible NBA opportunities?

A: If it comes — I mean, I would jump at the opportunity. As I’ve got a little bit older, I’ve been able to be more appreciative of my own journey and I’m not looking left or right so much as I’m looking forward, whatever that forward for me is. I’ll be grateful for whatever situation or opportunity it is. As long as I get to play this game, I’ll be happy.

dzary@postmedia.com

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