Team Canada Makes Commonwealth Games Debut in Basketball
Canada made their basketball debut at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia on April 6, where the women secured the first Canadian Commonwealth victory in basketball with an 80-54 win over England. Basketball has only been on the Commonwealth Games programme once before in 2006 and Canada did not enter any teams.
The men’s team dropped their opening game 95-55 against host and defending champions, Australia.
Read the women’s game recap and the men’s game recap.
The women’s team is in Group A alongside Australia, England, and Mozambique, while New Zealand, Jamaica, India, and Malaysia are in Pool B.
The women’s team is well represented by both Ontario and Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association (OSBA) players. OSBA Women’s Defensive Player of the Year, Finals MVP, and first team all-star Niyah Becker from Lincoln Prep joins fellow first team all-star Merrisah Russell from Capital Courts on the team. Ontario is further represented by guard Danielle Boiago (Hamilton), Michigan State guard Shay Colley (Brampton), and Humber College guard Ceejay Nofuente (Toronto). Athletic therapist Michelle Bell (Brampton) from Ryerson University is also on the staff.
The men’s team is in Group A along with Australia, Nigeria, and New Zealand. Group B has England, Cameroon, India, and Scotland.
The men’s team features Ontario talent with Ryerson guards Ammanuel Diressa (Toronto) and Jean-Victor Mukama (Hamilton), University of Ottawa forward Jean Emmanuel Pierre-Charles (Ottawa), Queen’s University centre Mike Shoveller (Arnprior), and Carleton guard Munis Tutu (Windsor), along with Ontario natives Dave DeAveiro (Toronto), Krisjon Vargas (Toronto), and David Grundman (Toronto) on the coaching staff.
Visit the Canada Basketball website for full rosters.
Team Canada Round Robin Schedules
Women’s Schedule
| Date | Time | Home | Away | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, April 6 | 6:30 p.m. AEST (4:30 a.m. EDT) | Canada | England | 80-54 |
| Sunday, April 8 | 6:30 p.m. AEST (4:30 a.m. EDT) | Australia | Canada | 100-61 |
| Monday, April 9 | 8:00 p.m. AEST (6:00 a.m. EDT) | Canada | Mozambique | 85-53 |
Men’s Schedule
| Date | Time | Home | Away | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, April 6 | 5:30 p.m. AEST (3:30 a.m. EDT) | Australia | Canada | 95-55 |
| Saturday, April 7 | 2:00 p.m. AEST (midnight EDT) | Canada | Nigeria | 82-67 |
| Monday, April 9 | 6:30 p.m. AEST (6:00 a.m. EDT) | Canada | New Zealand | 60-82 |