Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games Update

Ontario Basketball is excited to be sending out two U18 teams to compete at the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games from August 8 to 13. The basketball competitions at Canada Summer Games will be split between the Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines, and Niagara College – Welland Campus. If you want to bet on of those games, sites like w88.com are trustworthy.

The Canada Summer Games crew is livestreaming most games during the tournament here: niagara2022games.ca/watch/sport/basketball.

With two games each played, both the U18 Women and U18 Men remain undefeated. Quarterfinals begin tomorrow morning, with the U18 Women facing British Columbia at 8:30AM at Meridian Centre, and the U18 Men facing either Manitoba or Newfoundland & Labrador at 7:45PM at Niagara College – Welland.

We caught up with Head Coaches Jobina D’Aloisio (U18 Women’s) and Michael Selliah (U18 Men’s), and U18 Women’s team athlete & Opening Ceremony flagbearer for Ontario, Taija Sta Maria ahead of the tournament.

 

U18 Women’s Head Coach: Jobina D’Aloisio

OBA: Crazy ride to this point with all the roster changes over the last few weeks – do you feel like you’re ready?

JD: Yes, I feel like we’re ready. We’re not concerned, we have a dynamic group of young women who are all really hard working, and all have high basketball IQs. Coming into camp they picked things up very quickly, and we’re feeling really good about Monday actually.

OBA: Other provinces have released their rosters – how do you think Team O will do? 

JD: All of the rosters certainly require our consideration and thoughtfulness. There’s no one there that won’t give us some problems in various ways. I would say historically the rivalry has always been with Québec, but there are other provinces like British Columbia and Alberta that also have really strong athletes on their team. We’re taking no one lightly and we’re going to prepare game by game each time. Obviously, our goal is to get to the gold medal game and win the gold, but we’re certainly doing that game to game. If you want to win in a game, go to sites like ทางเข้าUFABET – ufabet168.casino.

OBA: Your last stint as Team Ontario Head Coach in 2019 at Canada Basketball National Championships, you finished second winning Silver – What’s the goal for the 2022 Canada Summer Games?

JD: Our goal is to bring home a gold medal. There are 2 girls on this roster that were part of the team in 2019, as well as myself and Michelle [Abella]. We’re not focusing on it or even looking back on it, but that game lives in the back of our minds – and what it felt like to win a silver medal – I don’t think any of us want to settle for anything less than gold this time around. That goes for the whole team, everyone knows our goal for these games is to win a gold medal.

 

U18 Men’s Head Coach : Michael Selliah

OBA:  Are you ready for the Canada Summer Games?

MS: The athletes and coaches have been locked in and we effectively used our time in training camp to prepare for CSG. We are ready to go and will also continue to improve as the week progresses.

OBA: Have you been preparing to play any specific team? 

MS: We make it a point to focus on ourselves as opposed to others. Our group is committed to our style of play and there is mutual respect and camaraderie amongst the team. We are hopeful that this will translate into on-court success.

OBA: Goal for the Canada Summer Games?

MS: Gold.

 

Team Ontario Opening Ceremony flagbearer & U18 Women’s Team Captain: Taija Sta Maria

OBA: How does it feel to represent Ontario at the Canada Summer Games?

TSM: It feels great. This is my third year playing for Team Ontario, and I’ve always had fun doing it. I’m excited to represent Ontario on a big stage like this at the CSG. I’ve never been to one before, and it cool how there’s a bunch of different athletes from across the country. I’m excited to play and watch some of the top athletes compete.

OBA: How do you think Ontario will do in the tournament? 

TSM: I’m positive. We’ve only had a couple days together so far at training camp with our team, but we look good. I’m excited to see how we’re going to do. I definitely think we have the potential to do well at the games. We’re all just going to go out and compete.

OBA: What does being the flag bearer at the opening ceremony for Ontario mean to you?

TSM: It’s an honour. Obviously being the flag bearer for Ontario isn’t exactly something I had in mind. The news was super surprising and I’m happy that I was chosen. I’m happy to represent my team, the athletes from Ontario and the hard work we’ve been putting in for our sports.

OBA: Excited to play with your teammates?

TSM: I haven’t played with a lot of my teammates before, I’ve played against them. They’re all hard working and I’m excited that they’re on my team now.

OBA: What is your personal goal of the tournament?

TSM: A goal for us is to win a gold medal at the tournament. Last time I was in the National Championships, we finished second winning Silver, it’s kind of personal for me to compete again and give myself the opportunity to win a Gold.