World Cup 2027 Americas Qualifiers: Bell-Haynes leads Canada past Bahamas

Trae Bell-Haynes (188-G-1995, college: Vermont) had a standout performance in front of friends and family on Monday. Bell-Haynes had 17 points, 10 assists and five rebounds to lead the Canadian men's basketball team in a 94-88 win over the Bahamas in 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifying at Mattamy Athletic Centre. “For a few of us, this is the first time playing in Toronto since high school,” said the 30-year-old from Toronto. “To play in front of our parents and families is a big deal, and getting the win makes it even sweeter. We’re always grateful to wear Canada, but doing it at home means a lot.” Thomas Scrubb (198-SF-1991, college: Carleton) scored 16 points while Kyle Wiltjer (207-F/C-1992, college: Gonzaga) added 15 points, five rebounds and four assists for Canada. Garvin Clarke (183-PG-2001, college: IUP) led the Bahamas with 20 points and 13 assists. "A real scrappy team,” head coach Nathaniel Mitchell said of the Bahamas. “They made some changes and were good off the bounce, so we had to adjust defensively. They hung around all game, but I liked how our group stayed tough and controlled the game regardless of the score.” Canada also defeated the Bahamas 111-75 last Friday in Nassau, Bahamas, completing a two-game sweep in the first qualifying window to open group play in the Americas bracket. This window is the first of six in a 15-month qualification cycle across four FIBA regions. Teams will play home-and-away games during windows in February and July, with the top three of each group advancing. All results carry over to the second round, where six additional games in 2026 and 2027 determine qualification for the World Cup in Doha. Canada, which defeated the United States to capture its first World Cup bronze medal in 2023, now stands atop Group B, which also features Puerto Rico and Jamaica. “Toughness. People should be scared to play Canada,” Mitchell said of his team's identity. “You should be annoyed when you’re playing us — offensively, defensively. Annoying is big for us, and part of that is being tough.”
Courtesy of: tsn.ca