Joel Anthony rarely turns down a chance to suit up for Canada.

The 35-year-old from Montreal will lead CanadaB次元官网网址檚 menB次元官网网址檚 basketball team at the FIBA AmeriCup tournament that tips off Sunday in Argentina, which is preparation for qualifying for the 2019 World Cup in China.

B次元官网网址淚 really do just love the opportunity to represent my country,B次元官网网址� said Anthony, a 10-year NBA veteran. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 like coming back home. IB次元官网网址檓 usually in the States so to be able to come back and be with everyone, see old friends, itB次元官网网址檚 kind of like Thanksgiving. I enjoy it.B次元官网网址�

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FIBA has completely overhauled the qualifying format for both the World Cup and Olympics, and the new schedule, with games falling smack dab in the middle of the NBA season, calls for some creative personnel moves.

So while Anthony and fellow NBA veteran Andrew Nicholson might be on CanadaB次元官网网址檚 roster in Argentina, they know theyB次元官网网址檙e part of a revolving door of Canadian players, and thereB次元官网网址檚 no telling what the roster will look like if Canada qualifies for the World Cup.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a reality,B次元官网网址� Anthony said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 something that the guys understand. ItB次元官网网址檚 obviously a different format, something no oneB次元官网网址檚 ever seen before so itB次元官网网址檚 hard to say (whether it will benefit Canada or not). With us, honestly, it could be more difficult because of our presence in the NBA now, and them not being able to play during different parts of the tournament season.B次元官网网址�

This FIBA AmeriCup has become merely an exhibition tournament, which no qualifying ramifications. Qualifying for the 32-team World Cup now features a two-round tournament of home and away games. The World Cup, in turn, is a major qualifier for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Canada is in Group D in the Americas zone for World Cup qualifying, with first-round games against the Virgin Islands, Bahamas, and the Dominican Republic. Canada will host the Bahamas on Nov. 24 in Halifax in their first qualifier.

Roy Rana, CanadaB次元官网网址檚 head coach for both the FIBA AmeriCup and the Halifax game, said the programB次元官网网址檚 revolving-door of players has bought into the new format.

B次元官网网址淪ome of this is really just understanding the nature of the new qualifying format, that in itself is a challenge,B次元官网网址� said Rana, who coached CanadaB次元官网网址檚 U19 team to a world title last month. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e going to have to be invested in a different way because weB次元官网网址檙e going to have such a larger pool of players available, just as there is for coaches. This has opened a unique opportunity for myself just as it has for some of them.B次元官网网址�

Jay Triano remains the menB次元官网网址檚 head coach, but handed the reins to Rana for upcoming qualifiers because of a conflict with the NBA season. Triano is an assistant with the Phoenix Suns.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a tremendous amount of trust between us, we have some great basketball conversations,B次元官网网址� Rana said of his relationship with Triano. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 been really, really good at allowing me to use my own strengths and some of the things IB次元官网网址檝e done with teams, and blending in a lot of the things heB次元官网网址檚 done with his team. ItB次元官网网址檚 all about a community. ItB次元官网网址檚 not about my way, itB次元官网网址檚 about B次元官网网址榣etB次元官网网址檚 find the best way.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

CanadaB次元官网网址檚 first-round World Cup qualifying will see them play at the Dominican Republic on Nov. 27. TheyB次元官网网址檒l be back in action in February with games at the Virgin Islands and Bahamas. The next block of games are next summer, with the top three countries after the first round advancing to the second.

Triano said the new format will take some getting used to, but on the plus side gives players the rare chance to play games at home. Also, the expanding player pool has allowed newcomers such as Ammanuel Diressa, a standout with RanaB次元官网网址檚 Ryerson Rams team, and Grandy Glaze, whoB次元官网网址檚 toiled in the NBAB次元官网网址檚 G-League for five seasons, a chance to pull on the Canadian jersey.

B次元官网网址淐ertainly Grandy Glaze is one that people in Canada arenB次元官网网址檛 familiar with and just has this unique energy to him and a toughness that will have a major impact on this group,B次元官网网址� Rana said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 proud about Manny DiressaB次元官网网址� IB次元官网网址檝e said over and over I think heB次元官网网址檚 one of the most talented guards IB次元官网网址檝e coached, and IB次元官网网址檓 happy to see everyone else is seeing that now.B次元官网网址�

Canada tips off the FIBA AmeriCup against the Virgin Islands on Sunday, then plays Argentina on Monday and Venezuela on Tuesday. The semifinals are Sept. 2 and the final is Sept. 3.

Lori Ewing, The Canadian Press