Trae Bell-Haynes delivered an impressive performance in front of his hometown crowd on Monday. The Canadian men’s basketball team secured a 94-88 victory over the Bahamas in the 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifying match held at Mattamy Athletic Centre, with Bell-Haynes contributing 17 points, 10 assists, and five rebounds.
Expressing his joy at playing in Toronto since high school, the 30-year-old Toronto native stated, “Playing in front of our parents and families is significant, and clinching the win adds to the excitement. Representing Canada is always an honor, but doing it on home turf holds special meaning.”
Additionally, Thomas Scrubb tallied 16 points, and Kyle Wiltjer chipped in with 15 points, five rebounds, and four assists for the Canadian team. On the opposing side, Garvin Clarke led the Bahamas with 20 points and 13 assists.
Head coach Nathaniel Mitchell praised the Bahamas as a gritty team, acknowledging their challenging defensive adjustments. Despite the competitive nature of the game, Mitchell commended his team for maintaining composure and control throughout.
Canada had previously defeated the Bahamas 111-75 in Nassau, Bahamas, completing a successful two-game series in the initial qualifying window for the Americas bracket. This window marks the commencement of a 15-month qualification cycle comprising six windows across four FIBA regions.
During the qualification process, teams will engage in home-and-away fixtures in February and July, with the top three from each group progressing to the subsequent round. The cumulative results from these games will determine the final six qualifiers for the World Cup in Doha, scheduled for 2026 and 2027.
Having secured their first World Cup bronze medal in 2023 by defeating the United States, Canada now leads Group B, alongside Puerto Rico and Jamaica. Mitchell emphasized the team’s identity as embodying toughness, aiming to instill fear and annoyance in their opponents through relentless offensive and defensive play.