FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ST. CATHARINES, ON (June 23, 2017) - Today, Canada Basketball and the Niagara Sport Commission are pleased to announce Jay Triano as the Chair of the FIBA U18 Americas Championship 2018, taking place in St. Catharines June 10-16, 2018.

A native of the Niagara region, Triano will champion the event, which will highlight up-and-coming Canadian basketball talents and showcases the city of St. Catharines as a premium tourist and events destination.

Head Coach of the Men's National Team and Associate Coach with the NBA's Phoenix Suns, Triano is a fixture in the Canadian sports community. A national team alumnus, he captained Team Canada at the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games. Triano is also a Canadian Basketball Hall of Famer.  

This is the first time Canada will host the seven-day tournament, which will take place at the world-class Meridian Centre. The tournament will see Canada along with seven teams from the Americas Zone vying for a top-three finish to qualify for the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2019.

Canada's youth men are currently ranked 3rd in the world and 2nd in the Americas. Athletes born January 1, 2000 or later will be eligible to participate in the 2018 FIBA U18 Americas.  

Canada Basketball and the Niagara Sport Commission also unveiled the official tournament logo, which represents the host city, the sport and the nation.

The tournament ticket information to be released in August 2017. For more information, please visit www.fiba.com/americas/u18/2018.

QUOTES

"I'm honoured to help bring this exciting international basketball event to Niagara. I'm extremely proud of our region's rich basketball history and of the talent Canada continues to produce."

-Jay Triano, Chair, FIBA U18 Americas 2018 / Head Coach, Men's National Team

"We're thrilled to have Jay as chair of the FIBA U18 Americas. We know he will bring his immense dedication and passion for basketball, this country and the Niagara region to this role and help make this tournament a success."

-Michele O'Keefe, President & CEO, Canada Basketball

"We are extremely excited to have Jay Triano as the chair for the FIBA U18 Americas Championship. With Jay's basketball roots being in Niagara Falls, and his long list of impressive accomplishments in the sport that includes currently serving as the Head Coach of Canada Basketball's Senior Men's team, he is the perfect choice for this basketball event that will be held in Canada for the very first time."

-Henry D'Angela, Chair of the Niagara Sport Commission

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For more information, contact:

Matt Walker

Manager, Communications

Canada Basketball

416.614.8037 ext. 206

mwalker@basketball.ca

Shawn McCart

Director, Communications

Niagara Sport Commission

289.362.2215 Ext. 3

shawn.mccart@niagarasportcommission.com

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