TORONTO, ON (May 3, 2019) – The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Canada Basketball today announced the dates and locations of Canadian qualifying tournaments for the second Jr. NBA Global Championship.  Provincial club teams made up of 13- and 14-year-old boys and girls will compete in regional qualifying tournaments for the chance to represent Canada at the second annual global youth tournament, which will be held Aug. 6-11 at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World near Orlando, Fla.  

The Jr. NBA Global Championship Canada Regional tipped off with provincial games to determine the nine winning teams that will advance to play a single elimination game against a neighboring province for a chance to advance to the Jr. NBA Global Championship Canada Regional Finals in June.  The competitions are as follows:

Canada Atlantic Regional:      NL vs. NS vs. PEI                                May 4, 2019 – Halifax, NS

Canada East Regional*:          New Brunswick vs. Quebec              May 11, 2019 – Montreal, QC

Canada West Regional:          Alberta vs. British Columbia              June 1, 2019 – Langley, BC

Canada Prairies Regional:      Manitoba vs. Saskatchewan              June 1, 2019 – Winnipeg, MB

* Host region, Ontario, receives a bye

The four winning teams and Ontario will compete at the Jr. NBA Global Championship Canada Regional Finals at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre from June 13-16, which will see the winning teams represent Canada in Orlando against top boys and girls teams from around the world.

Last year, Denver Nuggets’ Jamal Murray made a surprise appearanceat the first Jr. NBA Global Championship Canada Regional Finals in St. Catharines, meeting with players and coaches and sharing inspiring stories from his journey from Waterloo to the NBA.

“Enthusiasm for the Jr. NBA Global Championship in Canada continues to grow, as thousands of boys and girls will compete again this spring for the chance to represent Canada on the global stage in Orlando,” said Dan MacKenzie, Managing Director, NBA Canada.  “The NBA and Canada Basketball are proud to continue providing best-in-class basketball development opportunities to youth across the country.”  

“Canada Basketball is excited to once again partner with the NBA as Canada’s Jr. NBA Global Championship qualifying tournaments return this summer,” said Glen Grunwald, President & CEO, Canada Basketball.  “The Jr. NBA Global Championship gives Canada’s top boys and girls U14 youth basketball teams a unique opportunity to compete on the international stage while developing core character skills that will last a lifetime.”

Gatorade will once again support the Jr. NBA Global Championship in Canada, expanding their programming across the country.  At regional tournaments, the NBA will recognize the players who best exemplify the Jr. NBA’s core values – Teamwork, Respect, Determination and Community.  In addition to presenting the Determination Award, Gatorade will help to fuel athletes with sideline product and highlight elite Canadian basketball through custom content that features teams as they advance through the qualification process.

At the inaugural Jr. NBA Global Championship, the Welland Warriors (girls) advanced to the international semifinals, and the Brampton Breakdown (boys) advanced to the international finals.  Both Canadian teams took part in life skills programming centered on the Jr. NBA’s core values, in addition to meeting NBA players Vince Carter and Jr. NBA Global Championship Ambassador Dwyane Wade.  

During the 2018-19 season, the NBA and its teams plan to reach more than 51M youth in 75 countries through league play, in-school programming, clinics, skills challenges, and other outreach events.

All coaches participating in the Jr. NBA Global Championship Canada Regional will be required to be trained in Canada Basketball’s National Coaching Certification Program and require a background check.  The qualification process is in line with Long Term Athlete Development and safety in sport principles with implemented minimum playing time and no zone rules.  Games will follow FIBA rules adjusted to eight-minute quarters due to the age and stage of development.  Youth at the Jr. NBA Global Championship will not only compete on the court but will also receive off-court life skills education and participate in NBA Cares community service projects.

Please contact provincial basketball federations for more information regarding qualifying competitions.  More information about the Jr. NBA Global Championship can be found at jrnba.ca.

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