MANILA, Philippines – Canada’s men’s basketball team saw its dreams of playing in the Rio Olympics dashed.
The Canadians lost 83-74 to France in Sunday’s heartbreaking final of FIBA’s last-chance Olympic qualifying tournament.
Toronto Raptors guard Cory Joseph had 20 points and six assists to lead the Canadians, who were hoping to make their first Olympic appearance since the 2000 Sydney Games.
Melvin Ejim added 19 points, while Tristan Thompson, fresh off an NBA championship victory with the Cleveland Cavaliers, had a team-high seven rebounds.
Tony Parker topped France with 26 points.
Canada trailed by five points going into the fourth quarter of a fierce back-and-forth battle.
Parker drilled a three-pointer with five-and-a-half minutes to play to put France up by eight points, but an Anthony Bennett three and a bucket from Tyler Ennis pulled the Canadians to within three points.
Parker hit a dagger three-pointer with just over two minutes to play, however, that stretched the gap to six points. The deficit proved too big for Canada overcome, spelling more Olympic heartbreak for the Canadian men.
Canada led by five points to end the first quarter. A Boris Diaw three-pointer at the buzzer sent France into the dressing room at halftime with a 39-36 lead.
France opened up an 11-point gap in the third quarter, but the Canadians had pulled to within 56-51 with one quarter to play.
Canada had knocked off New Zealand 78-72 in Saturday’s semifinals.
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