Anderson and Johnson combined for 32 points and each grabbed a team-leading seven rebounds. Canada capitalized on 37% of their field goal attempts, 40% on their 3-point attempts and 62% of their free throw attempts.
Playing in front of a packed crowd including a large contingent Manchester school kids, Team Canada proved today that they are one of the best in the world with impressive defensive skills, speed and accuracy. Top players for Canada were Anderson, Johnson, Chris Soutenburg (Collingwood, ON) and Richard Peters (Vancouver, BC). Anderson and Johnson play wheelchair basketball year-round professionally in Germany.
“We are trying to improve in every match and we have done so today against a strong competitor.” stated Johnson following the game. “This is great preparation for the Gold Cup Wheelchair Basketball world championships in Amsterdam this July.”
“We played with much more intensity today. We added energy on our defense and made sure our offense executed well,” commented Head Coach Paul Bowes after Team Canada’s victory. “The team gelled and it was a great show for everybody.”
Canada will face Sweden tonight at 6:00 PM at the Manchester Velodrome. With a current 1 win - 1 loss record, the result of tonight’s game will determine their tournament standing position and the team they will face tomorrow in the semi-finals.
Ranked #1 by the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation entering the World Cup, Canada’s Men’s team is an international powerhouse that has triumphed in back-to-back Paralympic Games (2000, 2004). Canada defeated Australia in the Gold Medal match at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens to capture its second consecutive gold.
The Visa Paralympic World Cup is the biggest international, annual multi-sport competition after the Paralympic Games and has been staged in Manchester, Great Britain for the past three years. Sanctioned by the International Paralympic Committee, the event plays a critical role in providing international competition between Paralympic Games.
The Canadian Paralympic Committee is a not-for-profit, charitable, private organization recognized by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). The CPC aims to develop and grow the Paralympic Movement in Canada, with a commitment to delivering programs that strengthen the Paralympic Movement in Canada and empower persons with physical disabilities through sport at all levels.
