Meredith Nasrall 
Canada beat Japan 89-74 in the final Globl Jam round robin match, but they will be disappointed that the game ultimately counted for nothing.
In the final, which was played on Sunday, Brazil got a measure of revenge over Georgetown, who they had lost to the day before, beating them 77-73 to win the event.
NBA Popularity
There are still two months left until the start of the NBA season, which means there’s plenty of time for roster changes and odds changes. Currently, though, bookmakers favour the Oklahoma City Thunder, who have been given odds of 11/4 to take the championship. Other favourites include the Denver Nuggets (8/1) and Houston Rockets (8/1). The Toronto Raptors, which are the only Canadian team to compete in the league, are priced at 200/1.
Some dedicated sportsbooks, such as those on esportsinsider.com, can offer potentially improved returns through boosted odds, deposit matches, free bets, and other bonuses. According to online sports betting expert Brett Curtis, basketball is a popular sport for betting in Canada, after events like ice hockey.
The Globl Jam Tournament
While hoop lovers wait for the start of the season, they have been treated to the annual Globl Jam event, hosted by Canada Basketball in conjunction with Sportsnet. The tournament promises to bring together the best under-23 men’s and women’s teams from around the world.
Hosted at the Mattamy Athletic Centre, Toronto, this year’s event saw competitors, in the men’s tournament, from the USA, Japan, Canada, and Brazil.
In the women’s tournament, Canada was joined by Brazil, Puerto Rico, and the Texas Longhorns, who were representing the USA. All teams played each other once in their respective tournaments before a final was played to crown the winners.
Basketball Canada said of the event: “GLOBL JAM is more than a tournament – it’s a proving ground. A stage for rising stars who’ve sacrificed, trained, and pushed through the hardest moments for a shot at international greatness.” According to a press release, the event has featured players who have gone on to become major names in the sport – Aaliyah Edwards, Yvonne Ejim, and Leonard Miller.
Canada Men’s Team
In their opening match, Canada’s men took on Brazil, losing 85-78. However, Xaivian Lee performed well, scoring 16 points, closely followed by Aden Holloway, who bagged 15 points on his international debut. But, ultimately, Brazil’s aggressive gameplay proved too much, and they ran out victors of the first game.
Results improved for Canada in the next game, when they beat the USA, represented by the Georgetown Hoyas. The final score was 65-62 with Xaivian Lee and Tj Hurley both providing 11 points each.
In their third match of the round robin tournament, Canada prevailed over Japan, winning the game 89-74. Lee was once again the mastermind, with the Florida Gators star securing 16 points. However, two victories weren’t enough to secure a place in Sunday’s final, which was contested by Brazil and Georgetown Hoyas.
Canada knew before the match that even a victory wouldn’t be enough due to head-to-head results, and coach Dave Smart said: “You come out and think you win the game and you go to the gold medal game, and then you find out that if you win the game, you don’t go to the gold medal game… your intensity level probably drops. It shouldn’t, but it does.” That lack of intensity certainly seemed evident when the Japanese went on a 7-2 run, before Canada finally responded with a 12-4 run of their own.
Brazil emerged victorious, winning the final 77-73. This was the second time Brazil have won the event, which has only been hosted three times, having won the inaugural event in 2022.
Canada Women’s Performance
The women’s U23 team enjoyed more success. They won their first match 104-56 against Brazil but went on to lose 61-70 to the USA in their second match. A 96-46 victory over Puerto Rico ensured a place in the final, however, where they overturned the earlier loss to the USA and walked away 72-65 victors.
Carlenis Solvi 
