Canada’s men’s wheelchair basketball team suffered a 79-65 defeat against Poland in the Round of 16, extending their gold-medal drought to five world championships. Despite creating opportunities in the final quarter, Canada struggled to score while Poland effectively defended Colin Higgins, the standout forward.
Poland’s Mateusz Filipiski, a 38-year-old center/forward, delivered a stellar performance with a triple-double, scoring 26 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, and dishing out 11 assists. Higgins acknowledged the tough challenge posed by the experienced and tall Polish team with sharpshooters.
The last time Canada clinched a men’s world title was 20 years ago in Amsterdam, and they secured bronze when Edmonton hosted the event in 1994. Now, Canada finds itself in the 9-16th place bracket and is set to face Argentina in their upcoming match at Carleton University.
Despite the setback against Poland, Canadian forward Nik Goncin emphasized the importance of moving on emotionally and focusing on the next phase of the tournament. With unexpected upsets in the relegation bracket, Goncin highlighted the competitiveness among the teams.
Poland, aiming for their first medal in the men’s world tournament, secured a spot in the quarterfinals against Italy after finishing sixth in the previous two editions. The Poles earned their place in the Ottawa tournament by defeating Thailand in a repechage event in June.
Although Canada trailed after the first quarter, Goncin’s three-point shot narrowed the gap to six points with 5:36 remaining in the game. Poland’s strong shooting and rebounding performance contributed to their victory, outscoring and outrebounding Canada in the match.
Higgins acknowledged the challenges faced by the Canadian team, expressing regret over missed opportunities and praising Poland’s execution of their game plan. Despite a valiant effort by Canada, Poland’s effective strategies ultimately secured the win.
In the women’s category, Canada’s unbeaten team will face Great Britain in their final group play match at Carleton University.
