Erica Gavel. (Submitted Photo/ Wheelchair Basketball Canada)

By Ronald Quaroni

Basketball Abroad

‘We have to win that game’: Team Canada prepares for all important semifinal in Peru

Aug 27, 2019 | 12:49 PM

The stakes are high for Canada’s Women’s Wheelchair basketball team at the 2019 Parapan American Games in Lima, Peru.

Three decisive wins over Colombia, Argentina and Mexico have lined the Canadians up for a crucial, semifinal matchup against Brazil. A win guarantees Canada’s attendance at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. A loss leaves them on the outside looking in.

“We have to play well, we have to play smart,” Prince Albert athlete Erica Gavel, who plays for Team Canada, said. “I think we’re ready. We’ve had a really great summer of training and I mean, we just have to go out there, do our best and stick to our principles.”

She explained their dominant play in the round robin has allowed the team to work on both sides of the ball and with just a few things to clean up and tweak, they’ll be ready for Thursday’s matchup.

“We have to win that game,” Gavel said. “I think if we just carry and build on what we’ve done in the round robin to the semi’s, we’ll be in a good place for that game.”

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Not wanting to look too far ahead, she indicated that advancing to the Paralympics would be, ‘a dream come true’ — one she says came with help along the way.

“The whole city of Prince Albert, especially my elementary school coaches and basketball coaches. I honestly wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them and I’m very grateful for how much they’ve invested in me,” Gavel told paNOW over the phone from Lima, Peru.

“We’re playing for ourselves, but we’re definitely playing for all the coaches we’ve had in the past, and for our country,” Gavel said “We’re representing a lot of people. I don’t feel that as pressure, I just feel the support from back home.”

Editor’s note: this article was amended Aug.28 to make clear Canada will meet Brazil in the semi-finals, not the U.S. If Canada wins they will play the winner of the Argentina v U.S. semi-final.

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ron.quaroni@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @RonaldQuaroni