THE 5TH ANNUAL ALL-STAR CHARITY SHOOTOUT GOES JULY 17TH AT YORK UNIVERSITY.

If you're a Canadian hoops fan...you have to get out to York University on Saturday July 17th, 2010 at 3:30pm for the 5th Annual All-Star Charity Shootout.
It's not just a game featuring top Canadian Professional, College and University players, playing here, the States and worldwide...but it's a tremendous fundraising event for War Child Canada and the Michael Pinball Clemons Foundation(MPCF). Of course Clemons is well known due to his outstanding playing career and executive position with the Toronto Argonauts. It's called the Clash of the Charities and the shootout is a great way to bring awareness to both of these deserving causes/organizations.

Here's what War Child Canada is all about...
Founded in 1999, War Child Canada currently provides active support to numerous countries including Afghanistan, Ethiopia and Sierra Leone, through initiatives that benefit more than 100,000 children and their families annually. 90 cents of every dollar received go directly to programs overseas helping to create a world where no child knows war.

MPCF is the moniker for Clemons endeavor and here's some details about it...

The Michael “Pinball” Clemons Foundation is proud to have been chosen as one of the participating charities for the 5th Annual All-Star Charity Shootout to be held this June of 2010. This event provides our foundation the opportunity to raise much needed funds but also the ability to spread awareness for a few worthy causes that we have committed to support in the upcoming years.

At the Michael “Pinball” Clemons Foundation our vision is to quicken academic excellence, infuse depth of character, promote health and vitality, and inspire generosity in our youth.

Come July 17th, there will be a lot going on at the Tait Mackenzie gym on the York University campus...
Including the support of both charities plus a post free post-game BBQ which will conclude the festivities.

The War Child Canada squad will be coached by former York Men's basketball coach Bob Bain and features Lafayette University's Jared Mintz...and former Toronto All-Star Tristan Martin(PBL).

U of T's Mike Katz will helm the Michael Pinball Clemons Foundation team that features former York point guard Tut Ruach...Andre Wilkins of Cornell University and All-OUA forward Boris Bakovic from the Ryerson Rams.

The game should be a burner...as it showcases some of the best basketball talent that this country has and as a bonus does it's best to support both charities headlining the event!

Here is the ROSTER for the All-Star Charity Shootout!

The Shootout is sponsored by such corporations as VIA rail and Investors Group.
For more information go to http://www.allstarcharityshootout.com/.
They also have a Facebook and Twitter page as well!

CADET TEAM CAPTURES BRONZE AT THE FIRST EVER FIBA U-17 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP.

Courtesy FIBA.COM

 

Team Canada has done it folks...At the 1st ever FIBA U-17 World Basketball Championships...Canada has taken home the bronze medal...in a surprising but not that far-fetched result.
Canadian basketball ascendancy is on is way...the talent is there(Kevin Pangos/Anthony Bennett)...the coaches are there(Roy Rana/Greg Francis) and the spirit is there...as Canada Basketball the organization is seeing the fruits of it's labour come to life as it's younger teams...this one the Cadets and the junior national team(U-18) have both finished 3rd in their tournaments. The U-18 squad finished third at the end of June and have qualified for next year's U-19 World Championships in Latvia.
It's been a long, hard journey with many bumps along the way over the years for Canada Basketball...but it seems good times are gonna be very common as Canada exerts it's basketball emergence on the world stage.
The Cadets trailed the game after one and at the half but came back to take a two point win...83-81 over the Lithuanians who have a storied basketball history.
Bennett did not play due to injury...but Canada was led by Olivier Hanlan who poured in 15 points...while Negus Webster-Chan and Kevin Pangos...their point guard and leader both scored 13.
Stud in waiting Andrew Wiggins and Dyshawn Pierre dropped 12 points for the Cadet squad led by Rana who is also Ryerson University's Men's basketball coach. Pierre, who impressed a lot of scouts in this tourney also corralled a team-high 9 rebounds.
Check out the story at the Toronto star as Doug Smith breaks the game down here!
The U.S. took the Gold...going 8-0...downing the surprising but impressive Polish squad 111-80 in relatively easy fashion. America is still their dominating self basketball-wise on the world stage but teams like Poland and Canada seem to be closing the gap as they mimic the team that carries the standard for hoops worldwide.
Back to Pangos who was named to the All-tournament five...along with Mateusz Ponitka (Poland), Bradley Beal (USA), James Mc Adoo (USA) and Przemyslav Karnowski (Poland). He was also named the best Point Guard in the tournament as he guided his squad in fine form throughout all of Canada's games. Pangos is using this international experience to firmly put himself in the Radar of many Division 1 coaches Stateside.
He should be getting a ton of letters once he get's back here in Canada.
Check out the All-Tournament Five HERE...
If not for an oft-injured Bennett not being 100% in the tournament...the Canucks may have gotten to the final by beating the Poles and gone on to face the Americans. But they settle for bronze in a great result for a Canada team that believed they could medal...but also knew teams like Spain and Argentina were going to be obstacles in their desire for hardware. Those teams struggled while others like Canada took advantage.
Congrats to the Cadet U-17 squad for a great tournament!
Here's the box score from the game.
Canada Basketball has the scoop from the milestone accomplishment by the cadets HERE!