Joel Anthony rarely turns down a chance to suit up for Canada.

The 35-year-old from Montreal will lead Canada91裸聊视频檚 men91裸聊视频檚 basketball team at the FIBA AmeriCup tournament that tips off Sunday in Argentina, which is preparation for qualifying for the 2019 World Cup in China.

91裸聊视频淚 really do just love the opportunity to represent my country,91裸聊视频� said Anthony, a 10-year NBA veteran. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 like coming back home. I91裸聊视频檓 usually in the States so to be able to come back and be with everyone, see old friends, it91裸聊视频檚 kind of like Thanksgiving. I enjoy it.91裸聊视频�

Watch all of 馃嚚馃嚘馃弨 games live and HD on starting this Sunday. Read more:

91裸聊视频� Canada Basketball (@CanBball)

FIBA has completely overhauled the qualifying format for both the World Cup and Olympics, and the new schedule, with games falling smack dab in the middle of the NBA season, calls for some creative personnel moves.

So while Anthony and fellow NBA veteran Andrew Nicholson might be on Canada91裸聊视频檚 roster in Argentina, they know they91裸聊视频檙e part of a revolving door of Canadian players, and there91裸聊视频檚 no telling what the roster will look like if Canada qualifies for the World Cup.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a reality,91裸聊视频� Anthony said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 something that the guys understand. It91裸聊视频檚 obviously a different format, something no one91裸聊视频檚 ever seen before so it91裸聊视频檚 hard to say (whether it will benefit Canada or not). With us, honestly, it could be more difficult because of our presence in the NBA now, and them not being able to play during different parts of the tournament season.91裸聊视频�

This FIBA AmeriCup has become merely an exhibition tournament, which no qualifying ramifications. Qualifying for the 32-team World Cup now features a two-round tournament of home and away games. The World Cup, in turn, is a major qualifier for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Canada is in Group D in the Americas zone for World Cup qualifying, with first-round games against the Virgin Islands, Bahamas, and the Dominican Republic. Canada will host the Bahamas on Nov. 24 in Halifax in their first qualifier.

Roy Rana, Canada91裸聊视频檚 head coach for both the FIBA AmeriCup and the Halifax game, said the program91裸聊视频檚 revolving-door of players has bought into the new format.

91裸聊视频淪ome of this is really just understanding the nature of the new qualifying format, that in itself is a challenge,91裸聊视频� said Rana, who coached Canada91裸聊视频檚 U19 team to a world title last month. 91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檙e going to have to be invested in a different way because we91裸聊视频檙e going to have such a larger pool of players available, just as there is for coaches. This has opened a unique opportunity for myself just as it has for some of them.91裸聊视频�

Jay Triano remains the men91裸聊视频檚 head coach, but handed the reins to Rana for upcoming qualifiers because of a conflict with the NBA season. Triano is an assistant with the Phoenix Suns.

91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 a tremendous amount of trust between us, we have some great basketball conversations,91裸聊视频� Rana said of his relationship with Triano. 91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 been really, really good at allowing me to use my own strengths and some of the things I91裸聊视频檝e done with teams, and blending in a lot of the things he91裸聊视频檚 done with his team. It91裸聊视频檚 all about a community. It91裸聊视频檚 not about my way, it91裸聊视频檚 about 91裸聊视频榣et91裸聊视频檚 find the best way.91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�

Canada91裸聊视频檚 first-round World Cup qualifying will see them play at the Dominican Republic on Nov. 27. They91裸聊视频檒l be back in action in February with games at the Virgin Islands and Bahamas. The next block of games are next summer, with the top three countries after the first round advancing to the second.

Triano said the new format will take some getting used to, but on the plus side gives players the rare chance to play games at home. Also, the expanding player pool has allowed newcomers such as Ammanuel Diressa, a standout with Rana91裸聊视频檚 Ryerson Rams team, and Grandy Glaze, who91裸聊视频檚 toiled in the NBA91裸聊视频檚 G-League for five seasons, a chance to pull on the Canadian jersey.

91裸聊视频淐ertainly Grandy Glaze is one that people in Canada aren91裸聊视频檛 familiar with and just has this unique energy to him and a toughness that will have a major impact on this group,91裸聊视频� Rana said. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 proud about Manny Diressa91裸聊视频� I91裸聊视频檝e said over and over I think he91裸聊视频檚 one of the most talented guards I91裸聊视频檝e coached, and I91裸聊视频檓 happy to see everyone else is seeing that now.91裸聊视频�

Canada tips off the FIBA AmeriCup against the Virgin Islands on Sunday, then plays Argentina on Monday and Venezuela on Tuesday. The semifinals are Sept. 2 and the final is Sept. 3.

Lori Ewing, The Canadian Press