TORONTO - For the second time in three years, the University of Calgary Dinos' Ross Bekkering will represent Canada at the Universiade - this time in Belgrade, Serbia.

After winning a bronze medal at the 2007 Universiade in 2007, Bekkering returns to a talent-laden squad that aims to repeat that podium performance, Canada Basketball announced Thursday.

Hosted by the International University Sports Federation (FISU), this year marks the 25th edition of the Summer Universiade, the second largest multi-sport games in the world after the Olympic Games.

“We are thrilled to be fielding two talented Canadian teams at the Summer Universiade, said Wayne Parrish, Canada Basketball's Executive Director and CEO. “Not only is this great for our players' development, but it's exciting for our country.  Team Canada a long tradition with this event, and we are looking forward to continuing success on the courts in 2009.  We encourage basketball fans across the country to get behind these players and support our teams throughout the next few weeks.”

Canada's development teams are comprised of young athletes currently attending university, either in the CIS or NCAA.  The DMNT features three players with international experience including 6'4” guard Josh Gibson-Bascombe, from Toronto, ON and 6'9” forward Ross Bekkering, from Taber, AB.  Both players participated in the 2007 FISU Games in Thailand, helping lead Team Canada to a bronze medal by defeating Japan.  Toronto's Boris Bakovic joins the DMNT, after playing with the 2007 Junior Men's National Team that competed in the FIBA U19 World Championship in Novi Sad, Serbia.

 “I am very pleased with our team this year, said DMNT Head Coach, Chris O'Rourke.  “We have quite a deep roster from one through twelve, with a lot of interchangeable parts that will hopefully pay off for us over the course of the tournament.”

The DMNT has been training in Hamilton, ON since mid-June and will travel to Belgrade in advance of the tournament to play a series of exhibition games against USA, Russia and Serbia. 

O'Rourke is looking forward to seeing his team perform in international game situations. “These are three high calibre countries that we are playing, and a great indicator of where we stand and where we need to get to for the actual tournament.  I am very confident that Canada will do well in the preliminaries and our goal is to medal like we did two years ago.”

-30-