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Basketball-Canada blow chance to make Olympics after shock loss

Sep 11 (Reuters) - The Canadian basketball team, boasting nine NBA players on their roster, have blown their initial chance to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio with a shock loss to Venezuela at the FIBA Americas tournament on Friday.

Canada, who had dominated the tournament by winning each contest by 17 or more points, fell 79-78 in the semifinals to a Venezuelan team without any NBA players, fully aware a win would lock up a place in Rio.

Now they will have to try to get through via a qualifying tournament next year, against potentially much tougher European competition.