Olynyk haunted by Canada’s Olympic qualifying defeat to Venezuela
RICHMOND, B.C. — Kelly Olynyk is still stung by the loss.
Canada was one game away from qualifying for the men’s Olympic basketball tournament last September when disaster struck.
Olynyk and his teammates fell 79-78 to Venezuela — a country they handled easily a week earlier — in the FIBA Americas semifinals to see their best chance to book a place at the Rio Games pass by.
The 24-year-old had 34 points and 13 rebounds in the crushing defeat, but also a critical turnover late that helped open the door for the upset.