With berth to 2024 Olympics, Canada erases decades of men's basketball misery

It was a long and often frustrating 23 years.

Now, finally, Canada's men's basketball team will return to the Olympics for the first time since 2000.

Canada beat reigning champion Spain 88-85 on Sunday at the World Cup in Jakarta, Indonesia, securing both a quarterfinal spot in this tournament and a place in the Paris Olympics next summer.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who led Canada with 29 points against Spain, joked that his mom Charmaine Gilgeous, who competed in track and field at the 1992 Olympics, no longer holds bragging rights.

"It's just an honour. My whole life I've known what it's meant to go to the Olympics because of that and I know the best athletes in the world are there and we consider ourselves amongst that group. It's a good feeling to go," the Hamilton, Ont. native said.

While the Canadian women's team has appeared at the past three Olympics, the country's medal drought dates to 1936, when the men secured silver on an outdoor court during a rainstorm in Nazi Germany.

But Canada's success at this World Cup offers every reason to believe a return to the podium is very much within reach.

"The last time we played in the Olympics was in 2000, and I keep saying that was one of the greatest things in my life was being able to take 12 players to the Olympics," said Jay Triano, who was head coach of that team.

"It would just be the best thing ever for us to get back in the Olympics and then do well in the Olympics. I think that's very much on the table for this group of players."

Canada didn't make things easy on itself at the World Cup. After three easy wins in the first round, a stunning loss to Brazil set up the must-win against Spain.

It was a test of Canada's mettle — under a Spanish head coach in Jordi Fernandez who only took over in June after Nick Nurse's abrupt departure.

Maybe that new blood was necessary though.

WATCH | Canada earns Olympic berth with thrilling win over Spain:

Fernandez wasn't there in 2015 when Kelly Olynyk slipped on a court ad, turning the ball over late in a one-point loss to Venezuela that would have sent Canada to the Rio Olympics.