Panama and Canada face off tonight in the Arena Roberto Durán in Panama City, Panama. I know it’s a very random game to preview, but I am from Panama, and I am going to the game, so I might as well.

The last time these two teams play, it went about as you would expect, Canada won by 50 points, yes 50, with a final score of 99-49. That game was about a year ago, and honestly, I don’t know if the rosters were similar to the ones tonight, but let’s assume they were.

Going into the game tonight, Canada is favored by almost 30 points in the betting markets, which seems like a good pick, based on the result last time. honestly seems like too conservative of a line, but I guess they know something we don’t.

The reason for Canada being the way superior team is because they have some NBA players on their roster, while Panama does not have anyone of such caliber. Canada has 3 active NBA players in their roster for tonight in Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Lu Dort and Kelly Oynyk (they also had Shaedon Sharpe, but he suffered an injury recently and won’t be available for months). They also have another 5 players who have played in the NBA at some point in their careers.

Panama in the other hand has no NBA players or former NBA players in their roster, not a single game of NBA experience in their roster, so obviously the inferior team. Panama’s best player is Iverson Molinar, who made it to the G-League at one point but has gone thru many different teams in Mexico and now Europe. His father, Manuel Molinar, was my basketball coach in middle school.

So needless to say, Canada will win. I will obviously be rooting for Panama, but I am very realistic of our chances tonight.

Canada is currently undefeated (6-0) and in first place of the group. Panam is currently 2-4 and in last place of the group. There are still some games remaining, but if Panama wants any chance of qualifying, they will have to pull off a miracle and win tonight. at the end of the day, crazier upsets have happened in the history of sports, so why not us and why not tonight.

There are some rumors that Donovan Mitchell, SGA and Dillon Brooks will be in attendance tonight. Donovan Mitchell has Panamanian roots; his grandmother was born in Panama. SGA and Dillon Brooks are Canadian, but not on the roster for tonight. It’s just rumors, but I guess they will be confirmed pretty soon when we get to the game.

I will try to be live posting on X thru the game if anything interesting happens. So, follow me on X @OCSportsHQ and stay tuned.

My official prediction is that Canada will win the game 107-74, so i guess it will be a better performance than last time for Panama. I expect a big game from Iverson Molinar. I will try to write a recap after the game or tomorrow.

Thank you for reading!!! And go Panama!!!