Chinese women's national basketball team head coach Tom Maher is looking forward to good memories for his team in the upcoming 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro that will kick off on August 5.

"What we remember from the Rio Olympics is how this team plays, and hopefully we have some good memories," Maher told Xinhua on Saturday.

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China, which currently sits in the eight spot of the latest FIBA world Rankings, is placed in Group B, along with reigning world No. 1 and five-time defending Olympic champion United States, Canada (No. 9), Senegal, world No. 3 Spain, and No. 14 Serbia. China will be playing the team of Canada in its opening game in Rio.

The Canadians won all of the three friendly matches that they played in the recently concluded Edmonton Grad International Classic that was held from July 9 to 11 at the Saville Community Sports Centre.

According to Sina, dating back to the fifth-place matchup at 2014 World Championships, China has lost five-straight games in a row against Canada. The 63-year-old Maher was much impressed by Canadians' physical play and passing.

"They are a very good team. Their physicality is above us, and their basketball IQ is very high. They are very physical." Maher said referring to the national team of Canada.

"In WCBA, we don't play a physical league. Our players are naturally physical. Canada may be the most physical team in the world. International basketball is physical, so we have to make that level," Maher said. "The other thing is that they may be the best passing team in the world."

China has competed in the prestigious quadrennial sporting event on eight occasions. The country has a silver medal that was won in the 1992 Barcelona Games and a bronze medal that was won in the 1984 Los Angeles Games.

Tagstom maher, chinese women's national basketball team, wcba, FIBA, Fiba rankings, Rio Olympics 2016