Jay Triano has been leading a double life.

As coach of Canada's men's national basketball team, Triano is considered the saviour of a program that was on rocky footing when he assumed control five years ago.

In his other persona, as an assistant coach in the National Basketball Association with the Toronto Raptors, Triano is more of a bit player behind the scenes doing his best to establish himself in the often cutthroat business of professional sport.

It is an interesting position for Triano, being the man who calls the shots for one team while being in a subordinate role for the other.

And if ever he had to choose between the two, coaching for Canada or coaching in the NBA, Triano insists that it would be no contest at all.

"I love coaching our country," Triano said during an interview earlier this week at the Americas Olympic qualifying tournament. "I think coaching in the NBA provides me an opportunity to become a better coach for our country, and that's what I like to do. This is enough stress for me.

"I'll do all the dirty work that an NBA assistant has to do to learn so that I'm better when it comes to this part of my job."

Triano, 44, has done a masterful job directing the Canadian squad at the 10-nation event in San Juan, from which the top three teams will earn berths into next summer's Olympic Games in Greece.

Canada will have its first crack at grabbing one of those spots tonight when it squares off against tough Argentina in one of the semi-final games. The undefeated U.S. team will play Puerto Rico in the other.

If Canada loses to Argentina, it will still have one more chance to lock up an Olympic berth when the two semi-final losers meet tomorrow to determine third place.