FORMOSA (FIBA U16 Americas Championship) – The final game of the FIBA U16 Americas Championship 2017 will be between USA and Canada for the continental gold. Puerto Rico and Argentina will play for Bronze.

The Dominican Republic defeated Venezuela 71-57, and got a chance to play for the fifth position of the continental championship and the last ticket available to the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup. The Dominicans won the first half handedly with a 13-point lead. Venezuela started to close the gap on the scoreboard and tied the game in the first few minutes of the fourth quarter. The Dominicans relied heavily on offensive powerhouse David Jones, to win the last quarter 30-23 and claim the victory. Jones led the offensive for the Dominicans with 14 points.

Mexico earned a spot in the fifth-place game after a 71-60 win over Paraguay. The teams battled evenly during the first quarter of the game, but it was in the second quarter that the Mexicans captured the lead in the scoreboard after a 18-9 quarter. The teams took the ball to the paint, and relied heavily on quick transitions. Mexico kept the lead and celebrated the win after a 25-17 fourth quarter. Avelino led the score for Mexico with 19 points. Mexico will play the Dominican Republic for the fifth-place game and the last ticket available to the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup.

Canada got a trip back to the Final of the FIBA U16 Americas Championship after a 81-66 win over Puerto Rico in the Semi-Finals. The Canadians jumped right into the game after with a 9-0 run that took the team to a 13-4 lead. The Canadians kept adding to the difference taking full advantage of the Boricuas poor 32% efficiency from the field and running quick transition for easy baskets. Puerto Rico had a better performance in the fourth quarter and cut the difference to 9 points. Cashius McNeilly put on the hero cap for the Canadians and while on the way to a 23-point performance, the shooting guard secured the win for the North Americans.

USA will face Canada for the FIBA U16 Americas title, after a 121-49 Semi-Final win against Argentina. USA came out hot and ready with a 9-0 run. Argentina discounted from the difference, but the USA stepped on the pedal and won the first half handily with a 50-point difference, 71-21. Shooting for a 60% from the field and scoring 70 of their points from the pain, the USA never relaxed and kept playing at their usual high level, to secure the win and the qualification to the Final of the FIBA U16 Americas Championship. The top performer for the USA was Scott Barnes Jr., who added 20 points in the win.

Tomorrow on the last day of the FIBA U16 Americas Championship:

7th place game - Paraguay vs. Venezuela
5th place game – Mexico vs. Dominican Republic
Bronze-Medal Match – Puerto Rico vs. Argentina
Gold-Medal Match – Canada vs. USA

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