Canada and USA dominate, Puerto Rico and Argentina celebrate wins on Day 2

ST CATHARINES (FIBA U18 Americas Championship 2018) – Day 2 of the FIBA U18 Americas Championship 2018 saw Canada, Puerto Rico and USA add second win, as Argentina celebrated a win for the first time in the continental championship.

Canada extended its FIBA U18 Americas Championship 2018 record to 2-0 after a 115-75 win over Ecuador. The Canadians dominated every category of the stats, in a game where every Canadian player added points to the score. Patterson and Lawson led the way for the home team with 20 points each. The Canadians shot for a 53% from the field. Ecuador was led offensively by 22 points from Edward Sanchez.

In a Caribbean showdown, Puerto Rico defeated the Dominican Republic 108-94, to extend the team’s record to 2-0. Puerto Rico took control of the scoreboard thanks to an efficient 57% from the field. With 7 players scoring in the double digits, the Boricuas took distance on the scoreboard. With a three-point show from Lester Quinonez, who had 31 points in the game, the Dominicans cut from the difference but the Boricuas maintained safe distance on the scoreboard. Conditt and Rosa led the way for the Puerto Ricans with 18 points each.

In a rematch of the South American U17 Championship 2017 Final, this time it was Argentina who celebrated over Chile following a 76-66 win. The lead on the score changed throughout the first three quarters as both teams battled evenly. Argentina found a slight lead on the rebounding battle and took full advantage with 17 second chance points. With a 23-12 fourth quarter, the Argentinians secured the win. Francisco Caffaro was the leading force for the Argentinians on both sides of the court with 20 points and 15 rebounds.

USA extended to a 2-0 record, following a dominant and impressive 118-26 win over Panama. The team coached by Bill Self established a commanding lead from the get-go and went into halftime with a 70-8 lead. The difference kept growing as the USA kept the subs coming. USA marked its dominance in every aspect of the game and celebrated the win. Every player from the USA added points to the win, and Armando Bacot led the way with 17 points.

Tomorrow on the last day of the Group Phase, Ecuador will face Argentina, the Dominican Republic will take-on Panama, Puerto Rico will match-up against USA and Chile will have a hard task on-hand in a match-up against the host, Canada.

FIBA