Fast-starting Brazil clinch Pan Am gold; USA down Dominicans for bronze after stunning comeback

TORONTO (2015 Pan American Games/2015 FIBA Americas Championship) - Brazil are in celebration mode after beating hosts Canada in the Final of the Pan American Games.

Rafael Hettsheimeir, Larry Taylor and Augusto Lima poured in 13 points apiece as the South Americans won the title game, 86-71.

The USA bounced back from their overtime defeat to Canada in the Semi-Finals and edged the Dominican Republic, 87-82, to finish third.

In an incredible game, the Americans battled back from a 21-point deficit in the third quarter to stun the Dominicans.

In a Final battle of unbeatens, Brazil stormed out of the gate and drilled five first-quarter three-pointers en route to a 26-13 lead.

Ruben Magnano's team stretched their advantage to 48-29 by half-time, with their defense playing well and the Canadians shooting just eight of 35 from the floor in the first two quarters, including two of 14 from long range.

Canada, who fell behind by 25 in the third quarter, trimmed the deficit to 67-54 by the end of the frame and managed to pull to within six points but got no closer.

Brazil have now captured the gold medal at the Pan American Games six times.

This summer's achievement is just what the country was looking for as it builds momentum for the FIBA Americas Championship in Mexico City (31 August-12 September) and also next year's Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

It's an important step for Brazilian basketball. - Magnano

"Today [Saturday], the national team won a title," Brazil coach Ruben Magnano said.

"But we had already shown at the London Olympics [2012] and Spain's World Cup [2014] an important image for basketball.

"I am very happy with what the national team is doing.

"When we left Brazil, we talked about the dream of winning a medal.

"And I'm happy also with the image left by the staff, a solid game, collectively."

Brazil had not shown up with their strongest team at the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship and lost all four of their games, but they received a wild card to play at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup and reached the Quarter-Finals.

Even then, Serbia humiliated them, ending their medal hopes in an 84-56 rout, leaving Brazil with a sixth-place finish.

Joao Paulo Batista of Brazil says the Pan American Games triumph is a huge source of pride.

"It was an unbelievable championship," he said.

"The team showed a very strong union and total commitment to each other, always with the support of the coaching staff.

"We entered knowing we could win this gold and we play totally focused with each of us making a contribution.

"The entire group is to be congratulated because we did an exceptional job."

For Canada, the ending was not what the players, coaches and fans had dreamed of.

But capturing a medal on home soil will be viewed positively.

While they captured a medal for the first time at a Pan American Games, there weren't any smiles after.

"We got smacked by a pretty good team in the first half," Canada coach Jay Triano said.

"I don't think we had the bounce that we've had in other games.

"I think we found it at half-time. Why it wasn't there at the beginning, I don't know."

"It's heartbreaking to not get gold but still we're the first group to ever do this," said Jamal Murray, the 18-year-old from Ontario who playing a starring role throughout the tournament.

"And we're proud of our accomplishment."

The USA carried a hangover from their Semi-Final defeat to Canada into the Third-Place Game but found the remedy just in time to reach the podium.

Tavrean Prince hit a game-tying three-pointer with 1:55 remaining to make it 81-81 and baskets from Damien Wilkins and Bobby Brown sealed the victory for the USA.

"It's one I'm going to remember for a while," Wilkins said of the comeback.

"That's what it is about, though.

"We came out, and we were shooting ourselves in the foot pretty much all game long, just making bone-head play after bone-head play.

"And then we fought. We just kept fighting."

Brown had 19 points and Wilkins 18 for the USA.

Seven of the eight countries in the Pan American Games men's tournament will have teams at the FIBA Americas Championship, where the sides that reach the Final will clinch places in the Olympics.

The teams that end up third, fourth and fifth will claim berths in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Go to fiba.com/Americas2015 for more coverage of the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship.

FIBA