SANTA FE (FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2018) - For the first time in history the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup Final will pit the FIBA Americas U16 champion against the U16 European winners as United States will face France looking for their fifth straight trophy.

France v USA

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France were the first to book their ticket to the Final dance at Union Athletic Club with a 78-73 victory over Puerto Rico to secure their maiden spot on the U17 World Cup podium.  The four-time reigning champions United States followed suit by dominating the second half in a 120-71 blowout of Canada in the second Semi-Final.

The France v United States Final will be the third title bout of Don Showalter’s North Americans against a European side. But neither 2010 runners-up Poland nor 2016 finalists Turkey had won the U16 European crown the summer before.  France will be facing the United States for the second time in the U17 World Cup history following the Americans’ 86-50 win in the Group Phase in 2012.

The two teams did actually meet up just 11 days ago in a pre-tournament scrimmage. United States blew out France 82-46, forcing 30 France turnovers and holding them to 27 percent shooting. Vernon Carey Jr had 14 points in that game to pace four Americans in double figures, and USA held the French trio of Malcolm Cazalon, Killian Hayes and Theo Maledon to just 6-of-30 shooting.

Stopping those three French will be once again the key as they have been the team's main producers, accounting for 56 percent of the team's scoring, 64 percent of the assists, 53 percent of its steals and blocks and 34 percent of France's rebounds. The game will have special meaning for Hayes, given that the French star was born in the USA.

The production for the United States meanwhile comes from everywhere with 10 players averaging at least 8.0 points, paced by Jalen Green, who averages 16.5 points in the tournament and has been red-hot, scoring 52 points in the last two games. Scott Barnes has tallied 48 points in the last three games after hitting for just 6 points in his first two contests.  

Puerto Rico v Canada

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The 3rd Place Game will be a showdown of FIBA Americas teams as Puerto Rico will be looking to gain their first-ever podium finish while Canada would love to add a 2018 third placed to the third place from 2010.

FIBA