CIUDAD JUAREZ (Mexico) - The curtain rose on Monday for the ninth edition of the FIBA U16 AmeriCup, where the top eight national teams from the continent will battle for glory at the UACJ University Gymnasium in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico — and one of four coveted spots at the 2026 FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup.
The United States, winners of all eight previous editions of the tournament, opened their campaign with a win over host nation Mexico. In the other Group A matchup, the Dominican Republic defeated Argentina. In Group B, Centrobasket U15 champions Puerto Rico earned a convincing victory over Brazil, while Canada edged past U15 South American champions Venezuela in a tightly contested game. During the Group Phase, each team will face every other team in its group to determine seeding for the Quarter-Finals. The matchups for that stage will be as follows: 1st A vs. 4th B, 2nd A vs. 3rd B, 2nd B vs. 3rd A, and 1st B vs. 4th A. The winners will move on to the Semi-Finals, then Semi-Finals winners will play for the championship and the losers battling for the bronze medal.
CAN 66 - 62 VEN
Team Canada secured their first win of the tournament in a thrilling contest that came down to the final minute against Venezuela.
Canada’s offense was more fluid in the first half, but Venezuela’s tenacious defense kept the game close. Despite trailing 28–23 at halftime, Venezuela remained within striking distance. The second half saw a shift in momentum, with Venezuela adjusting offensively and winning the third quarter. The lead changed hands multiple times, and with 6:55 left in the fourth quarter and the score tied at 47, Canada responded with a decisive 15–4 run to take an 11-point lead (62–51). With 2:22 remaining, the game looked all but over, until Venezuela stormed back with 11 unanswered points in just over a minute to tie it at 62–62. Isaiah Hamilton, came up clutch in the closing seconds, first assisting the go-ahead basket, then sealing the win with a key steal and a highlight-reel dunk.
Hamilton finished with a game-high 24 points, along with 4 rebounds and 4 steals. Isaiah Clarke also shined with a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds. For Venezuela, Julio Vásquez led the charge with 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 steals. Williams Anillo added 12 points and 6 rebounds, while Kevin Gutiérrez nearly posted a double-double with 9 points and 9 boards.
PUR 98 - 80 BRA
In the second matchup of the day, Puerto Rico, reigning FIBA U15 Centrobasket champion, dominated Brazil with a statement 18-point victory. Fueled by efficient offense and relentless defense, Puerto Rico shot 42% from the field, hit 14 three-pointers, and tallied 23 assists. They led from start to finish, also winning the rebounding battle 53–49 and forcing 16 steals.
Point guard Dwight Gaines made an immediate impact with 20 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals. Every Puerto Rico player scored in the game, with Yaddiel Sánchez (14), Alexis Fuentes (12), John Arroyo (11), and Luis Rosado (10) also reaching double figures. Brazil, despite their size advantage, struggled to establish dominance in the paint. Lucas Moro stood out with 22 points, 7 rebounds, 6 steals, and 3 assists.
DOM 91 - 76 ARG
The Dominican Republic pulled off a stunning comeback to earn their first tournament win, rallying from a 21-point deficit to defeat Argentina. After a rough first quarter, shooting just 20% (5-of-25), the Dominicans trailed heavily as Argentina capitalized on fast breaks and zone defense. But Dominican resilience showed through, as they clawed back into the game with offensive rebounds and second-chance points, trimming the deficit to just six at halftime (49–43). The second half belonged to Malvin Durán, who scored 24 of his 27 points in the final two quarters. He gave the Dominican Republic their first lead (64–62) with 2:20 left in the third quarter—a lead they never surrendered. The team dominated the glass with 21 offensive rebounds, converting them into 26 second-chance points.
Durán led all scorers with 27 points on 5-of-7 shooting from deep, along with 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals. Luis Valdez added a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds, while Brayner Pagán contributed 15 points and 9 boards. Argentina, meanwhile, struggled with the Dominican Republic’s physicality and shot just 48% from the free throw line (16-of-33). Tomás Sandes led the team with 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists.
USA 123 - 50 MEX
In the final game of the day, the United States had no trouble extending their undefeated tournament streak to 44 games with a dominant win over host Mexico.
USA rotated their lineup throughout the game, distributing their 123 points among 11 of the 12 players who saw action. Jordan Page led all scorers with 25 points in just 16 minutes on the court. Marcus Spears was also impressive, finishing with a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds. Diego Licon led Mexico with 11 points, while Yahir Olano added another 9.
Top Performers - Day 1
Lucas Moro (BRA) PTS: 22 | REB: 7 | AST: 3 | STL: 6 | BLK: 1 | EFF: 28 Jordan Page (USA) PTS: 25 | FG: 9-10 | REB: 3 | AST: 1 | EFF: 27 Malvin Durán (DOM) PTS: 27 | REB: 6 | AST: 4 | STL: 2 | EFF: 27 Dwight Gaines (PUR) PTS: 20 | REB: 6 | AST: 8 | STL: 3 | EFF: 25 Isaiah Clarke (CAN) PTS: 14 | FG: 5-7 | REB: 11 | STL: 1 | EFF: 24 Tomás Sandes (ARG) PTS: 22 | REB: 7 | AST: 3 | STL: 1 | EFF: 24
Upcoming games
Tuesday, June 3 (Group Phase - Day 2):
Puerto Rico vs. Venezuela - 12:30 p.m. (local time) Canada vs. Brazil - 3:00 p.m. United States vs. Dominican Republic - 5:30 p.m. Argentina vs. Mexico - 8:00 p.m.
FIBA