FIBA U17 - Argentina, Canada square off for fifth place

KAUNAS (2012 FIBA U17 World Championship) – Argentina and Canada will face off for fifth place at the 2012 FIBA U17 World Championship after knocking off Czech Republic and China, respectively.

Gabriel Deck collected 28 points and 9 rebounds as Argentina beat the Czechs 78-70 with Rodrigo Haag scoring 16 points and Alvaro Merlo adding 10 points and 6 assists.

The Czechs were led by Radovan Kouril with 12 points, 9 assists, 5 assists and 3 steals while Martin Peterka had 13 points and 8 rebounds.

Argentina, who finished ninth at the inaugural FIBA U17 World Championship in 2010, will play against Canada for fifth place. They faced off in Group B play with Canada winning 80-76.

Canada, who took bronze in Hamburg, Germany two years ago, reached the fifth-place game with a 68-64 win over China as Justin Jackson collected 23 points, 7 rebounds, 5 steals and 2 blocks while Kevin Zabo had 18 points and 6 rebounds.

China, who will face the Czechs for seventh place, were paced by Zhou Qi’s 21 points, 10 rebounds, 8 blocks, 3 steals and 2 assists, while Guo Xiao Peng had 21 points. With a win, China would match their placing in the tournament from 2010.

FIBA