CIUDAD JUAREZ (Mexico) - On Day 2 of the FIBA U16 AmeriCup, the United States and Canada dominated their respective opponents, the Dominican Republic and Brazil, while Puerto Rico edged out a dramatic win over Venezuela to remain the three undefeated teams (2-0) in the tournament taking place at the UACJ University Gymnasium in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. Meanwhile, Argentina closed out the day’s action with a win over host nation Mexico to notch its first victory. Here’s a recap of Day 2:
PUR 68 - 67 VEN
A dramatic game-winning three-pointer by Eduyn Albino with just one second left on the clock gave Puerto Rico a stunning victory over Venezuela, securing their second win in Group B.
Puerto Rico held a 65-60 lead with 1:16 remaining in the fourth quarter, but Venezuela responded with a 7-0 run, taking a 67-65 advantage with just 21 seconds to play. After a timeout, Dwight Gaines missed a go-ahead three-pointer, and Venezuela regained possession with 10 seconds left. However, Puerto Rico used its last foul to give, and on the subsequent play, forced a critical turnover. With just five seconds left, Albino nailed a sensational buzzer-beater over a Venezuelan defender, completing the comeback and sealing the win. Gaines led all scorers with 23 points, including five three-pointers, while Albino contributed 10 points and 9 rebounds, narrowly missing a double-double and delivering the decisive basket.
For Venezuela, who stayed competitive through physical defense and hustle plays, standout performances came from Santiago Gines (15 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist) and Deiker Torres (12 points, 7 assists, 3 steals, 2 rebounds).
CAN 111 - 73 BRA
Isaiah Hamilton scored 33 points to power Canada past Brazil earning their second straight win in Group B. After a tight first quarter that ended tied at 21, Canada pulled away with a dominant offensive display. Hamilton was unstoppable from long range, hitting 5 of 8 from beyond the arc (63%) and adding 7 rebounds and 2 assists to his performance.
Canada also benefited from strong all-around games by Liam Mitakaro (16 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals) and Noah D’Acre (12 points), outmatching Brazil in nearly every statistical category. Despite a strong start, Brazil couldn’t keep pace with Canada’s tempo and firepower. Luigi Borio (12 points, 8 rebounds) and Lucas Moro (12 points) were the top contributors for the South American squad.
USA 111 - 54 DOM
The United States had no trouble dominating another opponent, this time the Dominican Republic, as they secured their second win in Group A and extended their historic unbeaten streak in this tournament to 45-0.
The American offense was well-balanced, with six players scoring in double figures. Clarence Rosser Jr. led the way with 17 points and posted a game-high efficiency rating of 26. The forward recorded a double-double with 10 rebounds, along with 3 blocks and 2 steals. Other standout scorers for Team USA included Colton Hiller (16), Anthony Williams (14), Nasir Anderson (14), Mason Collins (13), and Erick Dampier Jr. (12). The Dominican Republic gave a committed effort but couldn’t match the size and athleticism of the Americans. Jayden Núñez led the Caribbean squad with 12 points and 3 rebounds, while Erick Domínguez added 10 more points.
ARG 77 - 52 MEX
In the final game of the day, Argentina came out with intensity, using fast-paced offense and capitalizing on Mexico’s turnovers to build an early lead that they managed to hold for the rest of the game, securing a convincing win and their first triumph of the tournament. Facundo Mathieu, Enzo Roth, and Benito Lavrut led the charge for the Albiceleste squad, which not only ran the floor efficiently (22 fast break points) but also shot exceptionally well from beyond the arc (6-of-13 for 46%).
Mathieu stood out as the game’s top performer, posting 21 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals. Roth was lethal from long range, scoring 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting from three. Lavrut added 12 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. Luca Balducci led the way for Mexico, who tried to comeback by winning the third quarter (21-13), with 14 points, followed by Yahir Olano with 13.
Top Performers - Day 2
Isaiah Hamilton (CAN) PTS: 32 | 3PT FG: 5-8 | REB: 7 | AST: 2 | STL: 2 | EFF: 33 Clarence Rosser Jr. (USA) PTS: 17 | REB: 10 | AST: 1 | STL: 2 | BLK: 3 | EFF: 26 Nasir Anderson (USA) PTS: 14 | FG: 6-11 | REB: 4 | AST: 6 | STL: 5 | EFF: 23 Santiago Gines (VEN) PTS: 15 | FG: 7-10 | REB: 9 | AST: 1 | STL: 2 | EFF: 22 Liam Mitakaro (CAN) PTS: 16 | FG: 7-17 | REB: 6 | AST: 5 | STL: 5 | EFF: 18
Upcoming games
Wednesday, June 4 (Group Phase - Day 3):
Puerto Rico vs. Canada - 12:30 p.m. (local time) Venezuela vs. Brazil - 3:00 p.m. Argentina vs. United States - 5:30 p.m. Mexico vs. Dominican Republic - 8:00 p.m.
FIBA