MANAGUA (Nicaragua) – The 20th edition of the FIBA AmeriCup concluded with Brazil crowned as champions after defeating Argentina in the final. It was the fifth title in history for the Brazilians, who came into the tournament as strong contenders. Some teams surprised, like Argentina. Despite entering as the defending champions, they fielded a young roster and were not initially expected to contend for a medal. Meanwhile, other squads that looked strong on paper failed to meet expectations. With the curtain falling in Nicaragua, let’s review which national teams delivered and which ones fell flat.
Brazil
Record: 5-1 After dominating its group in the Qualifiers with most of the roster that qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics, the Verdeamarela leaned on defense to capture the crown. The loss to the United States in the Group Phase slightly weakened the team’s momentum heading into the Playoffs. But coach Aleksandar Petrovic later admitted his squad eased up to avoid a potential early rematch. The plan worked, as Brazil beat the U.S. in the Semi-Finals before avenging Argentina in the Final.
Argentina
Record: 4-2 The Argentinians were the tournament’s biggest revelation. With a youthful roster that few pegged as medal contenders, the Albiceleste stunned Puerto Rico in the Quarter-Finals and reached the championship game. The run signals a promising future for the team heading into the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Qualifiers.
United States
Record: 4-2 The Americans are always title contenders, and although they fell short of gold, the bronze medal is still a solid result for a squad that came together barely a week and a half before the tournament. That makes it two straight bronzes for the Stars and Stripes. If the team wants to reclaim gold in the future, they’ll need to take action as the talent level across the region continues to rise.
Canada
Record: 4-2 Canada once again came up short in the tournament. Among the region’s powerhouses, this remains the only team to have never won the tournament. The Canadians had two active NBA players on their roster, but still failed to secure a medal. They entered the playoffs with the best statistical profile in the field, only to fall to the U.S. in the bronze-medal game. Their wait for a first AmeriCup title continues.
Dominican Republic
Record: 3-1 The Dominicans were undone by their temperament. The fallout after their Group Phase win over Argentina proved costly. The two-game suspension of David Jones-García (one of the in-form players of the tournament) was a devastating blow, as the forward was unavailable for the Quarter-Final against Brazil. Then, in that very game— Jean Montero, another key figure, was ejected for striking an opponent, and from there the team unraveled. They entered the tournament looking like medal contenders but ended up empty-handed.
Puerto Rico
Record: 2-2 Puerto Rico also left a sour impression. With NBA guard José Alvarado as the team’s leader, expectations were high for a medal push. However, they were upset by the young Argentine squad in the Quarter-Finals. That game went to overtime, where the Puerto Ricans ran out of steam, and an injury to Alvarado during the extra period was a crushing blow. Looking at the full picture— their only wins came against Panama and Venezuela, which were the two weakest teams in the tournament. The team that looked like a medal threat instead left empty-handed.
Uruguay
Record: 2-2 Uruguay’s performance was one of the pleasant surprises. Drawn into the toughest group, the team held its own and even defeated the United States for the first time in 24 years. They met the Americans again in the Quarter-Finals, but the odds didn’t favor them the second time around. Overall, they showed a well-connected team executing their balanced play and young core under coach Gerardo Jauri to point to brighter days.
Colombia
Record: 1-3 Colombia advanced past the Group Phase for the first time in its three AmeriCup appearances, marking its best-ever result despite missing several key players. The highlight for Tomás Díaz’s squad was a comeback win over host nation Nicaragua, silencing the home crowd. That victory sent them through to the next round. They also put up a strong fight against Argentina, only losing on a last-second shot.
Venezuela
Record: 1-2 Venezuela arrived with a rebuilt team and low expectations. The team stood no chance against Canada and Puerto Rico in the Group Phase, but managed to win the game they had to—against Panama, the weakest opponent in their pool and in the tournament overall.
Nicaragua
Record: 0-3 Although the hosts couldn’t deliver the long-awaited home win, they showed promise and plenty of room for growth. Their performances against Colombia and the Dominican Republic were very encouraging. Norchad Omier was a true sensation, finishing with the highest efficiency rating and putting up unprecedented numbers. This includes a 30-point, 20-rebound double-double against Colombia.
Bahamas
Record: 0-3
Bahamas suffered two major absences: Kai Jones (injury) and Tavario Miller (contractual obligations). Although they went winless, they were far from easy prey. The United States needed overtime to defeat them, the first half against Brazil was tightly contested, and they were neck-and-neck with Uruguay until the final three minutes. With a bit more luck, the outcome could have been different. This AmeriCup was another step in their growth process. Remember, just a year ago with their NBA players available, they were one win away from qualifying for the Olympic Games.
Panama
Record: 0-3 The Central Americans fielded a very young team, which head coach Gonzalo García described as essentially amateur—except for Trevor Gaskins. Their main goal was to give experience to their young players, with no real competitive aspirations. Even so, they battled to the end in their matchup against Venezuela.
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