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Canada falls to USA in gold medal game, claims silver

U16 Men

/

Jun 12, 2023

Canada settled for silver at the FIBA U16 Men’s Americas Championship 2023, after a 118-36 loss to USA in the tournament’s gold medal game on Sunday night in Yucatán, Mexico.

The silver medal equaled Canada’ best ever finish at the tournament, winning the country’s fourth ever silver at the FIBA U16 Men’s Americas. Canada returned to the gold medal game for the first time since 2019, after 2021 seen its run of three consecutive silver medals snapped with a bronze medal performance. The podium finish continues Canada's run of medalling in every edition of the tournament since its instalment in 2009.

The loss put an end on a spectacular run at the tournament for Canada which seen them roll to five-straight victories, including a 3-0 group stage record, en route to reaching the gold medal game for the first time in four years.

After opening the game on a 5-0 run, unfortunately for Canada, it was nearly all USA from there. The Americans went on to win their eighth gold medal at the tournament, continuing their reign as the only country to ever win gold at the FIBA U16 Men’s Americas.

Forward Paul Osaruyi was named to the All-Star Five after finishing eighth in points per-game and seventh in rebounds per-game at the FIBA U16 Men’s Americas. 

Osaruyi joined Mikkel Tyne, Caleb Houstan, Ryan Nembhard as the four Canadians to be named to the All-Star Five since the 2019 tournament. Osaruyi also became the sixth Canadian to average 14+ points per-game at the tournament since 2015, joining Tyne, Houstan, Nembhard, Cashius McNeilly and RJ Barrett. 

Osaruyi had seven points and five rebounds in the game. Jordan Charles had a team-high eight points, while hauling in four rebounds. Elijah Patterson scored six points.

Despite the defeat, Canada’s second-place finish will ensure the country is among of four teams from the Americas that have qualified for the FIBA Men’s U17 Basketball World Cup next summer, which will take place in Turkey. Canada will be looking to improve on a ninth-place finish at the tournament in 2022.

After playing host to the FIBA U16 Men’s Americas Championship, Yucatán and Poliforum Zamná will now play host to the FIBA U16 Women’s Americas Championship, which begins Tuesday. Canada begins the tournament with a group stage matchup against Brazil. Tip off is scheduled for 5:00 pm ET / 2:00 pm PT.

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