Byes for the Unbeaten: USA and Canada Finish 3-0 as Group Play Wraps in Leon

The group phase of the FIBA U18 AmeriCup ended Thursday the way it began, with the United States and Canada looking a class apart. Both finished a perfect 3-0 atop their groups, and under the tournament's new format that means both skip straight to the semifinals while the rest of the field scraps through the quarterfinals for the two remaining spots.
The United States sealed top billing in Group A with an 84-62 dismantling of Brazil, leading after every quarter and pulling away with a 12-0 third-quarter burst. Bruce Branch III (201-G-2008) dominated the glass with 12 points and 14 rebounds, Quentin Coleman (193-F/G-2008) posted a 15-point, 12-rebound double-double, and Davion Thompson (187-G-2008) led all scorers with 16 on 6-of-9 shooting. Isaiah Santos paced Brazil with 16. The win moved the Americans, chasing an eighth straight continental crown, to a perfect 12-0 all-time against Brazil in U18 play.
Canada matched them with the day's most emphatic statement, crushing Puerto Rico 101-48. After Stefan Ilic (206-PF-2008) tied the game at 3-3 in the opening minutes, Canada ripped off a 21-0 run and never looked back. Maxime Meyer (216-C-2008) was again everywhere, stuffing the sheet with 12 points, 13 rebounds and three dunks for a game-high +29 in just over 18 minutes. Abdul-Malik Olajuwon scored a team-high 15 on 6-of-8 shooting, and Deng Ngor (207-F-2008) orchestrated with nine points and nine assists. Derick Salaberrios (193-F-2008) led Puerto Rico with 13.
The two qualifying spots came down to a pair of nervy finishes. The Dominican Republic edged Venezuela 74-68 in a back-and-forth Group B battle, with Marlon Martinez (198-SF-2008) taking over late. Martinez scored nine of his 27 points inside the final stretch, including the go-ahead three-pointer with 2:14 left, to overcome a Venezuela side that had led for much of the night. Luis Valdez (187-F-2009) added 14 and Antonio Pemberton (183-PG-2008) chipped in 10 points and six assists. Kevin Gutierrez (196-G/F-2009) was sensational for Venezuela with 25 points on 10-of-14 shooting but was held scoreless when it counted.
Argentina, meanwhile, did it again. A day after erasing a 14-point deficit against Brazil, they overturned another 14-point hole this time against Mexico to win 66-63. Down 60-56 midway through the fourth, Argentina closed on a 10-0 run, sparked by Gonzalo Aman (190-G-2008) and punctuated by clutch threes from Aman and Joaquin Celiz (195-G-2008). Manuel Hernandez (190-G-2008) was the engine with 18 points on 6-of-11 from deep. Isaiah Barnes did everything he could for Mexico 19 points, eight rebounds, five assists but was shut out down the stretch.
With the group phase complete, the bracket is set: group winners USA and Canada wait in the semifinals, while the crossover quarterfinals pit Argentina against Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic against Brazil. Mexico and Venezuela, the two last-place finishers, drop into the classification games for fifth through eighth.