2014 FIBA U17 World Championships: Final Day

Team USA had its toughest test of the tournament, but the Americans buckled down to work and passed with flying colors. In the end, Team USA defended its U17 crown and pocketed a rare FIBA World three-peat at the expense of a very gritty Australian five.

Malik Newman is named the tournament's MVP after leading
Team USA to a rare FIBA World three-peat.

SCORES & RECAPS:

Final Day:

2014 FIBA U17 World Championships: Day Six

Let’s do it all over again! Australia put together a magical comeback to beat Spain in overtime and will square off against the United States in Saturday's Final of the 2014 FIBA U17 World Championship after the two-time reigning undefeated champions were given a real fight against Serbia before prevailing.

The Aussies and Americans battled in the 2012 FIBA U17 Worlds final with the USA winning 95-62 for a second crown.

Top: Team USA celebrates after defeating Serbia.
Bottom: Australia mounts a late rally to pull the rug from under Spain.

SCORES & RECAPS:

Day Six:

2014 FIBA U17 World Championships: Day Five

The fifth day of the 2014 FIBA U17 World Championships in Dubai, UAE saw Serbia book its first-ever spot in the last four at a FIBA U17 World Championship as it knocked off Canada to set up a semifinal showdown against the two-time undefeated reigning champions United States on Friday, while Australia will take on Spain in the other semifinal.

Paul Desiderio and the rest of Batang Gilas just couldn't
topple the mighty Argentines.

SCORES & RECAPS:

Day Five:

2014 FIBA U17 World Championships: Day Four

The fourth day of the 2014 FIBA U17 World Championships in Dubai, UAE saw the Chinese upset the Italians even as Team USA, Canada, and France cruised to the quarterfinals.

Scenes of triumph and anguish are on full display in the
2014 FIBA U17 World Championships in Dubai, UAE.

SCORES & RECAPS:

Day Four:

USA over JAPAN, 122-38

Box Scores here.

- Team USA raced past Japan and barged into the quarterfinals with ease. Jayson Tatum’s 19 points paced six American players in double-figures, while Diamond Stone had 14 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 blocks. Rui Hachimura was the lone bright spot for Japan with 25 markers. The Americans face the last surviving Asian squad, China, in the next round, while Japan battles Italy in the classification wars.

2014 FIBA U17 World Championships: Day Three

The third day of the 2014 FIBA U17 World Championships in Dubai, UAE saw the Americans outclass Batang Gila even as the Round of Sixteen pairings were set in stone.

Diamond Stone (left) and the rest of Team USA had little trouble
getting by Jolo Mendoza (right) and Batang Gilas.

SCORES & RECAPS:

Day Three:

FRANCE over JAPAN, 96-51

FRA 96 - Denis 24, Ponsar 19, Noua 14, Jeanne 11, Loubaki 5, Gombauld 5, Labanere 4, Hergott 4, Hufschmidt 4, Lebeouf 3, Bengaber 3

JPN 51 - Hachimura 27, Maki 7, Hiraiwa 5, Muto 4, Hayashi 2, Igarashi 2, Nomi 2, Nnanna 2, Maeta 0, Taira 0, Kono 0, Gunji 0

QS: 22-12, 49-25, 76-39, 96-51

- France moved up to 2 wins and 1 loss after blasting Japan, thanks mainly to the 14-point, 12-rebound double-double of Amine Noua. Coach Frederic Crapez also enjoyed great production from his wingmen as Gauthier Denis and Carl Ponsar combined for 6 triples and 43 markers. Japan, which remained winless in three outings, was paced by the 27 points and 8 rebounds of Rui Hachimura, who has been Team Hayabusa’s lone bright spot in this tourney.

2014 FIBA U17 World Championships: Day Two

The second day of the 2014 FIBA U17 World Championships in Dubai, UAE continued seeing the favorites win even as unheralded Puerto Rico claimed another European victim in Italy.

Day Two of the FIBA U17 World Championships had great action.

SCORES & RECAPS:

Day Two:

PUERTO RICO over ITALY, 58-51

PUR 58 – Toro 20, Allende 13, Gandia 11, Ebube 6, Texeira 4, Cruz 2, Pacheco 1, Torres 1, Moya 0, Rivera F 0, Rivera L 0, Washington 0

ITA 51 – Tote 16, Costa 15, Bucarelli 6, Pecchia 5, La Torre 4, Bolpin 3, Moretti 1, Cattapan 1, Savoldelli 0, Vercellino 0, Cesana 0, Nwohuocha 0

QS: 13-13, 27-27, 44-37, 58-51,

This was a close game all throughout, but, in the end, Italy just had no answer for 6’9 Arnaldo Toro, who had 20 points, 14 rebounds, and 1 steal in 26 minutes. He struggled from the field, shooting just 6/13, but he made up for that by making 8 of his 10 free throws. Ivan Gandia and Leandro Allende backed him up with a combined 24 points while Italy was paced by Leonardo Tote and Valerio Costa, who had 16 and 15 points respectively. Coach Daniel Ortiz’s wards outrebounded Italy, 48-39, and they had more second-chance points, 17-9.