The tournament's two unbeaten heavyweights met for gold, and it was Canada who blinked last. In a final that hung on every possession, Canada edged the United States 67-65 to win the FIBA U18 AmeriCup title, handing the Americans their only defeat of the championship on the very last day.
Neither side ever led by double digits, the lead changed hands 13 times, and the United States were in front for more than 25 of the 40 minutes. But with USA clinging to a 65-62 lead inside the final 90 seconds, Deng Ngor (207-F-2008) took over: the forward buried a three-pointer with 1:27 left to level it, then scored in the paint at 1:01 to put Canada ahead for good. He had all five of Canada's points in the decisive stretch as the Americans went cold, managing one field goal and two costly turnovers.
Javion Tyndale (182-PG-2008) was magnificent running the show, finishing with 19 points, eight assists, three rebounds and three steals, and converting 5-of-6 free throws down the stretch. Ngor added 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting, and Maxime Meyer (216-C-2008) stuffed the defensive sheet with five steals, three blocks and six rebounds. Darius Wabbington (209-C-2008) led USA with 11 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals, but the Americans could not find a basket when they needed one most.
The bronze-medal game produced the day's wildest swing. Brazil, beaten in the semifinals, erased a 19-point second-quarter deficit to stun Puerto Rico 83-77. Trailing 77-74 inside the final three minutes, Brazil closed on a 9-0 run, with Isaiah Santos (190-SG-2008) tying it and then giving them the lead for good on a turnaround in the paint with 1:24 left. Joao Neves (200-SF-2008) (21 points, 10 rebounds, five threes) and Pedro Souza (192-G/F-2008) (21 points) led the charge, while Pietro Melo (185-G-2008) added 15 with five three-pointers. Felipe Quinones (198-G-2008) paced Puerto Rico with 16 points, five rebounds and six assists but was shut out in the closing minutes.
In the classification games, Argentina pulled away from Venezuela 72-58 to finish fifth, behind 15 points and a decisive third-quarter surge from Manuel Hernandez (190-G-2008), with Benjamin Pettovello (204-PF-2008) and Joaquin Celiz (195-G-2008) each adding 11. Venezuela, led by Jose Lara's 13 points and nine rebounds, settled for sixth. In the seventh-place game, the Dominican Republic routed Mexico 111-73 behind a brilliant all-around night from Antonio Pemberton (183-PG-2008) (22 points, nine assists, five steals) and a near triple-double from Marlon Martinez (14 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists, three blocks). Yair Olano (192-G-2009)'s 17 led Mexico, who finished eighth.