U-19 Mens World Championship - Canada takes Seventh Place

Yesterday's scores:

U.S. 71 France 55
Egypt 95 Iran 91
Canada 99 Syria 53
Argentina 98 Kazakhstan 69
Greece 107 Puerto Rico 98
Australia 69 Spain 62
Lithuania 104 Angola 46
Croatia 79 New Zealand 72

Canada dropped their second game of the first round yesterday to Spain by a score of 82-75.

This places them in a group with Kazakhstan (upset winners over New Zealand), Croatia and Argentina but their losses to Spain and Australia carry over.

They will have to beat one of Croatia and Argentina (and of course Kazakhstan) to make it through to the Championship side.

They have their work cut out for them!

Yesterday's scores:

U.S. 112 Egypt 55
Australia 96 Syria 54
Puerto Rico 86 Angola 49
Croatia 75 Argentina 63
France 86 Iran 68
Spain 82 Canada 75
Lithuania 85 Greece 70
Kazakhstan 90 New Zealand 83

Next up: Croatia and they are 3-0.

A loss would put us in a very deep hole!

It could all come down to do-or-die vs. Argentina!

The losses to Australia and Spain carry over into this round.

Even if we come through we are looking at a possible matchup with the U.S. or maybe Lithuania in the quarters.

Its tough but that's where we have landed ourselves.

Canada lost to Croatia today by 6. 3 Point Shooting was the difference: Croatia 12/31, Canada 5/15= 21 point difference. T.Thompson did not play, assume his ankle from previous game. C.Joseph 24, M.Arop 22 were the leading scores. Close game, but still a loss.

We must win both our remaining games to have any chance of making it through. Even so it appears we would be fourth and face the U.S. in an elimination game.

Kazakhstan is our next opponent.

Was waiting for this game vs. Croatia... to get a bit of a grip on how good Canada might be and where some of our players stand... in particular Tristan T.

Now here's a guy, Mario Delas, a finesse power forward from Split Croatia. If he was Canadian... the hype machine would be in overdrive i.e. he would be destined as a lottery pick blah blah blah.

Mario is 19, and has played pro ball for a couple of years now. He comes from the same city as Roko Ukic, Toni Kukoc, and Dino Radja... and is playing for the same pro team these guys played for. This same pro team has won 2 Euroleague titles. This same pro team competes in the Adriatic basketball league which might be the third best league in Europe.

Too bad Tristan didn't play. He woulda been matched up against Mario. Woulda been a great test for TT. Last I saw the stats, Mario was the leading scorer of the tournament.

Mario is long stretch to make the NBA... might get drafted in the second round and never make it over.

Not to take anything away from our kids like TT... but Mario is already a man with pro experiences that some of our boys down there will never get a taste of.

So kids... keep the hype in check!

Argentina beat Spain yesterday. The margin was 92-75.

Looks like a very difficult matchup for Canada.

Hopefully we can make it to the quarters if not we would be playing for 9-12 classification.

Other scores:
Classification (13-16)
Angola 62 Iran 53
New Zealand 93 Syria 75

Eight-final-round
Croatia 83 Canada 77
Argentina 92 Spain 75
Puerto Rico 90 France 89
Australia 87 Kazakhstan 54
Lithuania 94 Egypt 73
U.S. 85 Greece 69

As might be expected Canada convincingly demolished Kazakhstan 108-70 but they need to beat Argentina today to make it to the quarter-finals.

Yesterday's scores:

13-16 Classification:

Iran 93 Syria 53
New Zealand 62 Angola 54

Eight Final Round:

Croatia 91 Spain 72
Australia 76 Argentina 65
Greece 100 Egypt 59
France upset Lithuania 95-78
USA over Puerto Rico 82-16
Canada 108 Kazakhstan 70

End of Fiurst Quarte, Canada 21 - Argentia 17. T. Thompson is playing although only 4 minutes. C. Joseph is carrying the load, full 10 minutes and 10 points.

Canada leads 36-34 at the half!

At the half, it is Canada 36 - Argentia 34 C Joseph with 12pts, M Arop 8pts. Very close, one Argentinan starter has 3 fouls, might help?

Well Canada beat Argentina.

As it stands... Spain Argentina and Canada finish with a 3-3 record.

4 teams from the group advance.

Not sure what decides the tie breaker... but if it's head to head point differential against the three tied teams then Canada is behind Argentina and ahead of Spain... meaning they would advance... and if it's overall point differential then Canada is ahead of both Argentina and Spain.

So it looks good UNLESS I missed something... which I certainly don't hope I did.

Way to go boys... keep pluggin away.