JAKARTA (AFP) — Canada dumped defending champions Spain out of the Basketball World Cup in the second round on Sunday, Sept. 3, while Italy, Serbia and tournament sensation Latvia also advanced to the quarterfinals.
The United States suffered its first loss of the tournament at the hands of Lithuania, but both teams had already qualified along with Germany and Slovenia.
The US will play Italy in the last eight, while Lithuania will face Serbia, Germany takes on Latvia and Slovenia plays Canada.
The US and Canada also qualified for the Paris Olympics as the two highest-placed teams from the Americas, with Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Brazil all bowing out.
Spain and Canada went perfect through the group stage with three wins, but both were on the end of shock defeats when the second round got underway.
That set them up for a winner-takes-all head-to-head clash in Jakarta, and it was Canada who were left standing after a dramatic 88-85 win.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished as the game’s top scorer with 30 points, said “our group wanted it a little bit more”.
Spain was 10 points in front at halftime and increased their lead by two at the end of the third quarter, but Canada came storming back.
Thirteen of Gilgeous-Alexander’s points came in the decisive fourth quarter, and teammate Dillon Brooks helped out with 22 overall.
Spain head coach Sergio Scariolo said he “couldn’t be prouder” of his team but lamented their failure to stop Gilgeous-Alexander.
Latvia joined Canada in the quarterfinals after thrashing Brazil. 104-84.
Latvia is making its World Cup debut and have already beaten Spain and Tokyo Olympics silver medalists France at the tournament.
Italy beat Puerto Rico, 73-57, to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 1998.
Serbia beat the Dominican Republic 112-79 to advance, getting back on track after a surprise loss to Italy in their previous game.
Lithuania is now the tournament’s only unbeaten team after they beat the US, 110-104 to hand the Americans their first loss.
A furious second-half US comeback was not enough to stop a Lithuania team that nailed their first nine three-point attempts.
US head coach Steve Kerr said the Americans would have to start sharper in the quarterfinals.
Germany beat Slovenia, 100-71, in a game between two teams who had already qualified for the quarterfinals.
In games between teams who had already been eliminated, Australia beat Georgia, 100-84, and Montenegro beat Greece, 73-69
