Dubai: Two-time defending champions USA will meet Australia in the final of the 2014 Fiba U17 World Championship at the Hamdan Sports Complex on Saturday.

The USA, winners of the previous two editions of this age group competition in 2010 and 2012, weathered off a stiff challenge from Serbia 89-68, while Australia set up a repeat of the 2012 championship final against the defending champions USA with a pulsating 80-74 over-time win over European champions Spain in the second semi-final played later on Friday.

In the first semi-final, there was no question of the Americans’ superiority from the start as they took a 24-16 lead by the end of the opening quarter. But then they seemed to slip into a complacent mode as the Serbians opened out and started finding the basket at regular intervals for an Aranitovic charity shot tying the two teams 28-28.

Egged on by the crowd, the underdogs took the lead for the very first time as Stefan Peno found his triple sail in effortlessly to move 31-29 clear. However, the USA dug in deep and managed to walk off for the half-time break with a three-point cushion 39-36.

The third quarter was subdued with the Americans pulling away 59-48 to finally walk away with a 21-point difference in the end.

In the second semi-final, Spain took the Australians by surprise with an early burst that saw them go clear 9-0 with just three minutes gone in the first quarter. But the steady Issac Humphries got a couple along with a charity for Australia’s five points.

After that initial flurry, the match took a more sober shape as last-time runners-up started finding their rhythm. But the Spaniards kept the pressure on and started dominating under the basket to lead 43-32 at half-time.

However, the 2012 silver medalists were far from over with Harry Froling, Dejan Vasiljevic and Humphries coming up with 10, 9 and 7 points to draw nearer 45-51 and three minutes left in the third period. But Spain managed to hold on dearly with six points separating them 55-49.

The final period was a true gutsy display from both teams with Australia doing well to match their European opponents and coming within two points (65-67) with the last 19.8 seconds remaining.

It was at this juncture that captain Tom Wilson rose to the occasion with two quick baskets to draw the two teams level 67-67 with 8.7 seconds left on the clock to finally force the first over-time of this tournament.

With momentum on their side, Australia weathered away any small threat put up by the Europeans with the classy Humphries in full flow with nine points to win at a canter 80-74 for a repeat of the 2012 final held in Kaunas, Lithuania.

Meanwhile, Canada will meet Puerto Rico in their last match of this competition to decide who ends fifth. Puerto Rico, who were shock winners against losing semi-finalists Spain on the opening day, trailed France in three quarters before coming alive in the final period for a 70-63 win.

Saturday is the final day of the competition and all places will be decided. The classification games from Position 9 to 16 will be held at the Al Shabab Club, while the top eight teams will be in action at the Hamdan Sports Complex.

Hosts the UAE will be up against the Philippines to decide who ends at the bottom of the 16-team competition.