Dubai: The top two teams from the last edition of the Fiba Under-17 World Basketball Championship all but confirmed their places in the 2014 knockout rounds with contrasting wins on the second day in Dubai on Saturday.
Two-time defending champions USA, who were tested by Greece before chalking up an 83-73 win late on Friday, came on strong to swamp debutants Angola 99-56, while 2012 runners-up Australia edged France 84-81.
“That was a heart-stopper and we are pleased to get the win,” Australian coach Mark Watkins told media after the narrow win.
With both Australia and France looking for their second wins, it was the Aussies who started strongly as they built a 21-18 advantage at the end of the opening period.
Australia briefly surrendered the lead in the first part of the second period as France went up 28-23, but Watkins’ ploy of bringing in Tom Wilson and Trent McMullan saw Australia fight back. At half-time, France held a slender one-point lead at 43-42.
Australia established a five-point lead early in the third quarter, but Carl Ponsar sank a couple of triples to give France the lead at 62-61. But shooting guard Dejan Vasiljevic’s basket ensured Australia went into the break up 63-62.
The final quarter was full of excitement, but ultimately it was Kyle Clark’s single charity shot and a couple from centre Isaac Humphries that saw the runners-up through safely.
Puerto Rico, surprise winners against European champions Spain on the first day, confirmed their place in the knockouts from Group C with a 58-51 win over Italy.
The Italians, barely tested in their huge 121-32 win over hosts the UAE on Friday, could not find an answer to the swift-moving and confident Puerto Ricans.
By the end of the third quarter, the Central Americans were 44-37 ahead, only to see Italy fight back to within a couple of points at 46-44 in the final period, but they eventually won by seven.
Meanwhile, Canada revived their hopes in Group B with a 96-52 result to leave Japan winless after two games.
Having lost to France in their opening match on Friday, Canada put up a much improved performance to overturn a first quarter deficit of 19-14 to power away 46-33 by the end of the second period.
The Canadian pair of Jerome Desrosiers and Marquell Fraser made their superior height count as the Japanese tried to make their way past the Canadian defence. By the end of the third quarter, Canada — third place finishers at the last edition in Lithuania — were ahead by 34 points at 74-40.
The competition will take a day’s break on Sunday before resuming with the third and final round of group matches at Al Shabab and Al Ahli Clubs on Monday.
