Canada get Semis date with USA, surprising Puerto Rico meet France

SANTA FE (FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2018) - Reigning champions United States will face off against fellow Americas powers Canada in the Semi-Finals of the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2018 with France and Puerto Rico doing battle in the other final four match-up.

Here is a breakdown of the two big games being played at the Club Atletico Union:

Puerto Rico v France

Both teams will be playing in the U17 World Cup Semi-Finals for the first time, as Puerto Rico finished sixth in their sole appearance in 2014, while sixth place is France's top showing - also from 2016. France and Puerto Rico have only faced off once in U17 World Cup history with the Americas team winning 70-63 in Classification 5-8 in 2014.

Puerto Rico once again showed they are good for a surprise as they knocked off Montenegro in the Quarter-Finals 75-60, after having finished first in a tough Group A including Australia, Dominican Republic and Turkey. France, for their part, played a strong game at both ends in beating Turkey 86-70 - for their fifth straight win. 

This promises to be a great battle of guard play with Andre Curbelo and Jermaine Miranda for Puerto Rico, who would be greatly assisted in their effort against France if Tory San Antonio can come close to the 30 points he dropped against Montenegro - after having tallied 27 combined in the first four games.

France’s big three of Malcolm Cazalon, Killian Hayes and Theo Maledon scored 74 of France’s 86 points in the Quarter-Finals. The French trio would be served well by getting their bigs involved as they do hold a size advantage over Puerto Rico.

Canada v United States

Canada beat Australia 74-70 to get over their Quarter-Final hump - after having lost in the last eight in the previous three tournaments - but now they take on the four-time reigning champions United States, who extended their winning streak to 35 games with a 126-52 dismantling of Croatia.

Canada and United States have played twice at the U17 World Cup with USA winning in the 2010 Semi-Finals and the 2012 Quarter-Finals. The game is also a re-match of the FIBA U16 Americas Championship 2017 Final, which United States won in convincing fashion 111-60.

Canada’s main guns are Addison Patterson, Cashius McNeilly, Josh Hemmings and Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe, though Benjamin Krikke has been a key leader in the post.

United States have an embarrassment of riches with 10 players who average more than 8.0 points a game. Some of the top weapons for Don Showalter’s team are De’Vion Harmon, Vernon Carey Jr., Jeremy Roach and Isaiah Stewart.

But the Americans’ actual production depends greatly on how their defensive pressure creates turnovers and scoring opportunities - in other words, if Canada can limit their turnovers, they will remain in with a shot.

FIBA