ISTANBUL (Türkiye) - After a thrilling, dramatic and historic day of Quarter-Finals showdowns, the final four teams left standing at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2024 are reigning champions United States, the 2016 Finalists and hosts Türkiye, Italy and New Zealand - the latter two who have reached this level for the first time.
Elezay, Ustun deliver in clutch, send Türkiye to Semis
Türkiye delivered in the clutch in front of their home fans to reach the Semi-Finals with a thrilling 59-57 victory over Spain - thanks to heroics in the waning seconds.
Türkiye led by 14 points in the first quarter but watched Spain fight back into the game and trailed by one point at halftime. The game remained close throughout and it was tied 57-57 in the final minute.
After both teams turned the ball over Rrezon Elezay threw down a dunk with 14 seconds left. And Derin Can Ustun blocked Maximo Garcia-Plata's shot at the buzzer to win the game.
"We always were fighting for the final four and now we have achieved our dreams. Now we will focus on tomorrow. We are so happy. This means so much - in front of our fans. We will be playing in the Semi-Finals. It means a lot for us, for the fans, for the country, for everybody. We are so happy," Ustun said afterwards.
Türkiye's opponent in the Semi-Finals will be Italy.
New Zealand's historic fairytale reaches next step
New Zealand's fairytale summer just keeps going as the Kiwis defeated Lithuania 73-65 to reach the Semi-Finals for the first time - matching the country's greatest basketball achievement of playing in the Semi-Finals of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2002.
Oscar Goodman scored 19 points and had 10 rebounds and Hayden Jones - the son of 2002 World Cup hero Phil Jones - picked up 13 points and 13 rebounds.
New Zealand, who had already made history in Istanbul just by playing their first ever U17 World Cup Quarter-Final, will next face United States in the Semi-Finals.
Italy make more history, overcome Puerto Rico for first Semi
The Semi-Finals have a second team making their debut with Italy fighting past Puerto Rico 83-65 to take their spot among the top four in the world for the first time at the U17 global stage.
Italy went ahead in the first quarter and never trailed in the final three periods, pulling away for good in the closing minutes.
Maikcol Perez paced the Italians with 16 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists and Luigo Suigo chipped in 13 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks. Two days after scoring 42 points - the second-most in U17 World Cup history - Felipe Quinones tallied 21 points but they were not enough.
USA with the next blowout, Canada no chance
United States moved to within two victories of another U17 World Cup title with a dominant 111-60 victory over Canada in a repeat of the FIBA U16 AmeriCup 2023 Final.
USA led 37-12 after 10 minutes and the score was 66-27 at halftime - a new record for most points scored in the first half of a U17 World Cup Quarter-Final. AJ Dybantsa led all Americans with 18 points and 6 assists and Cameron Boozer tallied 13 points, 10 rebounds and 4 steals.
USA were nearly as dominant as last summer against their neighbors to the south, having won the U16 AmeriCup Final 118-36.
"We told the guys if what we did a year ago still looks big to us then we haven't done anything today. We were trying to tell them last year doesn't matter at this point, it's about what's happening right now and be present in the present. They did a good job with that," USA coach Sharman White said.
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Other results (all Classification 9-16)
- France bounced back from their massive disappointment of losing in the Round of 16 to Puerto Rico by racing past Australia 96-71. Akram Naji scored 16 points to pace five French players in double figures. -Argentina shook off the disappointment of losing in the Round of 16 by beating Philippines 83-67. Martin Torriani paced Argentina with 15 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists. - Egypt defeated China 85-73, gaining control in the fourth quarter. Omar Eassam paced the winners with 18 points and 13 rebounds. -Germany wasted an 18-point lead but managed to fend off Guinea 69-65 with Luka Stojic and Ivan Crnjac both scoring 13 points. Guinea could not take advantage of Arafan Diane collecting 23 points and 18 rebounds.
Schedule for Saturday, July 6
Semi-Finals New Zealand v USA Türkiye v Italy
Classification 5-8 Lithuania v Canada Spain v Puerto Rico
Classification 9-12 Egypt v Argentina Germany v France
Classification 13-16 China v Philippines Guinea v Australia
FIBA