Brazil kick off AmeriCup with win over Canada at home

RECIFE (Brazil) - On Day 1 of the 19th edition of the FIBA AmeriCup host Brazil kicked off their tournament with a win over Canada.

Brazil 72-63 Canada

Brazil delighted their home fans in a sold out Geraldao Arena to an opening victory in Group A.

The hosts won the first two quarters and led 32-24 at halftime before Canada battled back and was able to take the lead briefly in the third quarter. Brazil then regained the lead to close out the third quarter. Early in the fourth quarter was back-and-forth with four lead changes until Yago Santos and Lucas Dias both knocked down clutch three-pointers on back-to-back possessions, stretching Brazil's lead to 63-54.

Brazil finished the game strong led by Santos and Dias, as the two combined to make five threes in the final quarter. Santos led a balanced Brazil attack with 13 points, while Leonardo Meindl just missed a double-double off the bench with 11 points and 9 rebounds, and George De Paula also chipped in 10 points.

Toronto Raptors' Dalano Banton led Canada in defeat with a game-high 20 points and 11 rebounds, but as a team, Canada had a hard time getting shots to fall from beyond the arc, shooting 3-of-28. Brazil had a 17-9 advantage in assists, as nine different players recorded at least one assist.

Brazil, now 1-0, will face Colombia (who are also 1-0) on Saturday, while Canada, now 0-1, will play Uruguay (who are also 0-1) on the same day.

FIBA