SAN LUIS POTOSÍ (Mexico) – Facing the tall task of winning by 17 points or more, Mexico put on a great performance but fell just short of expectations, beating Canada 98-94 Monday night at Potosí Arena. The ending was a bittersweet moment for Omar Quintero’s guys, who defeated a tough opponent but couldn’t run up the score enough to overcome Dominican Republic’s win earlier in the day against Nicaragua. These results generated a triple-tie atop Group C, with Canada and Dominican Republic qualifying on better point differential amongst them.
Turning point
In a game that featured as many 14 lead changes, Mexico played an excellent 4th quarter to come out victorious in front of their home fans. An 8-0 run early in the final period behind back-to-back three-pointers from Karim Rodríguez erased a 3-point deficit and gave them a glimmer of hope heading into the final 5 minutes. However, Canada never stopped competing and even had the chance to tie the game in the final 10 seconds. Mfiondu Kabengele missed a pair of free throws and Gael Bonilla iced the game on the opposite charity stripe.
Player of the game
Pako Cruz tried his best to will Mexico to the promised land, finishing with 30 points on 10-for-20 from the field, including a torrid 5-for-6 from beyond the arc.
Rodríguez (14 points), Gabriel Girón (12), Bonilla (11 and 8 rebounds) and teenager Karim López (10) also scored in double digits. Kabengele was dominant for Canada, finishing with 24 points on 7-for-12 from the field and 10-for-14 at the line. He added 8 rebounds, a steal and a block for a 25-efficiency. Isiaha Mike had a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double, while Jahvon Henry-Blair (16 points and 2 steals), Marcus Carr (13 points and 8 assists) and Trae Bell-Haynes (11 points and 6 dimes) also scored in double digits for Canada.
Stats don’t lie
Mexico overcame deficits on the boards and in the paint by shooting 15-for-31 from downtown. All in all, they shot 51.7 percent from the field while holding Canada to only 8 triples and 44.4 overall. Mexico also had better ball movement, assisting on 22 of their 30 made baskets.
Bottom line
After sweeping their first 4 games, Canada ended the Qualifiers on a sour note after dropping their final 2 contests. However, their 4-2 record and +14-point differential in the triple tie with Mexico and Dominican Republic still allowed them to finish atop Group C. For Mexico (4-2), the outcome is disappointing after a very solid showing at the 2024 Olympic Qualifying Tournament and other recent events. They’ll now be absent from an AmeriCup for the first time since the 2011 edition in Mar del Plata, Argentina.
FIBA