HERAKLION, GREECE (July 6, 2019) – Team Canada fell 98-81 to Puerto Rico Saturday afternoon during the Classification Round at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2019.
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Karim Mane led the Canadians in scoring with 14 points, while Thomas Kennedy delivered 11 points and five rebounds. Charles Bediako and Damion Squire both also contributed 10 points in the loss. Andre Jael Curbelo Rodriguez delivered a game-high 24 points in Puerto Rico’s win.
A slow start from Canada saw Puerto Rico race out to a 12-0 lead to open the first quarter. By the end of the quarter, Team Canada trailed by 11, entering the second down 30-19.
Canada picked up the pace in the second quarter after Tyrese Samuel’s floater tied the game 36-36 at the 4:31 mark. The two teams went back and forth for the remainder of the frame. A layup by Jaden Bediako at the 0.6 second mark of the quarter tied the game 47-47 going into halftime.
Coming back from halftime, the two teams remained neck and neck before Puerto Rico went off on 11-0 scoring run to open up their lead. By the end of the third, the Canadians trailed by seven, 73-66.
The fourth quarter ended in Puerto Rico’s favour, outscoring the Canadians 25-15, to win the game 98-81.
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UP NEXT
Canada will face Serbia in the 7th-8th Classification game on Sunday, July 7, 2019, at 6:00 AM EDT. Fans can catch the game streaming live on FIBA YouTube or the Canada Basketball Facebook page.
Courtesy Canada Basketball
