Canada drops semifinal clash to Argentina at FIBA AmeriCup in Nicaragua, ending unbeaten run and setting up a bronze medal game vs. the U.S.
Tournament Run Stumbles in Semifinals
Canada’s unbeaten streak at the FIBA men’s AmeriCup ended Saturday with an 83–73 semifinal loss to Argentina in Managua, Nicaragua. The defeat pushes Canada into Sunday’s bronze medal matchup against the United States, which fell 92–77 to Brazil in the other semifinal.
A Slow Start Proves Costly
Argentina seized control early, outscoring Canada 24–9 in the opening quarter at Polideportivo Alexis Arguello Stadium. Despite stronger interior play and bench scoring, Canada trailed 46–29 at halftime and faced a 68–45 deficit entering the fourth quarter. The late surge was not enough to close the gap.
Standout Performances on Both Sides
Argentina’s Jose Vildoza led all scorers with 26 points and six assists, while Gonzalo Corbalan contributed a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds. Juan Fernandez added 11 points. For Canada, Marcus Carr finished with 16 points, Trae Bell-Haynes had 15, and Mfiondu Kabengele added 14 points along with eight rebounds.
Key Stats Behind the Defeat
While Canada outperformed Argentina in the paint (38–32), off turnovers (13–10), and from the bench (29–22), they struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 16.7 per cent of their three-point attempts compared to Argentina’s 42.9 per cent. Argentina also held a decisive edge in assists, 22–12.
Coaches and Players React
“You have to find ways to win when you don’t play well. That didn’t happen today — that was a really good Argentina team,” Canadian head coach Nathaniel Mitchell said postgame. Carr noted that struggles on the glass limited defensive pressure, adding, “Argentina did a really good job defending their own glass. We didn’t get many second-chance opportunities.”
What Comes Next
Canada will now shift focus to Sunday’s third-place showdown against the United States, a team that collapsed late against Brazil after leading by 10 heading into the final quarter. Brazil and Argentina will square off for the championship, while Canada aims to secure its first AmeriCup medal since 1995.
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