ISTANBUL, TURKIYE - New Zealand's basketball team secured a spot in the FIBA U17 World Cup semifinals by defeating Lithuania 73-65. In another quarterfinal match, the USA demolished Canada with a record-breaking halftime score, setting up a high-stakes clash between New Zealand and the USA.
According to Philippines News Agency, New Zealand's victory was propelled by standout performances from Oscar Goodman, who notched 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Hayden Jones, with 13 points and 13 rebounds. This semifinal berth marks a significant achievement for the Kiwis, mirroring their 2002 Final Four appearance.
The United States, on the other hand, continued their dominant run with a 111-60 rout of Canada. AJ Dybantsa led the Americans with 18 points and six assists, and Cameron Boozer added a double-double. The US team set a new quarterfinal record by scoring 66 points in the first half alone. Coach Sharman White emphasized the importance of staying focused on the present, despite past successes, including last year's overwhelming victory over Canada in the U16 AmeriCup final.
In the other semifinal matchup, host nation Turkiye will face Italy. Turkiye edged out Spain 59-57, thanks to a last-second dunk by Rrezon Elezay and a crucial block by Derin Can Ustun. Italy secured their semifinal spot with an 83-65 win over Puerto Rico, led by Maikcol Perez's 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Meanwhile, Argentina defeated the Philippine team 83-67 in the classification phase, with the Philippines continuing to struggle in the tournament.