Boxscores

NOVI SAD (FIBA U19 World Championship) - Argentina qualified for the quarter-finals of the FIBA U19 World Championship despite an 87-82 defeat to Group F rivals Canada.

Guillermo Narvarte's side will now face USA in the knockout stages on Friday after they secured top spot in Group E.

Canada had Kai Williams' 25-point haul to thank for victory as Nicolas De Los Santos (24 points) almost stole a dramatic win for Argentina.

The first quarter started in blistering fashion with both sides focusing their attentions on attack rather then defence.

Yet there was nothing to separate the two teams as the opening period ended 24-24 thanks to eight-point hauls from Argentinian pair De Los Santos and Federico Aguerre and Canada's Boris Bakovic.

Greg Francis' outfit quickly learnt from their mistakes from the opening period and tightened their defence to race into a 38-28 lead midway through the second quarter.

And Canada managed to sustain the advantage all the way until the break to go into the half-time interval eight points clear at 45-37.

The deficit remained intact as the third period wore on, yet an impressive last minute spell from Aguerre reduced their lead to just four points going into the final period.

However, it proved to be sufficient as Canada withstood a barrage of Argentinian pressure to win the encounter by a five-point margin.

Drew Williams
FIBA