Canada on Sunday dumped defending champions Spain out of the Basketball World Cup in the second round, while Italy, Serbia and tournament sensations Latvia also advanced to the quarter-finals.
The US suffered their first loss of the tournament at the hands of Lithuania, but both teams had already qualified along with Germany and Slovenia.
The US play Italy in the last eight, while Lithuania face Serbia, Germany take on Latvia and Slovenia play Canada.
Photo: Reuters
The US and Canada also qualified for the Paris Olympics as the two highest-placed teams from the Americas, with Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Brazil all bowing out.
Spain and Canada went perfect through the group stage with three wins, but both were on the end of shock defeats when the second round got underway.
That set them up for a winner-takes-all clash in Jakarta and it was Canada who were left standing after a dramatic 88-85 victory.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished as the game’s top scorer with 30 points, said: “Our group wanted it a little bit more.”
“We knew what was at stake and we were willing to do whatever it took, and we ended up getting it done,” he said.
Thirteen of Gilgeous-Alexander’s points came in the decisive fourth quarter, while teammate Dillon Brooks helped out with 22 overall.
Canada head coach Jordi Fernandez said his players were “the definition of a winning team.”
“We didn’t come here just to go to the Olympics,” he said. “We want to make sure that everyone knows that we’re knocking at the door and that we’re thirsty for more.”
Latvia joined Canada in the quarter-finals after thrashing Brazil 104-84.
Head coach Luca Banchi said his team “doesn’t need a coach any more” after another hugely impressive performance.
“They are solid, conscious, accurate, bringing more and more confidence into the tournament,” the Italian said.
Italy beat Puerto Rico 73-57 to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 1998.
Serbia beat the Dominican Republic 112-79 to advance, getting back on track after a surprise loss to Italy in their previous game.
Lithuania are now the tournament’s only unbeaten team after they beat the US 110-104 to hand them their first loss.
Germany beat Slovenia 100-71 in a game between two teams who had already qualified for the quarter-finals.
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