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Photo Courtesy Canada Basketball (Image Credit: Photo Courtesy Canada Basketball)
By Tanner Smith
FIBA U18

“O Canada” heard for the first time at U18 FIBA AmericaCup

Jun 8, 2026 | 10:54 AM

Basketball was invented by a Canadian, and we may soon have ownership over the sport again, following the first-ever FIBA U18 Men’s AmericaCup title for the Great White North.

After a historic showing in the tournament, Canada capped it off with a 67-65 win over the USA last night.

Grande Prairie’s own Deng Ngor secured the game for Canada, hitting a three with under a 1:30 left to tie the game at 65; USA’s next possession then resulted in a turnover and a fast break for Canada, where Ngor had a breakaway dunk to put them up 67-65 with a minute left.

This is the first time Canada has claimed the top prize at the AmericaCup, after a bronze finish in 2024, and played spoilers in the process, as the USA’s U19 squad had taken the top spot in the last seven tournaments.

Canadian impact in the sport is only growing, with the highest amount of Canadian players taking part in the NCAA March Madness tournament this year, and Hamilton’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander securing his second MVP to tie with Steve Nash.

by Tanner Smith