Mexico's Orlando Mendez (L) and Canada's Andrew Wiggins. (Photo : Reuters)
Powerhouse teams Mexico and Canada will square off in a high-profile second round match during this year's FIBA Americas Championship in Mexico City on Tuesday, September 8.
Mexico is coming off a sweep of the preliminary round competitions and a victory against contending team Puerto Rico last Sunday, 92-86, as per the tournament's official website.
Power forward Hector Hernandez paced the Mexicans with 28 points and 12 rebounds as 2013 MVP Gustavo Ayon was held down to nine points, but also managed to haul down 12 boards for Sergio Valdeolmillos.
The game was close from start to finish as Ángel Daniel Vassallo and José Juan Barea struggled to keep the Puerto Ricans afloat with 27 and 12 points in the game. Barea was miserable from three-point territory going 0-of-5, but had 10 assists.
Meanwhile, Canada routed Panama, 103-66, to open their second round bid in the championship, as reported by CBC Sports.
Five Canadians scored in double figures, led by backup point guard Brady Heslip with 23. Andrew Wiggins, Nikolas Stauskas, Cory Joseph, and Philip Scrubb contributed 17, 16, 15, and 10 points respectively.
Panama was unable to follow-up their masterful 89-72 win over Brazil during the last day of preliminary round matches as they could not stop the firepower of Jay Triano's boys.
Canada had only lost once in the tourney so far, and it was a game against fellow gold medal favorite Argentina during their opener last week.
Against a veteran team like Mexico, the Canadians are expected to struggle again like what they went through versus Argentina. It would be a close game but the experience of Ayon and company will be enough to quell the young guns of Canada.
Prediction: Mexico wins, 75-72
Mexico starting five: Gustavo Ayon (C), Hector Hernandez (PF), Juan Toscano (SF), Orlando Mendez (SG), Jorge Gutierrez (PG)
Canada starting five: Kelly Olynyk (C), Anthony Bennett (PF), Andrew Wiggins (SF), Nik Stauskas (SG), Cory Joseph (PG)
