Mitakaro Masterclass Powers Canada Past Puerto Rico
Liam Mitakaro orchestrated a dominant offensive performance as Canada overwhelmed Puerto Rico 101-82 at the FIBA U17 World Cup. Mitakaro, who finished with a double-double of 23 points and 10 assists, was the engine for a Canadian offence that shot a blistering 51% from the field. Despite Puerto Rico's Jeremy Willmore pouring in 24 points, his efforts were ultimately insufficient against Canada's rebounding dominance (57-27) and superior shooting efficiency. Canada held a 13-point lead at halftime (53-40), but Puerto Rico managed to trim the deficit to three entering the final quarter. However, Canada asserted their control in the fourth, outscoring Puerto Rico 32-16 to seal the commanding victory. Isaiah Hamilton chipped in 20 points for Canada, while Alexis Fuentes added 15 points off the bench for Puerto Rico, who received 30 points from their reserves. This decisive performance signals Canada's intent in the tournament.