Venezuela Outlasts Cameroon at FIBA U17
Venezuela secured a hard-fought 71-61 victory over Cameroon at the FIBA U17 World Cup, leaning on a tenacious defence and a more consistent free-throw shooting.
The South Americans established an early lead, closing the first quarter up by eight points (19-11), and extended their advantage to 13 at halftime (42-29).
Despite a spirited comeback attempt from Cameroon that trimmed the deficit to nine entering the final period (59-50), Venezuela responded. They limited Cameroon to just 12 points in the fourth quarter, converting 13 of their 29 free-throw attempts – a crucial advantage over Cameroon's 7-of-12 showing. Cameroon did win the rebounding battle (42-36) and saw Nolan Ngangmeni score 15 points with four assists, while Jason Essoua contributed 11 rebounds. For Venezuela, Carlos Perez led the scoring with 15 points and five assists, complemented by Kevin Gutierrez's 14 points and nine rebounds.
This win serves as a statement for Venezuela, showcasing their defensive grit on the world stage.