For the fifth time in a row, the United States ruled the FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup.
The Americans dominated the 2018 edition of the event, crushing France, 95-52, in the gold medal game held in Santa Fe, Argentina.
Team USA has won 37 straight games in the FIBA U-17 World Cup since the competition first started in 2010.
France managed to stay in the game in the first half, even trailing by just five points, 20-25, with six minutes left. But the Americans dominated the rest of the way, eventually pulling ahead by 20 points, 45-25, at the halftime break.
They went on to lead by as much as 43 points.
Earning tournament Most Valuable Player honors was forward Jalen Green, a Filipino-American standout who competed in the 2018 National Basketball Training Center National League just last March in Manila.
The 16-year-old Green, who traces his roots to Ilocos Sur, averaged 15.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.4 steals per game in seven contests for the US.
Joining Green in the all-tournament team were Team USA's Vernon Carey Jr., France's Killian Hayes, Puerto Rico's Andre Curbelo, and Mali's Oumar Ballo.
For silver medalists France, this was also their best finish in the tournament. Puerto Rico, meanwhile, made the podium for the first time after routing Canada, 90-77, in the third-place game.
source: news.abs-cbn.com
