BOGOTÁ — Team Canada's shot at a berth in the gold-medal final came up about a quarter short at the IWBF Americas Cup on Tuesday.
The national senior men's wheelchair basketball team dropped a 70-57 semifinal decision to the United States, and will now have to refocus on a bronze-medal game with host Colombia on Wednesday.
Canada led 15-14 after the first quarter, but the Americans were ahead 32-28 at halftime and 49-43 entering the final quarter.
Colin Higgins led Canada with 20 points and 11 rebounds, while Reed De'Aeth had 17 points and seven rebounds. Canada outrebounded the Americans 43-34.
Jorge Salazar led the Americans with 13 points, while Paul Schulte, Kesean Paire and Jeromie Meyer scored 12 points each. The U.S. will play Argentina in Wednesday's gold-medal game. Argentina edged Colombia 59-55 in the semifinals.
The Americas Cup is a qualification tournament for the 2026 IWBF Wheelchair Basketball World Championship that will take place in Ottawa, from Sept. 9-19. Argentina, the United States and Colombia have secured their qualification for Ottawa 2026 with victories in Monday’s quarterfinals.
The fourth- and fifth-place teams in Bogotá will advance to the Repechage.
As host nation, Canada has already qualified for the 2026 World Championship.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 19, 2025.
The Canadian Press
