Winnipeg's Settimo Yugu has helped lead Canada to a historic gold medal on Sunday night at the 2026 FIBA U18 Men's AmeriCup, marking the first time in history that Canada has won the championship at the event.
Canada defeated the United States 67-65 in a thrilling gold medal game on Sunday, June 7 in León, Mexico, capping off an undefeated tournament run and securing Canada's first-ever U18 Men's AmeriCup title. The victory improved upon Canada's previous bronze-medal finishes in 2022 and 2024.
Yugu played a significant role throughout the tournament as a member of Canada's 12-athlete roster, averaging 8.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game while contributing on both ends of the floor throughout the competition. His all-around play ranked him among Canada's key contributors during the championship run.
The championship game showcased Yugu's impact beyond the scoresheet.
With Canada trailing 65-62 late in the fourth quarter, Yugu set a key screen that freed teammate Deng Ngor along the baseline for a game-tying three-pointer with 1:27 remaining. Moments later, Canada took the lead for good on a transition dunk by Ngor following a defensive stop.
Yugu then delivered one of the game's defining defensive plays in the final seconds, drawing an offensive foul with just six seconds remaining to secure possession for Canada and help seal the historic victory.
Earlier in the game, Yugu also converted a layup that tied the score at 35-35 heading into halftime, helping Canada stay within striking distance against the traditionally dominant American program.
Yugu's selection to Team Canada was announced on May 31 following a national selection process that brought together the country's top young athletes. Throughout the tournament, Canada demonstrated its depth and talent, defeating Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Argentina before advancing to the gold medal game against the United States.
The championship victory is another significant milestone for Manitoba basketball, as Yugu joins a growing list of provincial athletes who have represented Canada at major international events. His success reflects years of development through Manitoba's grassroots, club, high school, and high-performance basketball pathways.
Canada was led in the final by Tournament MVP Javion Tyndale, who scored 19 points while adding eight assists and three steals. Deng Ngor contributed 15 points, including the game-tying three-pointer and game-winning dunk during Canada's decisive late-game run.
The victory places Canada atop the Americas at the U18 level and further strengthens the country's growing reputation on the international basketball stage and qualifies the country for next summer's U19 World Cup in the Czech Republic.
Basketball Manitoba congratulates Team Canada and Settimo on this historic accomplishment and thanks him for continuing to represent Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Canada with excellence both on and off the court!
Source: https://www.basketball.ca/news/canada-defeats-usa-to-capture-first-ever-fiba-u18-mens-americup-title