Canada's Colin Higgins (9) looks for an opening during the team's game against Mexico at the 2025 IWBF Americas Cup wheelchair basketball tournament, in Bogota, Colombia, in a Monday, Aug. 18, 2025, handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - IWBF (Mandatory Credit)
Canada's Colin Higgins (9) looks for an opening during the team's game against Mexico at the 2025 IWBF Americas Cup wheelchair basketball tournament, in Bogota, Colombia, in a Monday, Aug. 18, 2025, handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - IWBF (Mandatory Credit)
BOGOTÃ - 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 °µÍø½ûÇø was first published Aug. 19, 2025.
