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The final day of group play at the 2025 IWBF U23 World Championship saw teams fight for seeding, pride, and placement, with the last remaining quarter-final spots confirmed at the Centro de Treinamento Paralímpico.
Italy Finish Strong to Secure Second in Group B
Italy heads to the Quarter-Finals on a high note, having finished their Group B campaign with a 66-39 victory over Japan.
Despite holding a sizable 43-15 first-half lead, Japan came out firing in the third quarter as Shinsaku Iwata hit 9 points to shrink the deficit.
But in the end, Italy had too much in the tank, gliding to victory and finishing on a 4-1 record in Group B. Alessandro Sbuelz paced the Azzuri with 18 points.
Iwata had a team-high 12 points and 14 rebounds for Japan, as they finished Group B with a 2-3 record
South Africa Clinch First World Championship Win Since 2013
South Africa made history with a 64–54 victory over Thailand in the bottom of the table clash between the two Group B teams still searching for a first win.
The teams traded baskets through the first half, with South Africa holding a narrow 31–25 lead at the break. Despite early second-half pressure from Thailand, the South Africans regrouped and pulled away late to take control.
Ntando Nokama delivered a spectacular 42-point, 11-rebound performance, while Amorntep Kongpakhaw responded with 27 points and 20 boards for Thailand in yet another standout showing. But it was South Africa who held their nerve for a historic win — their first at a World Championship in over a decade.
Australia Rotate, But Cruise to Win Over Israel
Australia completed their group campaign with a comfortable 70–34 win over Israel in Group A, using the opportunity to rotate their squad ahead of the quarter-finals.
A 19–4 opening quarter gave the Aussie Spinners early control, though Israel responded with improved resistance through the middle stages of the game. Still, Australia pulled away again in the final period to seal the result.
Zach Binns led all scorers with 19 points and 4 rebounds, while Ilay Yarhi paced Israel with 10 points. Australia finish third in Group A and will face Italy in the quarter-finals.
Turkiye Silence Host Nation Brazil with Second-Half Surge
In front of a passionate home crowd, Brazil looked to end their group campaign on a high, but Turkiye had other plans, delivering a disciplined and dominant second half to secure a 69–34 win.
Brazil stayed competitive early, trailing 23–36 at the half, but struggled to generate offense in the final two quarters, scoring just 11 points after the break.
Baran Oguz was outstanding for Turkiye, posting a rare triple-double with 11 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists. With the win, Turkiye secured second place in Group A and a quarter-final matchup with the USA.
Germany Close Out Group Stage Unbeaten
Germany made it a perfect 5–0 in Group A with an 81–47 victory over Canada, confirming their status as a title contender heading into the knockout rounds.
The Germans were clinical from the start, leading 23–12after the first quarter and never looking back. Maxi Lammering led with 22points and 8 assists, while Jakob Kroemer added 18.
Canada, despite fighting hard throughout the group stage, dropped into the classification rounds. Ibrahim Odza led their scoring with 13points.
With the group stage complete and positions confirmed, the 2025 IWBF U23 World Championship now moves into the knockout rounds. Wednesday’s action will see quarter-final contenders battle for a place in the final four, while classification matches begin for teams placed 5th to 12th. Every game counts as the tournament enters its most decisive stage.
Wednesday, 18 June – Knockout Stage Schedule
Crossover 9–12 Placement Games
10:00 | Canada vs Thailand – Court 1
15:30 | South Africa vs Israel – Court 2
Quarter-Finals
11:00 | Italy vs Australia – Court 2
15:00 | Germany vs Japan – Court 1
17:15 | Great Britain vs Brazil – Court 1
17:45 | Türkiye vs USA – Court 2
Photo Credits: X-1/IWBF
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