CANADA will bring home the bronze medal in the FIBA World Cup 2023, thanks to Dillon Brooks and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

And the United States, the five-time champions and heavy favorites to win it all this year, will return home empty-handed for the second straight time since 2019.

Brooks scored 39 points, including seven of eight three-point shots, while Gilgeous-Alexander added 31 points, 12 assists and six rebounds as Canada brought down the United States, 127-118, in overtime before 10,666 fans at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Brooks, considered as the “Most Valuable Villain” since the start of the 32-nation competition, finally heard MVP chants in his final game in Manila as he provided the spark in the Canadians’ first-ever victory over the Americans in the world’s biggest basketball stage.

And Gilgeous-Alexander put the finishing touches by scoring Canada’s first seven points at the start of the extra period — a fade away jump shot on Dwight Powell’s assist, a stepback 3-point shot and two free throws.

That put Canada ahead to stay, 118-112, with three minutes left.

After Los Angeles Lakers mainstay Austin Reaves put the United States to within 114-118, Brooks calmly added two more points to make it 120-114 with 2:29 left.

It was over.

RJ Barrett added 23 points, and Luguentz Dort and Kelly Olynyk contributed 11 points apiece for Canada, which lost to the United States in all their seven previous World Cup duels.

“This team was amazing, special. It’s the beginning of something that’s going to last for a long time,” said Canada coach Jordi Fernandez.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards and Reaves carried the fight for the United States, which.failed to win a medal for only the seventh time in 38 appearances at the Olympic or World Cup.

.Edwards finished with 24 points on 9-of-20 shooting, five rebounds and three steals in 37 minutes, while Reaves contributed 23 points on 7-of-14 shooting in 33 minutes.

Four other players also contributed in double figures for the Steve Kerr-mentored Americans — Mikal Bridges (19 points), Bobby Portis Jr. (14) Jalen Brunson (13) and Josh Hart (10).

But the Americans simply have no answer to Brooks, Gilgeous-Alexander and the rest of the Canadian team, which kept their composure even after the higher-rated American team battled back to force overtime on Bridges’ unbelieavable play.

Actually, Canada appeared headed for victory in regulation with an 111-107 advantage with only four seconds remaining.

But Bridges saved the day — atleast in regulation — by nailing a three-point shot with 0.6 seconds left to tie the score at 111-all.

That came after he intentionally missed the second of his two free throws, grabbed the offensive rebound and hit a corner three-pointer.

Olynyk had a chance to steal the win, but his desperation 30-footer bounced out the ring.

The win marked the first time that Canada finished higher than the United States in FIBA history.

It was also the first Olympic or World Cup appearance where the Americans gave up at least 100 points three different times, losing to Lithuania, Germany in the semis and now Canada.

The scores:

Canada (127) — Brooks 39, Gilgeous-Alexander 31, Barrett 23, Dort 11, Olynyk 11, Alexander-Walker 5, Powell 4, Ejim 3, Edey 0, Scrubb 0.
United States (118) – Edwards 24, Reaves 23, Bridges 19, Portis Jr. 14, Brunson 13, Hart 10, Haliburton 6, Kessler 6, Johnson 3.
Quarterscores: 34-25, 58-56, 91-82, 111-111, 127-118.