Wed, Aug 23, 2006 - Page 20 News List

Wade leads the US into playoffs

QUALIFICATIONLed by the Miami guard's 20 points, the American team easily beat Slovenia to clinch a place in the second round of the world championships

AFP , SAPPORO, JAPAN

Australia looked to have the game under control when a six-point spurt within 30 seconds from Milwaukee Buck Andrew Bogut put them in the driving seat with a minute left, but Greece never gave up.

The Boomers were leading by three points with 19 seconds to go only to see the match snatched from their grasp with Antonis Fotsis bagging a three-pointer with nine seconds left before Zisis shattered Australian dreams.

It leaves the Greeks 3-0 and ensures them qualification for the knockout stages in Saitama starting on Saturday.

The Aussies made the early inroads, taking a seven point lead in the first quarter before giving it away to end the period level pegging at 17-17.

The lead seesawed in the second before a three-pointer from Dimitris Diamantidis gave Greece a 39-34 edge going into the second half.

Bogut was fired up and taking no prisoners, directing the floor as his side inched ahead in the third frame 56-55 before the nailbiting climax.

Diamantidis top scored for Greece with 20 while Bogut at 18 was Australia's target man.

Italy 64, Senegal 56

AFP, SAPPORO

Italy scored 14 points in a row in the fourth quarter while keeping Senegal without a point for six minutes in a 64-56 victory here yesterday to stay unbeaten.

Matteo Soragna scored 15 points while Marco Mordente added 14 for the 2004 Olympic silver medal squad, which improved to 3-0 in Group D round-robin play ahead of tomorrow's meeting with the US.

Senegal seized a 31-28 half-time edge and led most of the second half, the Africans stretching their fourth-quarter advantage to 51-44 on a Elhadji N'Doye tip-in before going pointless for six minutes.

Back-to-back 3-pointers by Stefano Mancinelli and Andrea Michelori pulled the Italians close and Michelori's jumper with 5:47 remaining gave them a 52-51 lead.

Mancinelli added a tip-in, Mordente followed with a basket and Richard Rocca's steal and layup gave Italy a 58-51 edge with 2:38 remaining.

Senegal awoke but it was too little and far too late as Mordente and Soragna added 3-pointers in the closing minutes to end the Africans' faint hopes.

Turkey 73, Brazil 71

AFP, HAMAMATSU, Japan

Phoenix Sun Leandro Barbosa fluffed two free throws with six seconds on the clock to consign Brazil to a 73-71 defeat to Turkey in their Group C match yesterday.

Barbosa, who recently signed a new multi-million dollar five-year contract with Phoenix, lost his composure to leave Brazil 1-2 and fighting for survival in Group C while Turkey go though to the knockout rounds at 3-0.

Barbosa's miss ruined an otherwise fine performance from the guard in which he was the top scorer for the Brazilians with 26. Marcelinho Machado added 13.

Serkan Erogan made 21 for Turkey, including four three-pointers, and Ibrahim Kutluay contributed 14.

The victory for Bogdan Tanjevic's impressive Turks was all the sweeter as Brazil narrowly beat them at the same stages in the 2002 championships in Indianapolis, the first time the teams had ever met.

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