ARG - Argentina survive gritty fightback by Tall Blacks

BUENOS AIRES (FIBA World Championship) - Basketball juggernauts Argentina defeated New Zealand in a battle of sides warming up for the FIBA World Championship in Japan.

Led by Luis Scola's 31 points and Andres Nocioni's 17, the South Americans won 85-72.

The Tall Blacks trailed the 2004 Olympic champions 53-40 at half-time but did not allow the hosts to run away with it after the interval and closed to within four points inside the last three minutes.

But Carlos Delfino hit a three-pointer to extend the Argentina lead before Manu Ginobili converted another three-ball to stretch it further.

Argentina comfortably held on thereafter. Ginobili was impressed with New Zealand, who have taken their lumps on their tour of South America ahead of playing in Group B against Spain, Germany, Panama, Japan and Angola.

He said: “New Zealand are a great team and have the ability to surprise - they did it to us - but we managed to correct our mistakes to secure the victory.

“We have only been working together for nine days and we have much to improve. But we are playing well and this is very important for the team.”

Craig Bradshaw scored 16 points for New Zealand and Kirk Penney had 13. Manu Ginobili also weighed in with 12 for Argentina.

The Argentinians lost in overtime to Yugoslavia at the FIBA World Championship 2002 in Indianapolis but made partial amends by winning the gold medal two years later at the Athens Olympics.

By PA Sport
Exclusively for FIBA