Date:22/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/22/stories/2006082207191800.htm

Sport - Basketball

Serbia scores big win over Lebanon

SENDAI (Japan): Defending champion Serbia and Montenegro scored a 104-57 win over Lebanon, its first of the World basketball championship.

Lebanon drops

Lebanon dropped to 1-2 and will face France on Wednesday before playing Nigeria in its final Group `A' game.

Meanwhile, forward Mickael Gelabale scored 14 points to lead France to a 64-53 victory over Nigeria.

Serbia-Montenegro will play Venezuela before taking on Olympic champion Argentina, which defeated Venezuela 96-54 earlier on Monday, to improve to 3-0 and secure a place in the second round.

The top four teams in each of the four six-team groups make the round of 16.

The results:

Group `A': Argentina bt Venezuela 96-54; Serbia-Montenegro bt Lebanon 104-57; France bt Nigeria 64-53.

Group `B': Angola bt New Zealand 95-73; Spain bt Germany 92-71; Japan bt Panama 78-61.

Rest day for Group `C' and `D'. — Agencies