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Ginobili, Oberto lead Argentina to semis Posted: Thursday September 05, 2002 8:33 PMUpdated: Thursday September 05, 2002 8:48 PM INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- One day after shocking the basketball world, Argentina made some more history. Argentina beat Brazil 78-67 Thursday to advance to the semifinals of the World Championships for the first time in 52 years. The Argentine team appeared sluggish at the start of the game against Brazil that began less than 24 hours after the 87-80 victory over the United States to close the second round. It was the first time a U.S. team using NBA players lost in international competition, snapping a 58-game winning streak. Now, Argentina (7-0) faces Germany, which beat Spain 70-62, in Saturday's semifinals. The only other time Argentina reached the world's final four was the inaugural tournament in 1950, an event played in Buenos Aires. Argentina had played in eight World Championships since, never finishing better than sixth. Emanuel Ginobili, who has signed with the San Antonio Spurs, and Fabricio Oberto each had 19 points for Argentina. Vanderlei Mazzuchini had 20 points for Brazil (4-3). Unlike Wednesday's dominating win over the United States when Argentina led by 20 points in the first half, it didn't shake Brazil until the third quarter. Brazil, which lost its third straight game, took a 39-36 lead with 6:11 left in the third quarter on a 3-pointer by Guilherme Giovannoni. Alejandro Montecchia hit a 3-pointer 25 seconds later that started Argentina's 13-0 run. When Luis Scola scored down low with 2:23 left in the quarter to cap the run and make it 46-39, it was apparent any celebration cobwebs from the night before were gone and Argentina was on its way to the semifinals. Argentina never let Brazil stage any kind of run in the in the fourth quarter as a group of about 100 fans danced and waved flags in the RCA Dome, although it was nowhere the party that went on in the stands the night before in Conseco Fieldhouse. |
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