Monday, August 21, 2006

SAPPORO, Japan (AFP): Puerto Rico, sparked by 29 points from National Basketball Association guard Carlos Arroyo, rallied twice in the second half Sunday to beat Senegal 88-79 at the World Basketball Championships.

Shaking off an opening loss to the United States, the Puerto Ricans used 3-pointers by sharpshooters Arroyo and Elias Ayuso, who added 20 points, to subdue a stubborn Senegal squad that refused to quit after falling behind 15-0.

"The game began like it was going to be a runaway but soon it was close," Puerto Rico coach Julio Toro said. "Senegal made us work really hard."

The Africans grabbed a 67-66 lead on Malick Badiane's slam dunk with 6:56 to play but Arroyo, a guard for the Orlando Magic, answered with a 3-pointer to put Puerto Rico ahead to stay.

Ayuso and Chris Dalmau followed with 3-pointers as Puerto Rico built a 75-67 edge and Senegal never came within four points again.

"We knew for us to have a chance to get to the next round, we had to win this game," Dalmau said. "When they came back we remained calm and patient and ran the plays we're supposed to run. We're on a good track right now."

The Puerto Ricans improved to 1-1 in Group D ahead of a crucial test against China in their next game Tuesday, the same day the winless Africans face Italy.

Puerto Rico scored the game's first 15 points in the opening four minutes, Ayuso hitting three 3-pointers in the run, Arroyo had 10 points in the first quarter, which ended with Senegal in a 26-16 hole.

Senegal trimmed the half-time deficit to 44-37 and seized the lead at 51-50 with a 12-2 run in the third quarter.

Makhtar N'diaye, who joined Babacar Cisse in leading Senegal with 14 points, sparked the rally with a pair of 3-pointers and Ndongo N'diaye's slam dunk put the Africans ahead.

Arroyo and Ayuso hit 3-pointers in a 10-2 Puerto Rico response but a 10-0 Senegal run set the stage for Puerto Rico's closing 3-point barrage.

"We're a little disappointed," Makhtar N'diaye said. "We really thought we deserved to win this game and we really worked hard.

"What can you say? Carlos, Dalmau and those guys have a lot of experience. We have nothing to be ashamed about. We did our best."

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