SENDAI, Japan _ Walter Herrmann scored 25 points Monday as Argentina improved
to 3-0 and secured a place in the second round at the basketball world
championship with a 96-54 win over Venezuela.
As in Sunday's 107-72 win over Lebanon, Manu Ginobili of the San Antonio
Spurs saw little playing time.
And Chicago Bulls forward Andres Nocioni left the game with seven minutes
left in the third quarter when he landed awkwardly on his ankle.
He remained on the bench for the rest of the game but appeared in
considerable pain when he left the court after the final buzzer.
Argentina coach Sergio Hernandez said Nocioni should be ready to go for the
team's next game against Nigeria on Wednesday.
"After the game, he said he'll be fine," Hernandez said. "The doctor looked
at him and said he'll be OK after a rest day."
Herrmann, who had 23 points against Lebanon, scored seven straight points
late in the fourth quarter as Olympic champion Argentina took a 94-44 lead over
Venezuela.
He shot 70 percent from the field and also led Argentina with nine rebounds.
Luis Scola, who like Herrmann plays in Spain, scored 17 points in the first
half.
"I'm really happy because our team played with intensity," said Hernandez.
"Many people in Argentina got up early to watch our game, so we wanted to put on
our best performance."
Argentina, runner-up at the 2002 world championship in Indianapolis, has
outscored its opponents 283-196 in three games here in Group A.
Ginobili played 16 minutes and had five points. Nocioni had five points in
his 13 minutes.
Venezuela got 15 points from Richard Lugo but were no match for the
Argentineans.
Venezuela, which dropped to 1-2, next faces Serbia-Montenegro.
