Spain's win puts Serbia on brink

The world champions are in big trouble.

Spain clinched first place in Group A with a 76-68 victory yesterday in Athens, leaving Serbia-Montenegro in danger of failing to reach the quarterfinals.

Serbia-Montenegro, which won the 2002 World Championships as Yugoslavia, fell to 1-3 and must beat China in its final preliminary-round game tomorrow, then have some other results fall in its favor to advance.

Spain (4-0) has New Zealand in its final game, but even a loss won't keep it from winning its group.

"We don't have time for analysis," Serbia-Montenegro coach Zeljko Obradovic said when asked what's wrong with his team. "In no game were we dominated. We had a chance to win all three games we lost and we could have lost the game we won. These are good teams in this tournament. Today, we lost because of turnovers [14, nine in the second half]." Jose Manuel Calderon had 15 points for Spain, going 6 for 6 from the free throw line over the final 24 seconds. Memphis Grizzlies star Pau Gasol had all 14 of his points in the second half.

Dejan Bodiroga had 14 points for Serbia-Montenegro.

Puerto Rico 87, Australia 82 -- Carlos Arroyo's 3-point play with 2:21 left gave Puerto Rico (3-1) just its second lead since early in the game, and it held on to advance to the quarterfinals. Australia (1-3), which led by 10 at halftime, had just one field goal over the final 5 1/2 minutes. The Aussies' streak of quarterfinal appearances (seven straight Olympics, dating to 1976) is in jeopardy; they have to beat Lithuania tomorrow and still need some help from other teams to advance.

Puerto Rico went 5 for 6 from the free throw line over the final 1:41 to seal the win. Down, 85-82, Australia had a chance to tie, but Shane Heal's long 3-pointer with 5 seconds left bounced off the rim.

Argentina 98, New Zealand 94 -- Argentina (3-1) reached the quarterfinals for the first time since 1952 as Luis Scola scored 25 points and Manu Ginobili added 19.

Greece 88, Angola 56 -- Greece (2-2) opened an 18-point halftime over winless Angola and cruised into the quarterfinals. Dimosthenis Ntikoudis's 15 points led the hosts.

Italy 89, China 52 -- Giacomo Galanda shot 6 of 8 from 3-point range and finished with 22 points for Italy (2-2), which held Yao Ming to 3 of 12 from the floor.