Chinese national basketball team scraped past Cuba 73-70 in a Group F match on Sunday at the FIBA women's World Championship in Sao Paulo's metropolitan region.

In a contest that was close from start to finish, Cuban star Suchite Avila's three-pointer tied it at 68-68 with 2:36 remaining.

After Song Xiaoyun's lay-up put China back into a 70-68 lead, Yakelyn Plutin pulled Cuba level again with a pair of free throws.

Avila then fouled Bian Lan, who made one of two at the line for China.

After a Cuban turnover, Miao Lijie took her points tally to 19 for the game with two more at the stripe to finish the scoring and give China a 73-70 victory.

"I'm delighted," said China coach Tom Maher. "I am happy not only because of our win, but also because we played at good level. This reinforces the progress that we have made."

"I think besides us, Cuba is the team that has had the biggest progress for the last 12 months and I really didn't expect them to be so good," he added.

Chen Nan had a game-high 22 points for China, while Yamara Amargo paced a balanced Cuban attack with 16. Yayma Boulet had 14 points in the defeat.

Both Cuba and China have two wins in the competition so far.

Also in Group F, comprised of national teams that played in Group C and D in the preliminary round of the championship, the Czech Republic beat Russia 85-83 at Jose Correa Arena, in Barueri. The Czechs managed to overcome the Russians again, just like they did in the final game of the EuroBasket Women in 2005.

The two-time defending champion United States crushed France 76-41 in the second round to remain unbeaten at the championship.

The Americans face the European champions the Czech Republic on Monday to decide the winner in Group F. With the top four advancing to the quarterfinals, the Americans have 8 points, the Czechs 7, France 6, then Russia, Cuba and China with 5 each.

In Group E, Australians made their way into the final eight, beating Brazil 82-73.

?Following the defeat to Brazil on Saturday, the Lithuanians had a convincing victory over the Argentineans on Sunday, 62-47. Spain defeated the Canadians by 85-57 at Ibirapuera Arena, in the city of Sao Paulo.

Four national teams left the World Championship on Sunday, as Senegal beat Nigeria 66-64, and South Korea won over Chinese Taipei 73-52. The Africans terminated their participation in the competitions in the 13th (Senegal) and 14th (Nigeria) positions, while the Asians ranked 15th (South Korea) and 16th (Chinese Taipei).
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(fiba2006brazil.com and Xinhua News Agency September 18, 2006)