Game Report, Angola vs Panama, 83-70, GROUP B

HIROSHIMA (FIBA World Championship) Four players scored in double figures as Angola used a balanced against to beat Panama 83-70, taking an important step towards the knock-out stages of the 2006 FIBA World Championship.

Carlos Almeida scored a game high 22 points for Angola while Ruben Douglas tallied 17 points in a losing cause.

Angola started off in excellent form, grabbing a 27-15 lead after one period.

Guillermo Vecchio's team responded by crashing the offensive glass in the second quarter and putting together a 13-0 run to grab the lead 28-27 on Jamal Levi's basket inside midway through the quarter.

Angola were able to pull back ahead 37-33 at the break.

Angola's lead was only 47-46 before the African champions finished the third quarter on a 20-4 run to open a comfortable 67-50 going into the fourth.

Panama fought back to within 69-61, but Ed Cota missed a three-pointer with 2:58 left which would have made it a three-point game and Abdel Azis Moussa hit a jumper to stop the run. And the Central Americans would not get any closer the rest of the game.

Angola play Japan next and Panama face Spain.

By DAVID HEIN
Exclusively for FIBA