updated 12:45 p.m. ET Aug. 19, 2006

SAPPORO, Japan - Gianluca Basile scored 27 points, and Italy used its 3-point shooting to pull away in the second half for an 84-69 victory over China on Saturday night at the world championships.

Yao Ming scored 30 points for China. Having recently returned from a broken foot sustained in April, the Houston Rockets star struggled with his outside shooting touch. But the All-Star center was dominant around the basket, keeping China in the game until midway through the third period.

Matteo Soragna added 14 points for the Italians, including consecutive 3-pointers in the third quarter that broke open the final game of the opening day in Group D. Italy made 13 3-pointers, eight in the second half.

Italy was the silver medalist in the 2004 Olympics, but is fielding a younger team now after falling to ninth place in last year’s European championships. The Italians appear to have plenty of perimeter shooters among the youngsters.

The game was tied at 50 with under four minutes left in the third quarter before Soragna nailed consecutive 3-pointers and Basile sank two free throws for an eight-point advantage. Basile, Angelo Gigli and Marco Mordente added 3s before the end of the period, giving the Italians a 67-56 lead entering the final 10 minutes. They remained ahead by double digits the rest of the way.

Neither team led by more than seven points in the first half, which ended with Italy ahead 39-35 after Basile’s jumper with 15 seconds left.

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Wang ZhiZhi scored eight points for China. Wang, the first Chinese player to play in the NBA, was banned from the national team after refusing to play in 2002. The Chinese, aware Yao’s health was in question, allowed him to return recently after he apologized to the federation.

China was to face the United States, the group favorite, in its second game. U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski and his coaching staff, along with a group of players that included LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, watched part of the game from behind the basket.

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