ATHENS (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men) - Germany beat Puerto Rico 96-82 on Sunday in the last game of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament to claim the final place on offer for the Beijing Games.

Dirk Nowitzki had 32 points and nine rebounds for the Germans, who also got a sensational effort from point guard Steffen Hamann.

The playmaker had 19 points, which included a two of three effort from three-point range, and four assists.

Puerto Rico, playing without Carlos Arroyo after he suffered a muscle tear in Saturday night's defeat to Greece, led by as many as five points in the first half but Germany battled back and then grabbed the upper hand with a 10-2 run at the end of the second quarter for a 48-39 advantage.

Nowitzki buried a three-ball and Chris Kaman followed with a basket inside before Nowitzki added a layup for the nine-point advantage - his team's biggest lead of the game.

Nowitzki scored 18 points in the first half while Kaman had 10 along with nine rebounds.

Hamann was also excellent for Germany with eight points, three assists and one steal.

Puerto Rico meanwhile, had nine from Jose Barea, eight from Peter John Ramos and seven from Carmelo Lee.
 
Germany only led 58-54 midway through the third quarter when four consecutive three-balls in a 12-0 surge - two shots from behind the arc from Robert Garret - saw them go in front 70-54.

Puerto Rico fought bravely with full-court press and a 9-1 run capped by a Jose Barea lay-up allowed them to close the gap to 86-77 with 2:15 remaining.

But Manolo Cintron's team got no closer.

Demond Greene, who hit four of seven shots from three-point range, said: "We were very confident going into the game. We won, that was our goal. We are going to Beijing, everyone is very happy."

When asked about his 15 points and the 19 scored by Hamann, Green added: "We had a good day and it is our job to have the shots and make the shots and take the weight off Dirk's shoulders."

Just how good can Germany be in China?

With Kaman, who had 10 points and 12 rebounds in 21 minutes, along with Nowitzki and the rest of a very confidence team, Germany can be very dangerous.

The fact that he only got his German passport at the start of July and joined the team shortly before the qualifying event wasn't lost on him.

"This is 12 days for me and it's 12 years for Dirk," he said. "I can't even imagine the emotions he is feeling right now."

Barea finished with a team-high 18 points for Puerto Rico, who also got 16 from center Peter John Ramos and 15 from Larry Ayuso.

Puerto Rico, who caused the biggest shock of the 2004 Olympics when they upset the United States on opening day, will now have to watch as six teams from Europe and only two from the FIBA Americas - Team USA and Argentina - go to Beijing.

FIBA