SAPPORO, Japan, August 20 -- Olympic silver medallist Italy rallied past Slovenia 80-76 here on Sunday for its second straight victory at the 2006 World Men's Basketball Championship.

Italian Stefano Belinelli had a game-high 26 points, but it was Matteo Soragna who scored all his nine points late in the fourth quarter to lead his teammates to a 14-5 run that concluded the hardly contested match.

Slovenia, the 96-79 winner over Senegal on Saturday, held a 71-66 lead with less than four minutes remaining. But then Soragna made a short jumper and a three-pointer to spark an 10-0 burst of Italy that overtook the lead at 76-71.

Jaka Lakovic nailed a three-pointer with 50 seconds to go to pull it within 76-74, but Soragna had a basket 22 seconds later and made two from the line 16 seconds from the end to seal the victory for the Italians.

Gianluca Basile, who had 27 points in Italy's 84-69 win over China on Saturday, was held to five points, while Denis Marconna added nine points and 11 rebounds.

Radoslav Nesterovic led Slovenia with 17 points and eight rebounds and Jaka Lakovic contributed 14 points.

Puerto Rico beat Senegal 88-79 earlier on Sunday in anther Group D preliminary match.