SAITAMA, Japan - Olympic champions Argentina rolled past New Zealand 79-62 at the world basketball championships on Saturday to become the first team through to the quarter-finals.

Argentina's Carlos Delfino celebrates during Argentina's win over New Zealand at the second round of the world basketball championships in Saitama August 26, 2006. [Reuters]

The Tall Blacks, surprise semi-finalists four years ago, gave the Argentines all they could handle in a physical and occasionally ill-tempered opening half, and trailed by just three points late in the second quarter.

But the South Americans showed their class after the intermission, storming to a 21-point lead then coasting to their sixth consecutive win.

San Antonio Spurs' Manu Ginobili poured in 28 points, Fabricio Oberto had 23 and 10 rebounds, while Mark Dickel, who missed the opening three games of group play due to a drugs suspension, led New Zealand with 14 points.

The second round continues on Saturday with Italy taking on Lithuania followed by Turkey against Slovenia and Spain tipping off against defending champions Serbia & Montenegro in the late game.