体坛英语新闻：Brazilian basketball fans lament continuation of jinx against Argentina

RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian basketball fans throughout the country anxiously watched on Tuesday as their national team went up against neighbor and archrival Argentina.

On Brazil's Independence Day, the nation hoped that its basketball team would end a 14-year winless streak, but only to be frustrated once again.

In the 2010 FIBA Basketball World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, the two teams faced each other in the round of 16. Fourteen years have passed since Brazil beat Argentina in an international contest. However, with a score of 93-89, Brazilians were disappointed yet again with another loss.

Head coach and Argentinean native Ruben Magnano lamented the loss, but stated that the team is progressing. Noting that it has been a long time coming for a necessary reform in its national basketball team, Magnano noted that his work will take a long period of time before fully complete.

The last time that Brazil beat Argentina in an international tournament was during the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.