Spain needs to defeat China in first Olympic basketball match in Athens

The Spanish Olympic basketball team's star player Pau Gasol said on Wednesday that defeating China is a priority for Spain to start with the right foot in Athens 2004.

Spanish women's and men's basketball teams are optimistic on arrival in Greece, as they are considered to be well prepared.

China, led by giant center Yao Ming, closed its Olympic warm-up with a 69-79 defeat by Latvia in a friendly match Wednesday in Lithuania, which hints a good chance for Spain to win in Athens, as Latvia did not qualify for the Olympics.

Spain has not won a medal in the sport since the 1984 Games in Los Angeles.

Gasol said the team is capable as any other side, but it is important to start with a victory, because a defeat would make it difficult to advance to the quarter-finals.

Spain is pooled in Group A, with China, Italy, Argentina, Serbia and Montenegro.

The average age of the Spanish players is 30. Gasol said the team is encouraged and expected to move on to the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, team coach Juan Navarro said the team has experience and could be together for many more years.

The Spain focuses its attack on Gasol "but everyone in the team will be there to help obtaining the medal, which is the goal of the team," he said.

The men's Olympic basketball competition starts on Sunday, and women's a day earlier.

Source: Xinhua