ESP - Gasol wants end to years of hurt

SINGAPORE (FIBA World Championship) - Spain forward Pau Gasol is anxious to help his country end their long-awaited quest for success in major international basketball competitions at this year's FIBA World Championship.

While they are considered one of the leading contenders for this year's title, Spain's national basketball team are notorious underachievers at international level and have yet to claim an Olympic, World or European title.

Mindful of those past disappointments, Gasol, who will play for Spain at this weekend's Philips Singapore Cup, is keen to deflect all talk of his side being one of the favourites for the world title.

"At the last few championships we've played in, people have talked about Spain being among the favourites. Whether it's the European or World Championships or the Olympics, we've been considered one of three or four favourites to win it," said the Memphis Grizzlies forward.

"However, all of that means nothing until we get the gold medal, like Argentina did at the (2004) Olympics or Serbia & Montenegro did at the (2002) World Championship. It doesn't matter what people say before the championship, wherever you finish, that's where you are.

"It's not how good you are before the championship, it's how well you play or how many games you win to get the furthest. That's the bottom line.

"You have to earn a seat and you can only do it at the end of the championship when you see where you end up as a team."

Despite those misgivings, Gasol still believes the current Spanish side have the ability to go all the way in Japan.

"Our team is doing well. Our chemistry is good, our talent is good, our potential is good and we have a very competitive team," he added.

"However, even if you're one of the top favourites, you still have to beat other teams and get to the fight for the medals.

"That's where we want to get and obviously we have to play against some tough teams before we get there and that's why we have to take it one game at a time, be patient and take it seriously."

Having opted out of last year's European Championships, where Spain finished fourth after a heartbreaking one-point loss to Germany in the semi-finals, Gasol is determined to bring some basketball glory to the Iberian nation.

"Obviously, I feel pressure because I didn't play and that I wasn't with my team-mates and with my country last year," said Gasol.

"I really want to play well this year and to give my best, so that we can make a lot of people happy back in my country."

Spain's preparations continue this weekend at the Singapore Cup where they meet Slovenia, Serbia & Montenegro and Argentina in their final warm-up matches ahead of the FIBA World Championship, which begins in Japan on August 19.

PA Sport