ESP - Reyes still respects much-changed United States

MADRID (FIBA World Championship) - Felipe Reyes believes the United States are still among the favourites to take gold at the FIBA World Championship regardless of the wholesale changes being made to their roster.

With the players who won gold at the Beijing Olympics absent this summer, it will be a very different Team USA on show in Turkey, but one Reyes nevertheless respects.

"We would like it if they were at their stongest, but even if they don't have their top five, the five they have will be good," Reyes said.

"They will always be the favourites for the gold medal despite those missing."
Likewise, Spain will be without star man Pau Gasol, but Reyes is not concerned and is happy to adapt however coach Sergio Scariolo sees fit.

"Whenever I'm on the court, I will give it my all," he said. "We shall see if I play more or less, but the important thing is to be physically fit. Pau is an important player, but we remain very strong, with or without Gasol."

If they can find a way to cope without the Los Angeles Lakers center, Spain will be very strong candidates to defend their world crown.

"Motivation guides us and we are ambitious and want to continue making history," Reyes said.

"Everytime we play a championship we will fight for medals. It is not a goal we always achieve, but the good thing about this team is that we win, we are well motivated and we are not satisfied easily, we always want more."

FIBA