The redeeming United States are one step away from the Olympic gold medal of the men's basketball, which excluded them in eight years, when they face world champions Spain in Sunday's championship game at the Wukesong Indoor Stadium.
The bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics, as well as blows in two world championships in the span from 2000-08, created high expectations of the Americans for their dethroned Dream Team at the Beijing Olympics.
So far so good as the U.S. recorded 7-0 in the tournament, averaging 30.3-point victory margin per game, including a preliminary-round win over Spain 119-82.
The Americans are hottest favorites as they defeated Spain, defending champions Argentina, world runners-up Greece on their way to the final.
Spain, which edged off Lithuanian 91-68 in the semi-finals, were far from a surrender despite their big loss in the preliminary. Many thought the Spaniards tanked in that game for a re-match in the final against the U.S..
Everything will be settled down on Sunday's afternoon and the whole world will witness another potential historical moment at the Beijing Games.
(Xinhua News Agency August 23, 2008)