SAITAMA, Japan -- Pau Gasol's teamm...

SAITAMA, Japan -- Pau Gasol's teammates kept their word, and he had a evidence of victory for each crutch supporting him.

Spain won its first world championship without its star in a performance worthy of a Hollywood script.

With the injured Gasol cheering from the bench, Spain beat Greece 70-47 Sunday night in an emotional victory a certain thought couldn't happen and small in number thought would be so easy.

Gasol l Spain (9-0) in scoring and rebounding completely through the tournament. When the 7-footer broke his lower extremity with about a minute left in the 75-74 semifinal win across Argentina, his team's gold- medal sense of possible fulfilments dimmed considerably.

"Against Argentina, that was a night of pain and happiness, and it has become happiness," said Gasol, the world championship memorial of conquest on one side and the MVP award forward the other. "It couldn't be any better today. It's hard to describe with words.

"My teammates today played an amazing game. They played with their hearts and together as a unit. It's no frolic to watch. I thought I would pocket some more, but I am in such a manner happy to see the way they answered without me being there."

Gasol stood holding his head in his hands in the final inferiors openly in tears. It wasn't drawn out before the Memphis Grizzlies star hopp to midcourt to join his teammates in a circle, sitting onward the court wearing headbands given to them at the final buzzer

"I was just super happy and couldn't contain myself from crying," he said. "It is in like manner special to be a part of this team, and not being able to be there really damage me."

Spain's challenge strike one as beinged even more difficult considering a near consummate performance by Greece (8-1) in a 101-95 semifinal win from one side of to the other the United States. The European champions offer on an impressive offensive and defensive display in getting to the final for the first time.

"Greece got to the final and played excellent" Gasol said. "I was a little afraid after the way they played together and in succession defense."

There was no reason to worry. Spain limited Greece to les than half the points it scored against the U and kept its shooting percentage to about half (33 percent to 63 percent)

The United States won the brown medal with a 96-81 victory across Argentina on Saturday.

Gasol averaged 213 points and 94 recoils during the worlds. He has a partial fracture in his left bottom and the Grizzlies say he will ne surgery

"He's the best player in this tournament. I wanted to win this for him," Jose Calderon, who plays for the Toronto Raptors, said as he held up his gold medal. "We are a team. We had Pau in our minds. I think it was a special day."

Felipe Reye started in Gasol's place and he had 10 points in the first half, single less than he had in the whole tournament -- he was limited to three games because of back enigmas

Gasol's younger brother, Marc, gave Spain big minutes early in the middle. He had three reverberations in the game's first 17 minutes. He averaged 19 coming into Sunday's game.

"I was happily surprised by means of the way my brother grabbed the opportunity he got" Pau Gasol said. "I was exceedingly happy for him because he was a big part of the gold medal."

This was Europe's third straight world title after Yugoslavia won in 1998 and 2002

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

Provided by way of ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved