HIROSHIMA -- Team Spain arrived in Japan as one of the elite basketball squads in the world. Nothing's changed. Except for this: The Spaniards' margin for error against Angola on Wednesday was as narrow as a pair of chopsticks. That's what happens when your opponent takes 16 more shots and grabs 10 more offensive rebounds.
NBA All-Star center Pau Gasol scored 28 points and Spain held on for a 93-83 victory over Angola at the Hiroshima Prefectural Sports Center in this battle of the FIBA World Championship Group B's last remaining unbeaten teams.
When it was over, Angolan players expressed pride in pushing their highly regarded foe to the brink.