HIROSHIMA -- Spain's superiority shone brightly in the final game of Group B play at the FIBA World Championship.

Coach Pepu Hernandez's squad ran through its plays with the polished ease of a team that clearly recognizes what it can accomplish: becoming the next world champion.

Japan's glaring weaknesses were just as visible on Thursday night at the Hiroshima Prefectural Sports Center. This team needs three key ingredients for sustained success: a dominant big man, standout rebounders and consistency on offense. It also entered the 24-nation tournament without much collective experience playing against the big boys.

The final result -- Spain 104, Japan 55 -- was not a huge surprise. It was validation of Japan coach Zeljko Pavlicevic's pre-worlds message: His team needed to beat two of these teams -- Panama, Angola and New Zealand -- to have a realistic shot at moving on to the final 16 in Saitama.

The loss may end Pavlicevic's stint as Team Japan coach, which will be determined at a meeting on Sept. 20, according to a report.

Pavlicevic arrived here in 2003.

After his team's "sayonara" loss to Spain, Pavlicevic's choice of words said a lot about what losing by 49 can do to a coach.

"I don't want to see any box score," said Pavlicevic.

"Today's game (was) not a game," he added.

What it was, was proof of Spain's exceptional talent, and coupled with equal doses of discipline and desire it sparked a big-time performance.

And it didn't help Japan's cause that Spain had already clinched a spot in the next stage and had all the motivation in the world to use this game as a chance to fine-tune its offensive and defensive plays. Hernandez spoke without reservation about why he had several key players, including Pau Gasol, his biggest star, in the game in the closing minutes, even though Spain was leading by more than 50 points.

Spain's dazzling display was all about getting itself it peak playing condition mentally and physically for its next opponent. Spain now prepares itself for a Sunday showdown against Serbia and Montenegro, the reigning two-time world champion (it won the 1998 title as the country formerly known as Yugoslavia).

Pavlicevic understood the significance of his team's game for Spain.

"Two days later (Spain) has a most important game versus Serbia and Montenegro," he said. "That's why they have to play good."

Japan had stretches of quality play in each of its five games in the tournament. But maintaining that high level was a difficult task for Pavlicevic's men.

"Because of our lack of size and muscle we can't (dominate against) the top of the world like Spain," Pavlicevic said. "But we can play close games with middle-level teams like New Zealand.

"We couldn't get to the best of 16. Going to the best of 16 was the most important task."

He called the team's quest to reach Saitama a failure, but reminded the large throng of reporters that he's proud of his players for their dedication and effort.

"Even if we couldn't achieve our goal, we can compete with the world of basketball," he said.

Japan showed that in beating Panama 78-61, giving Germany a tough Group B-opening game and putting on the best showing of its five games in the first half against New Zealand when it jumped out to an 18-point halftime lead.

Pavlicevic has coached powerhouse teams in Europe, several of which have had future NBA stars on their rosters. Those teams were impressive, "but Japanese players are the best character guys that I've ever coached," he said.

"But for this team the world tournament is a first step," he said. "We have so many young players."

To reach the next level, Japan's players will need to use this World Championship as a learning experience.