Expect a thriller in 2nd semi

SAITAMA -- Friday's Argentina-Spain semifinal matchup should be the most entertaining game of the FIBA World Championship.

Argentina's Manu Ginobili is the team's go-to player. Against red-hot Spain, winners of 16 straight games, Ginobili's leadership skills will be put to the test. AP PHOTO

And that's an intriguing possibility when you remember this: Germany and Angola played a triple-overtime contest in Hiroshima last week.

This one, too, has the makings of a down-to-the-wire thriller.

The game tips off at 7:30 p.m. at Saitama Super Arena, where fans from both nations have congregated to wave their nations' flags, chant inspirational songs and roar with delight as play-it-the-right-way basketball has been these teams' trademarks.

"It's a tough game either way," said Spain's Pau Gasol, whose team has won 16 straight games. "We'll see how it goes. Argentina is a really tough team with a lot of experience, and they're the Olympic champions, of course."

Both Spanish-speaking nations have a bona fide megastar on their roster.

Gasol, a 212-cm All-Star center from the Memphis Grizzlies, has continued to dominate in international competition, picking where he left off in Athens (he was the No. 1 scorer in the 2004 Summer Games, and before that, the top scorer at EuroBasket 2003).

His jaw-dropping repertoire of back-to-the-basket moves, spins and hook shots give Spain a great inside presence and 20-something points a game.

Argentina's Manu Ginobili has two NBA titles with the San Antonio Spurs and a gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics on his impressive resume.

Ginobili had a quiet seven-point, three-assist, two-steal outing against Turkey on Tuesday, but is capable of dropping 30 points every time he steps onto the court.

In pre-worlds competition, Spain defeated Argentina by more than 20 points twice in a pair of exhibition contests. You can't analyze those games too closely, Argentina coach Sergio Hernandez said.

"We don't care about the last two games," he said bluntly. "It was practice.

"I don't think that the results against Spain can have an influence in the next game, in the Friday game, because both teams are two of the best teams in the world," he added. "Both teams play a similar game with the great players, the smart players.

"Spain has a team like us. Sure, we will do a great game and the people will enjoy the game and nobody can say before the game who will win the game."

Spain steps onto the court Friday with 16 victories in a row, a fact that could put extra pressure on Pepu Hernandez's squad against Argentina.

"Maybe this point is better (for) us," said Sergio Hernandez of Spain.

"They never lose."

Nor have the Spaniards been truly tested in the fourth quarter, he noted, citing the fact that none of their games have been tied in the last five minutes.

"I want to see what happens for the first time," he said.

Instead, the Argentines' preparation has shifted to slowing down Spain's potent inside-outside offense attack.

In addition to Gasol's 21.0 ppg (entering the quarters), Juan Carlos Navarro (13.3), Jorge Garbajosa (11.8) and Rudy Fernandez (11.3) are all steady scorers in their own right.

Guard Juan Calderon, who plays for the Toronto Raptors, is a high-caliber floor leader who sets the fast tempo for Spain.

Argentina's balanced offense is equally effective.

Ginobili is the team's leading scorer (16.3), followed by power forward/center Luis Scola (14.8), super sub Walter Herrmann (11.5), forward Andres Nocioni (11.2) and center Fabricio Oberto (10.0).

Argentina trounced Turkey 83-58 in Tuesday's quarterfinals, and Spain eliminated Lithuania from medal contention with an 89-67 victory.

Argentina's experience in big games -- eight players return from the 2004 Olympic squad and nine are 29 or older -- could be a factor in this showdown.

Spain's lone hombre older than 29 is small forward Carlos Jimenez.

For Spain, continuous improvement is the name of the game, especially in top-level competitions.

"The right pressure makes you move and work harder every day," Pepu Hernandez said.

After this colossal matchup, only one thing is certain: Someone named Hernandez will be a hero in his homeland.