Both women's teams from host China and Spain are trying to win their first game on Saturday when they meet each other as the Beijing Olympic Games basketball competitions kick off in Beijing's Wukesong Basketball Gym.
"The first game is very important for us," said Kuang Lubin, executing manager of the Chinese team. "If we win that will encourage us and help us do well in the further games."
The Chinese team, who took bronze in 1984 and silver in 1992 and placed ninth four years ago in Athens, hopes to enter the semis and even hunts for a bronze medal.
The first game at the Beijing Olympics preliminary round is also important for the Spanish women.
"At the moment, what worries us the most is playing the first game. Once we get that one out of the way, then we can take it one game at a time and aim to go as far as possible," Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB) President Jose Luis Saez said.
Like its men's team, Spanish women's is hopeful for a medal. Spain, who took silver at the European championship, and finished sixth in 2004 Olympics and eighth in the 2006 Worlds, cruised past China with eight points four years ago and also beat the host by four points in an early June friendly game. The Spanish booked the Olympic ticket in June through the qualifying tournament, where it lost to Brazil but won over Cuba in the decisive game.
Spaniard are also boosted by their warm-ups before traveling to Beijing. They thumped European titlist Russia 90-73 and edged the Czech Republic 66-63.
However, the Chinese coach Tom Maher said: "Spain looks very strong but we have confidence to beat them."
It may be crucial for the Chinese if their defense and rebounds are good enough as well as veterans center Chen Nan, shooting guard Miao Lijie and small forwand Sui Feifei can play their game.
"Although we still have a problem in shooting but we will do our best to focus on rebounds and avoid tournovers that can guarantee our ball controlled," Maher added. "That was the most important thing for us."
The competitions in the opening day will also see Russia in Group A to face on Lativa, who was the first time to appear at the Olympic basketball tournament.
Latvia's Anete Jekabsone-Zogota, who won FIBA Europe Women's Player of the Year last month, was outstanding for Latvia last year at the Euro Basket when her country reached the semis. And she's also excelling for her club side Dynamo Moscow in the EuroLeague Women.
Headlined by Jekabsone-Zogota, Latvia performed well in the FIBA Diamond Ball for Women last week in Haining, where they beat Russia, 75-69, and gave the United States pressure. They trailed 38-47 in the half and assembled an 8-2 run capped by a 3-pointer from Leva Kublina that cut the margin 46-49 before a 74-84 defeat.
Russians, who beat the United States in the semis at the 2006 World Championship and won the European title last year, are yet to be ready obviously after their defeats to Latvia and the Americans in Haining.
Russia was helped by American-born Becky Hammon, who played in just her three games with her new country. She scored 10 points and came up with three steals as Russia met with the Americans but was helpless to prevent the opponent's onslaught.
"This game looks like we are not ready," Russia coach Igor Grudin admitted.
Also in Group A, world champion Australia will meet with Belarus, Brazil faces South Korea.
The United States will open their title-defending fight in the Group B as they play against the Czech Republic, who placed fifth four years ago, while new face African champion Mali and New Zealand play each other in another Group B game.
(Xinhua News Agency August 8, 2008)