SAPPORO (FIBA World Championship) - Saturday's showdown between Team USA and
Puerto Rico will a mouth-watering starter for basketball lovers.

With great individual talent and a new mentality, the Americans only have
one thing in mind in Japan and that is to regain the status as the best
hoops team in the world.

Having had to settle for a bronze medal at the Olympics in Athens two years
ago following their defeat to Yugoslavia in the quarter finals of the FIBA
World Championship 2002 in Indianapolis, LeBron James and Co are determined
to bounce back.

"My feeling is, you don't think about the past," said Team USA coach
Krzyzewski.
"We have a responsibility right here. Past is past..."

Coach K's side do however face their biggest challenge early on. Despite holding just a three-win record in their 23 official encounters
against the Americans, Puerto Rico, who were handed a wild card to play in
Japan, have always proved to be worthy opponents when facing the Stars and
Stripes side.

Julio Toro's men will be looking to immitate their historic 92-73 victory
over the Americans at the Olympics in Athens, with guard Carlos Arroyo
determined to dish out another sublime performance.

"I feel great physically," said Arroyo."It's very motivating for us to
start the tournament against Team USA and I hope that we can play a great
game in order to gain more confidence as a team."

Injury ruled out Gilbert Arenas while Bruce Bowen was Team USA's last cut. Shooting guard Larry Ayuso was forced to miss training last weekend with
stomach pains while Angelo Reyes and Christian Dalmau have only just
returned to practice following injuries of their own but all are expected to
take part.

Slovenia vs Senegal

SAPPORO (FIBA World Championship) - Slovenia are determined to make their
FIBA World Championship debut against on Saturday a memorable one.

Ales Pipan's side qualified for the tournament for the first time in the
country's history with their sixth-placed finish at last year's European
Championship.

Pipan has kept eight players from last year's EuroBasket side, including big
man Rasho Nesterovic, while young talents Sazo Ozbolt and Beno Udrih have
strengthened the side.

Slovenia are upbeat after beating two-time defending world champions Serbia
& Montenegro in their last preparation game at the Philips Singapore Cup.

Pipan's biggest concern is that the debutant tag could hinder his team's
potential.

"I think that it will be a very tough game for us because it is our first
game at the World Championship," said Pipan.
"We haven't played Senegal before but we have watched the DVD and they are
very good team, with very tough players and they are very good at
rebounding, offense and defense."

FIBA Africa Championship runners-up Senegal return to the tournament after
an eight-year wait determined to prove they are not the weakest link in
Group D.

'The Lions' are looking to leave behind their agitated summer after national
coach Abdou ¡°Adidas¡± N¡¯Diaye was sacked before the tournament preparation
stage and his assistant, Moustapha "Tapha" Gaye was named as his successor.

"We have already left that episode behind us," said Senegal power forward
Sitapha Savane. "We know we are considered the group underdogs but that will
only be a motivation for us."

China vs Italy

SAPPORO (FIBA World Championship) - China endured a difficult build-up to
Japan when they finished on the losing side in all but one of their
pre-World Championship friendlies.

But Jonas Kazlauskas' men have left their woes behind them having recovered
several key players to injury, including superstar cengter Yao Ming, and are
fired up for their first encounter against a rejuvenated Italy on Saturday.

Yao is slowly regaining his top fitness having suffered a foot injury late
in the season, which is good news for Kazlauskas, who nevertheless expects
emerging youngsters Yi Jianlian and Sun Yue to step up their game in order
to help their team reach the next round.
.
"It's difficult to have Yao 100% considering the injury he has had but
everyday he is getting better and better," said Kazlauskas, who expects a
tough battle against the 2004 Olympic silver medalists Italy.

"Both teams will try to win this game and try to get to the best start
possible," he added." Some teams in this group can relax but we cannot
afford to do so. We will try to fight 40 minutes at our maximum. This is the
key to us."

Italy have the upper hand, having beaten China in four of their five
official meetings, but this Azzurri side is undergoing a transition with
just three players from their Athens winning side on the roster.

The Azzurri were granted a wild card for Japan after a dismal performance at
the EuroBasket last year, but even with an inexperienced side, coach Carlo
Recalcati expects his team to get to the next level.

"The World Championship is a magnificent occasion to give our young players
international experience," said coach Carlo Recalcati.
"Our aim in this tournament is to get experience but also to try and
progress to the next round."