Red-hot favourites the United States provided plenty of razzamatazz to dazzle the fans in Japan, but Spain demonstrated that heart can take you further than rim-shaking dunks and highlight reel plays.

The Americans finished with bronze after being humbled by Greece in the semi-finals and must now go through a tough Olympic qualifying process in Venezuela next year.

Spain booked their spot at the 2008 Beijing Games after a blowout 70-47 win over Greece in Sunday's final achieved without talismanic NBA All-Star Pau Gasol.

The Memphis Grizzlies forward suffered a broken metatarsal during Spain's epic 75-74 semi-final victory over Argentina but his absence inspired his team mates against Greece.

Gasol watched from the bench and burst into tears as the final buzzer confirmed Spain's first major international title.

Spanish coach Pepu Hernandez, who's father died on the eve of the final, also fought back tears as his players celebrated.

Hernandez had kept the news from his players.

"I didn't tell the players because I didn't want anything to affect or distract them," he said. "My family have given me a lot of support."

Gasol was named player of the tournament as Spain gave the country's long-suffering sports fans the title they craved after another flop at this year's soccer World Cup.

SWEET MOMENT

"It's such a sweet moment the pain in my foot has gone," beamed Gasol. "This is the best day of my sporting career. It's the most beautiful thing that could ever happen to me."

Spain extended their winning streak to 18 games after new Toronto Raptors signing Jorge Garbajosa stepped up in the final.

"We did our best for Pau," said Garbajosa, who scored 20 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. "He is our friend and our brother. We dedicate this to him."

European champions Greece also emerged from the tournament with enormous credit after shocking the U.S. 101-95 in the last four.

There was more soul-searching for the Americans, however, after they failed to snap a six-year world and Olympic drought despite surging to the semi-finals.

Victory over reigning Olympic champions Argentina in the bronze medal game restored a degree of pride for the U.S. team's collection of big-name NBA players.

But their woeful perimeter shooting and poor understanding of the subtleties of the international game hurt the U.S.

"You can't take a night off," shrugged Carmelo Anthony, the only U.S. player to make the tournament's All-Star team.

"Greece came out and played really hard...and it kind of shocked us."