MADRID (EuroBasket 2009) - Spain's EuroBasket winners were welcomed home by King Juan Carlos, Queen Sofia and Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero on Monday in Madrid less than 24 hours after their title triumph in Katowice.
 
Gold medalists at the 2006 FIBA World Championship, silver-medal winners two years ago at the EuroBasket in Spain and runners-up at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Spaniards overcame a difficult start to the 2009 event in Poland and won five straight games by an average of 19 points.

They defeated a young but excellent Serbia team in the final on Sunday night, 85-63.
 
"I followed the games and you have played in an impressive manner," Zapatero said at the Palacio de la Moncloa.
 
"Basketball gives you joy although on this occasion, there have been plenty of thrills from the Preliminary Round."
 
Zapatero paid a special tribute to Pau Gasol, who was voted Most Valuable Player of the EuroBasket.
 
Gasol, who won his first-ever NBA title as a power forward with the Los Angeles Lakers in June, had also been named MVP of the 2006 FIBA World Championship.
 
He suffered a finger injury during the preparations and missed all of the friendly games but recovered in time to lead Spain.
 
"I thank Pau Gasol's commitment to the national team," Zapatero said.
 
"It is exemplary. Pau, you don't know how much you contribute positively to the national team."
 
Zapatero then looked ahead to next year when Spain will attempt to defend their world title, saying: "We now hope that the good run continues at the Olympic Games in London but before that, we have the FIBA World Championship in Turkey, although we cannot ask you for more."
 
After meeting with the Prime Minister, Spain went to celebrate at the Cibeles fountain in Madrid where 5,000 fans were waiting for Los Chicos de Oro.
 
FIBA