MIES (Switzerland) - The 1986 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain was all about change.

The tournament expanded from 13 teams in 1982 to 24 teams and was staged in Western Europe for the first time. Seven of the previous nine editions had been held in the Americas, one in Southeast Asia and another in Central Europe.

Among the many talking points was that the USA played much closer to its winning potential, with the country going undefeated and avenging their 1982 title game defeat to the Soviet Union in Colombia. The event is one of FIBA's 90 iconic moments.

Gifted scorer Nikos Galis played for Greece and averaged a tournament best 33.7 points per game, and Oscar Schmidt shone for Brazil.

Andrew Gaze (Australia), Drazen Petrovic and Vlade Divac (both Yugoslavia), Rik Smits (Netherlands) took part, as did a USA team which was loaded with future NBA stars.

David Robinson, who would suit up for the American Dream Team in Barcelona six years later, Kenny Smith, Steve Kerr, Sean Elliott and Brian Shaw - all supremely gifted players that would end up winning NBA titles - represented the USA.

Muggsy Bogues, the team's 1.6m (5ft 3in) point guard, won the hearts of fans in Spain who nicknamed him 'la Chispa Negra' (the Black Spark) with his determined and relentless effort that proved basketball is not just a game for big men.

The Soviet Union boasted the great talent of Arvydas Sabonis, a giant center that many felt would become the best player in the world.

Spain, who had just two years claimed the silver medal at the Los Angeles Olympics, had an exciting team with Epi, Jordi Villacampa, Fernando Romay, Fernando Martin, Candido Sibilio and Jose Margall.

Games were played all over the country, in Zaragoza, Ferrol, Malaga, Tenerife, Barcelona, Oviedo and Madrid.

Fernando Martin was a spectacular talent of World Cup hosts Spain

The Preliminary Round had four groups of six teams, and a top-three finish was needed to advance to the Semi-Final Round, which had two six-team groups.

The teams that advanced carried with them the results against other teams they faced in the Preliminary Round that also progressed. Brazil, the Soviet Union, USA and Yugoslavia topped the four groups and started the Semi-Final Round with 2-0 records. Each then claimed top two finishes and advanced to Semi-Finals.

In one Semi-Final, the world witnessed an unlikely comeback.

David Robinson was the USA center at the 1986 World Cup in Spain

The Soviet Union trailed Yugoslavia by nine points but struck from behind the arc three times to knot the contest at 85-85 to force overtime. Sabonis hit the first of the three-pointers - his fourth of the game - to trigger the comeback, and the Soviets then won the game, 91–90.

They met the USA, who overcame Brazil, 96–80, in the other Semi-Final, in the title game.

The 1986 showdown was a rematch of the deciding game of four years earlier when the Soviets edged the USA in the Colombia World Cup Final, 95–94. 

With just under eight minutes remaining, the Soviets were about to be run out of the Palacio de Deportes. The Americans had a commanding 78-60 lead, but the Soviets stormed back thanks to Sabonis and hot-shooting Valdemaras Chomicius. The defending champions reduced the deficit to a single basket with 50 seconds remaining.

A disappointed Sabonis of the Soviet Union received his runners-up medal

Smith, whose nickname was 'The Jet', then soared in for a layup over the Sabonis with 15 seconds remaining and pushed the USA lead to 87-83 and they held on to win the World Cup for the first time since 1954. Smith had 23 points and Robinson 20 to lead the Americans.

Watch the full Final between the Soviet Union and the USA on FIBA's YouTube channel here.

FIBA