ESP - Calderon: "We’re going to play this final for Pau”

SAITAMA (FIBA World Championship) - Jose Manuel Calderon had missed just one of his 11 free throws going into today's semi-final game against Argentina. But when he failed to connect on two of his first six attempts in the second half, it looked as if something was wrong.

So when Pepe Sanchez fouled him with 19 seconds to play and Calderon had shot four of six from the charity stripe, it seemed like a good foul.

The Spanish point guard almost made Sanchez's foul look like a smart play when he missed the first to leave the game tied at 74-74.

But Calderon made the second one and Argentina were unable to score at the other end as Spain held on to prevail 75-74 and reach its first FIBA World Championship final.

Regardless of the result there, Sergio Hernandez's men are assured of improving on Spain's best result in the competition, a fourth place finish at the 1982 World Championship in Columbia.

However, Calderon is not one to settle for second place and even though the status of Spain star player Pau Gasol is uncertain after he injured his right foot, the playmaker will do whatever it takes to ensure his team try their best to knock off the European champions on Sunday, after shocking the Olympic champions tonight.

FIBA correspondent Simon Wilkinson caught up with Calderon after the defeat of Argentina.

FIBA: You came out quite flat at the start of the game but recovered extremely well to take the lead midway through the second quarter and hold out for an historic win. Was the bad start due to nerves?

Calderon: I don't know really. In the first quarter we didn't play very well. I think it was probably our worst basketball of the tournament. But we know that the game is 40 minutes long so we were able to clam down and get back to playing as we've done throughout the competition. We knew that we had to play our style and now was not the time to start doing things differently.

FIBA: Obviously the win was not too easy to celebrate because Pau Gasol got injured. What is his status?

Calderon: We're not sure yet. We'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out. The win wasn't as enjoyable as it should be because we don't know if he can play on Sunday. But as I said, we'll wait until tomorrow to find out what the x-ray shows. We are waiting to hear some good news hopefully. We have to play against Greece on Sunday with or without him. But we're playing for him in the final because he's our best player.

FIBA: Can you talk about the free throws with 19 seconds left? You had missed two already in the game, which was more than you missed in the tournament before the semi-final.

Calderon: Yeah it wasn't my day at the line. I didn't feel comfortable. I missed three in total. But Argentina fouled me and I had to shoot those two foul shots and hope I would make them both or at least one. I made the second one and that was enough to win.

FIBA: Do you think of what could have happened if you'd missed both? Maybe they could have won or the game might have gone to overtime?

Calderon: No I don't want to think about that. I don't want to imagine what could have happened if I had missed both. I made one and it was enough to win. That's the most important thing.

FIBA: And now you can look ahead to Greece. What are your impressions of them?

Calderon: I think they are one of the best teams in the competitions and that's why they're in the final. All their players, all 12 of them, get a chance to play and contribute to the team's success. In some way they're like us or really I guess you have to say we try to be like them. They don't have the biggest stars but they need every one of their players to win games.

FIBA: How does it feel to knock off the Olympic champions and runners up at the last World Championship? And how great would it be to follow that up by beating the European champions?

Calderon: It feels great to beat Argentina and playing in the final is a dream come true. It will be a very tough game against Greece and we'll have to play just as well as we did tonight.

FIBA: Do you think that you will need to get off to a better start than today?

Calderon: I think we can't worry if we are behind after the first quarter or at the half or if we're going into the final quarter trailing. This final is going to be close and it will be decided in the closing seconds just like our semi final was.

By Simon Wilkinson
FIBA