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China tries to polish its World Cup, which has been preparing for five years, which tried to sell by hype and saucer from the hand of the FIBA ​​without repairing planetary stars for promotion, from Kobe Bryant to Dirk Nowitzki . The one that inaugurated last Friday the president of the country, Xi Jinping from the iconic Water Cube where a large part of the 2008 Olympic Games will be held. Of course, on the court is another story. There are missing pearls and the average level, with 32 selections, is quite mediocre.

The tournament is felt little in the eight huge cities in which it takes place. Just a few counters at the Beijing airport. In Guangzhou, home of the Spanish group, you have to go to the official hotels or the pavilion itself to be aware that there is a World Cup at stake. The internet connections are third world and any routine movement (credit, check in at the hotel, change money, control at the airport ...), is desperate.

On Saturday, the Guangzhou Gymnasium was not even overflowing, although the pavilion of the third most populous city in China is also not huge. Of course, the local fan hallucinates. Go to the meetings rather than enjoy the competition, see their idols and levitate with the show (the 'alley oops' are their favorite part of the game). And in Spain, Marc Gasol and, above all, Ricky Rubio, monopolize the absolute prominence.

In the presentation of the selections, applause of rigor for all, neither Llull nor the Hernagómez with more decibels than Beirán or Rabaseda. Of course, with the two figures of the NBA, the enclosure, full of their NBA shirts, fell apart. In their own way. With those "ooooooooohs!" Of admiration more typical of the fan phenomenon. And of course, with the virguerías of the new base of the Suns on the parquet, with its irreverent passes to a hand, its boats by the back and baskets to past hoop, the ecstasy.

"Nostalgia" of Beijing 2008

Something seemed to happen in Ningbó , where the team played a tournament against Argentina and Russia last week. There were even a rock of Ricky fans, most of them, teenagers, who occupied a whole corner of the court. And then they waited for him at the exit of the Olympic Sports Center to revere him. In Guangzhou, banners with Catalan's face were striking, messages of love like a pop singer: "Do you want to marry me?" or "I love you from day one." «Playing here is always special. It is a hobby that likes basketball a lot, ”he acknowledged after his debut against Tunisia. Before, in the interview with EL MUNDO, he talked about the «nostalgia of that moment», because it was in the Asian country where he grew up, where Aíto García Reneses made him debut with the 17-year-old team, where he had 30 minutes on track in the final against the United States of three of the best bases in history (among other stars), Chris Paul, Deron Williams and Jason Kidd.

That excessive passion for Marc and Ricky goes hand in hand with Spain's dependence on them, which this Monday will look for Puerto Rico (14.30, Four), on the court. Scariolo fights precisely that, because it is not exaggerated, because others get into the car of a couple who, on the other hand, is the envy of 90% of World Cup teams. "They are leaders to win, not to show off," praises the coach, who points in many directions to share responsibilities: Ricky and Llull, as veterans; the Hernangómez as "balance needle", Claver and Ribas as the necessary intention ...

But the sensations are still that with them on the track everything works much better and that if any rival is able to stop their production, in defense and attack, Spain will have a really bad time. "I do not feel that it has to be my World Cup, I feel that I am in a very good moment both physically and mentally and I can take advantage of it," Ricky points out, almost 20 points on average in preparation, 17 in the debut ( his top, long, in a World Cup , since his previous mark was the 12 that he scored for Serbia in 2014) plus nine assists (only surpassed by 11 to New Zealand in the 2010 World Cup). Although he points out: "Here we are so that we all add up and yes it is true that some have to take a step forward after all the casualties or the players that have passed and are no longer there and the experience is a grade."

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