VALENCIA (2016 Rio Olympics) - Guillem Vives doesn't know if he'll be along for another exhilarating ride with Spain next year when they compete at the Olympics.

Competition for spots in the team will be fierce.

What the 22-year-old backup point guard on this year's title-winning EuroBasket squad does know is that Spain are sure to have a great team.

And he would like nothing more than to see the national side square off against the United States in a third straight Olympic Final.

"It's going to be hard," he said to FIBA.com, when asked what it would take to beat the USA if the teams were to meet in another Gold Medal Game.

"Everybody knows the USA team will be great like in their history, in 1992 or London (2012).

"We'll see. Everyone wants to win but everyone knows it will be hard.

"If we can see a Final like in Beijing and London, that would be perfect."

At the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, the USA edged Spain, 118-107.

Four years later in London and the Spaniards also fell in the Gold Medal Game, 107-100.

Many fans on both sides of the Atlantic anticipated a USA v Spain championship showdown in Madrid at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup but France ended that possibility when they shocked the tournament hosts in the Quarter-Finals.

Vives says there will be far more competition for places in next year's squad than there was in 2015.

Fitness permitting, Ricky Rubio and Jose Calderon will contend for spots in the backcourt.

"I just know that there are a lot of good (Spain) point guards with experience," he said.

"For me, playing here at Valencia Basket is good but we'll see if (national team coach Sergio) Scariolo wants me.

"I want to play at an Olympic Games, though.

"It would be a really good experience.

"One day I want to be there."

Vives made only five appearances at EuroBasket 2015 and played a total of 25 minutes.

The occasion was special.

He got to be with a team that went on a title run that ended with an 80-63 victory over Lithuania.

Vives was also a teammate of Pau Gasol, arguably the greatest player in Spanish basketball history.

"He's a leader on and off the court," Vives said.

"I learned a lot from him.

"It was a pleasure to play with him, (Sergio) Rodriguez, (Sergio) Llull, other great players."

One of his Spain teammates was Fernando San Emeterio, who is also at Valencia.

"It was unbelievable," he said of the experience.

"The feeling was really amazing, with the team and teammates, against France in the Semi-Finals."

Spain defeated France, 80-75, after overtime.

A good season with Valencia, the only unbeaten team in Spain's Liga Endesa at 8-0 and in the Eurocup at 7-0, would help Vives stay in contention for a spot on the Olympic roster.

The 1.92m playmaker is averaging 7.5 points and 5.1 assists per game in the Spanish league and 6.1 points and 4.9 assists in the Eurocup.

FIBA