MADRID (2010 FIBA World Championship for Women) – Spain coach Evaristo Perez is preparing for another showdown with Brazil after being drawn against the South Americans giants in Group C of the FIBA World Championship for Women.

In addition to facing their traditional rivals, Spain will go up against Korea and Mali in Group C.

"Brazil is a world power and it´s no surprise they were among the top four seeds in the draw,” Perez said.

“Some veteran players have turned down the option of playing in next year´s World Championship but the (Brazilian) confederation is trying to get certain players like Helen Luz that will contribute for the national team to maintain the level it has reached in the last few tournaments.”

Spain and Brazil have met often in the past.

At the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Spain stormed into the Quarter-Finals but were upended by the Brazilians.

In a Preliminary Round meeting at the FIBA World Championship for Women three years ago in Sao Paolo, Spain gained partial revenge by edging Brazil 67-66.

Last year, Brazil upset Spain at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women, 71-68, though both sides went on to progress to the Beijing Games.

Brazil hosted the FIBA Americas Championship this year, a tournament that did not include the United States, and won the gold medal at a canter while Spain followed up their fifth-place finish at the Olympics with a bronze medal at EuroBasket 2009 in Latvia.

As for the other team Perez’s players will take on in Group C, the coach said: “We are familiar with Mali because we already faced them at the Olympic Games in Beijing.”

Mali won the silver medal at this year’s Afrobasket Women.

“They will have a group of players that are athletically strong and that must continue to grow for this event but we must beat them,” he said.

"South Korea is the most uncomfortable rival. They don´t have big stars but without making much noise, they reach the international events.

“Korea uses the known style of oriental play that is characterized by the versatility of all their players and because they don´t let their guard down any time."

After the Preliminary Round games, Spain will cross over to play in the Eight-Finals and take on the top three teams from a Group D which includes Russia, the Czech Republic, Argentina and Japan.

FIBA