by Guy Jackson
ATHENS, Aug 15 (AFP) - Puerto Rico inflicted one of the greatest upsets in Olympic history upon the United States basketball team here Sunday with a 92-73 triumph that forever ended the Americans` aura of global invincibility.
Co-captains Tim Duncan and Allen Iverson and rookie LeBron James were among the young collection of National Basketball Association millionaires humbled by a team that was crushed by the Americans in an exhibition barely two weeks ago.
"I take my hat off to Puerto Rico. They prepared really well and their coaching was sensational," US coach Larry Brown said. "Now we have to look inside ourselves for the answers, because we are the favourites.
"I hope we will be capable of doing that."
It was the first Olympic defeat for the United States in 25 games since NBA talent, including Michael Jordan, began playing at the 1992 Barcelona Games.
US teams had gone 109-2 in Olympic basketball since the sport joined the Games lineup in 1936, losing only to the Soviet Union in the controversial 1972 Munich final and a 1988 Seoul semi-final that pushed the US to send NBA talent.
The 24-0 US run included three consecutive gold medals but now the squad must fight back in a preliminary group that also includes Lithuania, Australia, host nation Greece and Angola just to make the top four and advance to the medal rounds.
"We are surprised," Iverson said. "We didn`t play well. Every defeat is a bad defeat. Now we got to get this out of our systems. We are the favourites and our first reaction has got to be to react like a team."
Puerto Rican guard Carlos Arroyo, who plays for the NBA`s Utah Jazz, scored a game-high 24 points and baffled the Americans, whether pulling off flashy layups or stripping the ball from center Duncan to score an easy two points.
"These guys play basketball as it should be played. They think about the game," Iverson added.
Eddie Casiano added 18 for Puerto Rico. Iverson and Duncan each scored 15 points but had little help from their teammates.
"I just do not understand why we weren`t able to get back into the game," Brown said. "We talked about respect for our opponent, the improvement in the game internationally and the pride they take in representing their country.
"We should be inspired by Puerto Rico`s fighting spirit and use this as a learning experience."