The head of Spain's Grifols is optimistic his company's $4 billion takeover of Talecris Biotherapeutics will win approval from U.S. antitrust regulators.

Grifols and Talecris, which is based in Research Triangle Park, both make medicines from blood plasma. The Federal Trade Commission is reviewing the proposed union to make sure it doesn't lead to higher prices for such drugs. The FTC blocked an earlier Talecris takeover by an Australian company because of antitrust concerns.

“I have in my bag $4 billion sitting and waiting to be invested,” CEO Victor Grifols said at an event in Madrid, Bloomberg News reported. “I don’t know when we’ll receive the green light from the FTC. I’m sure we’ll get it, but it’s a very long process. As soon as we get approval we are going to invest it.”

Grifols and Talecris have extended the deadline for their deal to June 30, which would be more than a year after it was announced.

The fact that Grifols' CEO is discussing it suggests an FTC decision could be coming soon.

AP photo

BEIJING — The gold medal belongs again to the USA.

The U.S. men's basketball team beat Spain 118-107 at the Beijing Olympic Basketball Gymnasium on Sunday to secure a 13th Olympic gold medal for the USA.

Spain held on throughout the game, trailing by four with about two minutes left in the game. Dwyane Wade hit a 3 with 2:02 left then a Kobe Bryant drive and four Chris Paul free throws kept the Spaniards from getting any closer.

BEIJING — The USA men's basketball team has been so good at thrashing opponents every which way throughout the Beijing Olympics that a nine-point halftime lead over Argentina in the semifinals on Friday looked like a crisis.

The U.S. also has run teams out of games with such ferocity in China that, when Argentina was able to slow the U.S. pace, limit long misses, and force the Americans to run their halfcourt offense, it also looked like a crisis for the U.S.

The U.S. still beat Argentina, 101-81, behind Carmelo Anthony's 21 points and six others players scoring at least 10, at the Beijing Olympic Basketball Gymnasium on Friday.

BEIJING — That killed the buzz.

The U.S. destroyed any illusions Spain might have had about being a close second favorite in the men's basketball competition at the Beijing Olympics with a 119-82 Pool B victory over the defending World Champions at the Beijing Olympic Basketball Gymnasium on Saturday.

USA forward LeBron James scored nine of the Americans' first 16 points, while the U.S. forced Spain into boo-boo after boo-boo and beat Spain to the other end to score.

BEIJING — There's a 17-year old kid roaming the hardwood for Spain here in Beijing and you'd do well to catch a glimpse.

Guard Ricky Rubio has already been on the floor for Spain in key spots, like when Spain and China were tied at 72-72 with 12.4 seconds left in the game.

Rubio first fouled China guard Liu Wei, then on the next possession, continued to harass him until he was able to force Liu to give up the ball.

Rubio saved it going out of bounds and managed to throw it off Liu's leg giving Spain possession for one last shot in regulation.

Rubio had been protected from the media for most of his first season in Spain's professional league. But you wouldn't know it. He also had the best answer when a reporter asked him to describe his game afterwards.

Reporter: Who did you pattern your game after?

Rubio: I'm Ricky Rubio. I can't be anyone else.