US President Barack Obama welcomed the Cleveland Cavaliers to the White House on Thursday, celebrating the NBA championship that ended their city's 52-year wait for a pro sports title. "That's right, I said world champion and Cleveland in the same sentence -- that's what we're talking about when we talk about hope and change," Obama quipped of the Cavaliers rally from a 1-3 deficit in last season's NBA Finals to a seven-game triumph over the Golden State Warriors. "Through it all, Cleveland was always Believeland," Obama said, noting the many heartbreaks endured by the Ohio city's sports fans and lauding the Cavs not only their prowess on court but also for their philanthropic efforts.