Team in focus: Dominican Republic

SANTO DOMINGO (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - The 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup is just around the corner. In the lead-up to the biggest international basketball event, we take an individual look at all 24 teams.

Country: Dominican Republic
FIBA bwin Ranking Men: No. 26
Last participation in the FIBA Basketball World Cup: 1978 (2 wins, 5 defeats; 12th place)
Best result in the history of the FIBA Basketball World Cup: 12th place (1978)
Result in qualifying tournament for 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup: 4th place at 2013 FIBA Americas Championship (6 wins 4 defeats)

At first, they didn't succeed.

But they tried, tried again.

Last year in Caracas, Venezuela, at the FIBA Americas Championship, the Dominican Republic finally qualified for a major international hoops tournament.

Under new head coach Orlando Antigua and with big contributions from inspirational big man Jack Martinez and newcomer James Feldeine, the Dominicans clinched a spot in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

With their only previous appearance at a FIBA World Championship in 1978 and having never made it to the Olympics, the basketball gods at last smiled on the Caribbean nation.

The country had come close at the 2009 FIBA Americas Championship but finished fifth after losing a crunch game to Canada, who instead came in fourth and made it to the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey.

Then at the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship they came in third, yet only the top two clinched places for the London Games.

The Dominican team travelled to the 12-team FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Venezuela, looking to claim one of three places on offer for the Summer Games in Great Britain, but lost a do-or-die clash with Nigeria.

Making it to the World Cup brought tears of joy to the face of Martinez.

When he plays, no one on the court is more combative.

Martinez provides points in the low post, collects plenty of rebounds and fights to the death.

The 2.01m power forward averaged 12 points and 9.4 rebounds last year. The numbers weren't as good as 2011 (14 points and 12.1 rebounds) in Argentina, but all that mattered was getting to the World Cup in Spain.

Feldeine joined the team for his first tournament with the national side and proved to be a real asset.

He set the tone at the FIBA Americas Championship with 21 points in an upset of Argentina and later had big scoring games in a string of victories.

In the wins over Jamaica, Puerto Rico and Canada, Feldeine poured in 22, 17 and 20.

Other players to watch out for at the World Cup are small forward Eulis Baez, who is based in Spain with Liga Endesa side Gran Canaria, and long-time NBA wing player Francisco Garcia.

All the players will be eager to run onto the court in Bilbao to face the USA, Finland, Turkey, New Zealand and Ukraine in Group C.

Just months before he works as a head coach in the NCAA for the first time with the University of South Florida, Antigua would like nothing more than to arrive on campus in Tampa after a strong performance at the World Cup.

FIBA