Team in focus - Mexico

MEXICO CITY (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: Mexico
FIBA bwin Ranking Men: No. 24
Last participation in the FIBA Basketball World Cup: 1974 (5 wins, 2 defeats; 9th place)
Best result in the history of the FIBA Basketball World Cup: 8th Place (1967)
Result in qualifying tournament for 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup: Winners of the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship (8 wins, 2 defeats)

Mexico will end a 40-year drought when they run onto the floor on 30 August and play their first game at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.

That's how long it has been since country has played in a major international hoops event.

The side coached by Spaniard Sergio Valdeolmillos will compete in Group D against Lithuania, Slovenia, Australia, Angola and Korea with the aim of making it through to the Round of 16.

Indeed, the last time the Mexicans played at a FIBA World Championship was in 1974.

To make it to the World Cup, and especially as the winners of the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship, was cause for a tremendous celebration in Mexico.

The man who did as much as anyone to get Mexico to Spain was Gustavo Ayon, the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

He already knows what to expect in Spain having made a name for himself in the country as a player with Fuenlabrada before leaving for New Orleans in the NBA.

Last summer, Ayon dominated in Caracas, Venezuela, the site of the Americas Championship. The 2.06m center averaged 17.5 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks.

He was virtually unstoppable in the Semi-Final triumph over Argentina with 24 points and 12 rebounds, and again in the Final win over Puerto Rico with 20 points and 16 rebounds.

Ayon has played in the elite league, the NBA, something that has boosted his confidence, and the same can be said for Jorge Gutierrez.

The Brooklyn Nets needed to reinforce their backcourt late in the 2013-14 season and added the NBDL star to their roster.

The 1.90m playmaker remained for the rest of the campaign and was also on the bench when the Nets competed in the post-season.

Paul Stoll, Roman Martinez, Paco Cruz and Adam Parada should also have important roles for the Mexicans in Gran Canaria, where their Group Phase games will be.

Valdeolmillos has stressed that Mexico must get things right defensively, and be competitive on the boards, if they are to have any success this summer.

Two games could very sell decide their fate, against AfroBasket 2013 champions Angola and the third-place team from last year's FIBA Asia Championship, Korea.

No matter what happens, 2014 will be deemed a success because Mexico hosted and won the CentroBasket as part of their preparations for Spain, and the mere fact that the side is competing in the World Cup is cause for joy.

Perhaps most important of all for Mexico is that the players enjoy themselves.

If Mexico were to win two or three games in Spain and get on a roll, the experience would be even sweeter.

At bare minimum, the World Cup will serve as a building block for the future.

FIBA