MEX - A fresh opportunity

CARACAS (FIBA Americas Championship/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Mexico has always been a country rich in basketball talent, yet one that's never cleared enough hurdles to become an elite team in the Americas.

Their rivals in the region, especially Team USA, Argentina, Brazil, Puerto Rico and Canada, have played at a higher level for many years.

This summer, Mexico are going to pull out all stops in a bid to find some success.

They want to qualify for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.

The player to cause the biggest buzz in Mexico the past couple of years has been Gustavo Ayon, a center so impressive for Fuenlabrada in Spain's Liga Endesa that New Orleans swooped and signed him to an NBA contract.

Ayon is now on the books of the Atlanta Hawks.

He will have a lot of responsibility on the court when the Mexicans play at the FIBA Americas Championship in Caracas, where hosts Venezuela will be their first opponents on Friday.

Mexico need a top-four finish in the competition to book a place in the World Cup?

"All of the rivals are the same, eight to 10 teams, so all the rivals are very difficult and that has to be our mindset in order to have any aspirations," Ayon said.

"We have the same level of other teams that will go there, as long as we are mentally prepared."

Mexico have a good idea of what awaits them in their first game because they played Venezuela on Monday in the Copa Israel Sarmiento de Baloncesto in Caracas and lost, 92-85.

Coach Sergio Valdeolmillos saw his Mexican players struggle in a vital area of the game.

"You can't win when the other team claims 21 offensive rebounds," he said.

"We gave away too many advantages."

Nestor 'Che' Garcia, the Venezuela coach, says the the next meeting could be very different.

"It's obvious that both Mexico and us are hiding many things," he said. "The positive thing is that we got some rhythm."

Even with the seven-point defeat to Venezuela, Mexico finished first In the triangular tournament that was played in the Poliedro, the venue for the FIBA Americas Championship, as they defeated the Uruguayans in their other game, 79-61.

Uruguay won against Venezuela, 69-67.

Mexico's players are excited about the FIBA Americas Championship.

They know it represents a huge opportunity for them and their country in international basketball.

"We lost, but we are getting better," Lorenzo Mata said after the Venezuelan game, before shouting: "Let's go Mexico!"

Valdemiollos is enthusiastic about the coming battles.

"We are playing on a beautiful stage and it will grant us the opportunity to play in a FIBA Americas Championship of great quality," he said.

"Mexico has as a virtue that knows how to play as a team and if we win, it will be due to that, seeing as we don't have any stars in our team."

FIBA