MEX - Jesus Hiram Lopez on the comeback trail

HERMOSILLO (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Everyone in Mexico is still celebrating the national team's huge achievement last month in Caracas, Venezuela.

For the first time, the Mexicans captured the FIBA Americas Championship title after defeating Puerto Rico in the Final.

Even before they stepped onto the podium, there were plenty of smiles.

By reaching the Semi-Finals, Mexico clinched a spot in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

The experience was bittersweet for national team player Jesus Hiram Lopez, though.

He watched events unfold in Venezuela with a lot of pride because he has been a member of the Mexico squad.

Yet the 2.05m forward who had averaged more than 12 points and almost six rebounds per game for Hermosillo in the 2012-13 campaign wasn't able to play for his country this summer after getting hurt.

He ruptured his Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the 2013 Cibacopa Finals.

The 29-year-old is on the comeback trail and determined to take one of the spots in the side that competes in Spain next year.

"I am going to be in Spain with Mexico," he said. "This is something that I have very clear, as well as helping out at the Central American Games (Veracruz 2014) and the Pan American Games (Toronto 2015)."

Lopez is fully concentrated on his recovery right now.

"It's (recovery) going fast and I'm walking slowly, but from now on everything straight forward.

"My doctors and my physiotherapist agree that by the end of December, I will be ready to train in basketball 100% and then in January, I will be able to have a high level of performance, with the professional team or whatever physical activity I desire."

FIBA