Mexico's Stoll, Cruz take their talent to Europe

SARATOV (2016 Rio Olympics) - Francisco 'Pako' Cruz and Paul Stoll did their part for Mexico this summer in helping create a lasting memory for basketball in the country.

On home soil in Mexico City, the two ran up and down the hardwood and played major roles for a team that reached the Semi-Finals at the FIBA Americas Championship.

Mexico will play at one of next year's three six-team FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments, with the winners of each advancing to Brazil.

Both are now half a world away, featuring in the VTB United League.

Cruz has eight games under his belt in the competition with VEF Riga.

He has provided a perimeter threat the Latvia team wanted when signing him in the summer, drilling 16 of his 29 shots (55.2 percent) from three-point range while averaging 12 points per contest.

Cruz didn't waste any time in showing what he was capable of after joining VEF.

In the club's VTB United League clash on 17 October with Krasny Oktyabr, the 26-year-old buried all four of his attempts from beyond the arc and finished with a game-high 21 points in a 94-88 win.

Stoll recently joined Avtador Saratov in Russia and helped them beat VEF Riga in his first appearance with the club on 14 November.

He also made a huge impact in his first Eurocup game four days later, connecting on three of seven from long range and pouring in 17 points in an 88-81 victory at Zenit St Petersburg.

Their solid performances have come as no surprise because with Mexico, each has done well.

Stoll helped Mexico win the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship to qualify the team for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, where Cruz also played.

The two then had fantastic efforts at the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship.

Stoll started to build momentum for a strong tournament in the third game of this summer's Mexico City event when hitting six of eight attempts from three-point range in an 82-68 triumph over Panama.

Mexico eventually made it to the Semi-Finals and took on Argentina, a team they had just beaten, 95-83, in the Second Round.

Led by Luis Scola, Argentina prevailed in the last-four clash, 78-70, and clinched a spot in the Olympics.

Both Cruz and Stoll made plenty of big plays as Mexico tried to reach the podium by winning the battle for third against Canada.

Stoll had 16 points and 10 assists and Cruz made a tough, go-ahead lay-up with just 6.7 seconds remaining.

Cory Joseph won it 87-86 at the death for Canada, though, by making a very difficult jump shot with Stoll's hand in his face.

The sting of the heartbreaking losses is still felt by Stoll.

Even so, he has some good memories from the summer.

"It was an unbelievable environment and I was just thankful I was able to be a part of it all," Stoll said on Tuesday to FIBA.com.

"The fans in Mexico City were great, and helped us a lot.

"I just wish we could have won that Semi-Final game against Argentina.

"But we will try our best to still make it (to the Olympics)."

FIBA