Ayon gives thumbs-up to playing at FIBA Americas Championship

MEXICO CITY (2015 FIBA Americas Championship) - Mexico center Gustavo Ayon has confirmed he will play at the FIBA Americas Championship this summer and help his country fight for a spot in next year's Olympic Games.

The Real Madrid star, who was the most valuable player of the event two years ago in Caracas, Venezuela, when his country won it for the first time, will join the team at the start of August following its participation in the Pan American Games.

Mexico's decision to put the national team reins back in the hands of Sergio Valdeolmillos was a decisive factor for Ayon.

"I'm with the team because it has gone back to what worked, with Sergio Valdeolmillos at the helm, which is the correct way to go in my opinion," Ayon said at a press conference on Friday.

Valdeolmillos and Mexico's other players were with Ayon as he spoke to the media.

"I have never taken the Mexican national team jersey off," he said. "I've always been available to represent my country."

Ayon's presence in the squad enhances the team's chances of making it to the Final, which would qualify Mexico for the Rio de Janeiro Games.

Spots in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament will be awarded to teams that finish third, fourth and fifth.

Ayon was Mexico's best player at last year's FIBA Basketball World Cup.

He led the team into the Round of 16 in Spain.

The Nayarit-born center signed with Real Madrid and won the Super Copa, the Copa del Rey, the Turkish Airlines Euroleague and Liga Endesa.

All the while, Ayon kept a close eye on the national team coaching situation.

The coach with the most wins in the history of the country, Valdeolmillos, was replaced at the helm after the World Cup by former NBA champion Bill Cartwright, but he was dismissed after a disappointing first round exit at home in the Central American and Caribbean Games.

Halcones Rojos boss Eddie Casiano, a former Puerto Rico national team player, was then appointed coach and he attended the draw for the FIBA Americas Championship.

I will be ready and at the service of the national team in the first week of August. - Ayon

Mexico then decided to bring back Valdeolmillos.

There were concerns that Ayon may not play for Mexico at the FIBA Americas Championship but the return of Valdeolmillos made it Ayon's decision to put on the Mexico jersey again an easy one.

"All I ever wanted was continuity and respect for the players," Ayon said.

"Now we have it and it’s on us to do the right thing."

Mexico has been on a terrific run with Ayon because in addition to winning the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship, the country prevailed in the Centrobasket for the first time in 2014.

The team has been practicing for a week in Mexico City, where it will host the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship in the Palacio de los Deportes.

Before that, Mexico will travel to Toronto, Canada, for the Pan American Games (21-25 July).

Ayon has excused himself from the tournament after his long season with Real Madrid.

"It would be irresponsible of me to go to Toronto," he said.

"I have played 84 games in the past year and have not really stopped since May 2014.

"Even though I’m not physically fatigued, I need emotional and psychological rest to be a 100 percent ready for the FIBA Americas Championship."

Mexico will face Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Panama and Uruguay in Group A of the FIBA Americas Championship, which is to be staged 31 August - 12 September.

Ayon is looking forward to playing in his homeland and helping Mexico try to reach the Olympics for the first time since 1976.

"We have a solid, disciplined team that does not revolve around just one player," he said.

"Being at home, it will be hard to beat us."

Tickets for the FIBA Americas Championship will go on sale on Wednesday, 1 July, and can be purchased on fiba.com/Americas2015.

Go to fiba.com/Americas2015 for complete coverage of the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship.

FIBA