Team in focus - Cuba

HAVANA (FIBA World Championship for Women) - The 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women is just around the corner. In the lead-up to the biggest international basketball event, we take an individual look at all 16 teams.

Country: Cuba
FIBA bwin Ranking Women: No.14
Last participation in the FIBA World Championship for Women: 2006 (3 wins, 5 defeats; 11th place)
Best result in the history of the FIBA World Championship for Women: 3rd place (1990)
Result in qualifying tournament for 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women: Winners of the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship for Women (5 wins, 1 defeat).

Many fans of women's basketball will rejoice at seeing Cuba back on the world stage so that they can see an array of players who arguably don't play at the level their talent deserves in club basketball and specifically in leagues such as the WNBA or in Europe.

But make no mistake: by winning the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship for Women last year, Cuba showed they have some players who would be capable of playing at the very highest level not only for the national team, but also for major clubs.

The exceptional Yamara Amargo is one of the players that should be vying for a place near the top of any fans' watch-list for this tournament. She was fabulous in Xalapa last year and has continued her red-hot form when helping the team win CentroBasket Women this year.

A dominant presence who can cause some match-up nightmares for opposing coaches, Amargo will take it to the hoop and beat you up inside or showcase her impressive shooting range to burn you from outside.

A leading figure for her team, she is complimented by a number of excellent team-mates in Marlen Cepeda and Clenia Noblet who should both excel on the glass - the latter hauled down an eye-popping 23 boards in the CentroBasket Final against Puerto Rico.

Meanwhile, Oyanaisy Gelis has a great eye for a pass and Leidys Oquendo probably gets overshadowed a little by her team-mates and yet she provides incredible glue for the team and is a real coach's player - something borne out of the fact that she was handed more minutes than anyone else on the road to the title last year.

Ineidis Casanova also showed she can challenge for a starting place after some excellent performances at CentroBasket, building on what she gave the team en-route to topping the podium in Mexico.

The last time Cuba played at the FIBA World Championship was back in 2006 in Brazil and they won three of their eight games. The likes of Gelis, Amargo and Oquendo all played in that tournament and therefore bring priceless experience to the table in addition to their undisputed talent.

One of Cuba's greatest moments in women's basketball came 24 years ago at this event, when they memorably clinched third place in Malaysia.

While it might be something of a reach to put them in with a chance of a podium finish this time, they have every chance of causing another surprise by excelling in Group C against Australia, Belarus and Korea.

They showed at the FIBA Americas Championship for Women that they are capable of winning big games.

And one thing is an absolute certainty: you can expect Cuba to thoroughly enjoy their time playing on Turkish soil and to revel in having a global audience.

FIBA