MEXICO CITY (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - It wouldn't be wrong to suggest that players in the title-winning Mexico side at last year's FIBA Americas Championship in Venezuela are still celebrating.

The success was a monumental achievement for a national team that had virtually disappeared from the international basketball radar.

Mexico's success was a reminder of something that is very appealing in sports, the idea that even the minnows can dream of achieving greatness.

One of the players in that side was point guard Pedro Meza, and he's still in the clouds after standing on top of the podium in Caracas and having a gold medal placed around his neck.

"The joy that the FIBA Americas title gave us cannot be described," he said.

"That happiness motivates us to continue.

"To know that we will compete in such a prestigious event will give us an added motivation."

Mexico revealed themselves to be a group of fighters last summer.

Squad members accepted that only with tenacious defense, relentless rebounding and a commitment to team play did they have a chance to win games.

Spanish coach Sergio Valdeolmillos will be emphasizing that over and over this summer in the preparations, and once the World Cup starts for Mexico in Gran Canaria's Group D where they will take on Lithuania, Slovenia, Angola, Korea and Australia.

The players, Meza says, are coming to the realization that they may not have their biggest weapon at the tournament in Gustavo Ayon, the MVP at last year's continental championship.

Ayon's NBA season with the Atlanta Hawks was cut short by injury and his appearance in Spain seems unlikely.

"I think the team has always been our strength and we hope that will be the case," Meza said.

"Ayon, without a doubt, is a pillar on the court and off it. He is the great leader that we have and we hope he will be with us even though it's going to be complicated.

"I spoke to him recently and it's very difficult that he will travel to Spain.

"The likelihood is that he will not. Gustavo told me he cannot risk his professional career.

"He wants to be a star in the NBA and I support him.

"I know how difficult it has been for him and we hope all goes well. If he joins us that would be great but I see it (as) difficult and he is sad about it."

However, even the uncertainty over Ayon cannot kill the joy of taking part in the World Cup for Meza and the rest of the team.

"It's very difficult to win a World Cup but we would be happy just to have a great tournament because 40 years have passed since Mexico last competed," Meza said.

"It's hard to play against teams that have a higher level and more experience than is in these competitions.

"We will give our all and try to compete. We are not going there for the ride, we will leave on the court the best that we have.

"God willing, we can progress to the second round and then see what happens."

So what of Mexico's chances?

"We have an accessible group but it will not be easy," Meza said.

"Any team that has qualified will be hard to play against.

"We can go through even though we have a lot of respect for our rivals.

"Against Korea, we have an opportunity, the same for Angola and Australia, that has a good team.

"Hopefully we can compete against them and pull out a surprise."

Mexico's first two games are against Lithuania, who are No. 4 in the FIBA Ranking Men, and No. 13 Slovenia.

The Mexicans climbed eight spots to No. 24 after last summer’s accomplishment.

"I think it's an advantage to start with the harder sides like Lithuania and Slovenia," Meza said.

"To play against the best in the group at the start may help us to get the rhythm and go to the following games in the best possible way.

"But it can be a double-edged sword because we could also pull a surprise in our first game and anything can happen."

Meza says that he is not a lock to make the squad.

"I don't consider myself yet in the final group even though the coach has said that he will maintain the backbone of the FIBA Americas team," he said to laaficion.milenio.com.

"Everyone wants to play.

"Before, no one did but now that it's a World Cup, everyone wants to be a part of the national team.

"Perhaps this is one of the reasons why the coach wants to keep a similar team because we earned it and it would be unfair for others to take those places.

"But no one feels that they have a place guaranteed as any Mexican has a right to be in the national team."

FIBA