MEXICO CITY (2015 FIBA Americas Championship) - Canada, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Argentina and Venezuela make up what can be described as a group where every game counts at the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship.

With a roster made up of nine NBA players, Canada, at least on paper, are big favourites to win the FIBA Americas Championship. In the exhibition games leading up to the championship, they have looked impressive, with great depth and an offensive versatility that can be overwhelming when trying to compete against it. They are loaded at every position.

In winning the Jenaro "Tuto" Marchand Continental Cup, the team showed a powerful inside presence with Anthony Bennett, Robert Sacre and the promise of Kelly Olynyk, who was injured in the first game of the Cup, but seems ready to come back full force to the team in the Mexico City championship.

Add to that the arrival of Andrew Wiggins to the international game and Canada are poised to not only win the competition, but become a basketball powerhouse outside of the continental stage.

Argentina bring a mix of familiar faces and new blood to this 2015 FIBA Americas Championship. Legendary Golden Generation members Luis Scola and Andres Nocioni are back to write yet another chapter to their Hall of Fame careers, but this time along with newcomers Nicolas Richotti, Nicolas Brussino, Gabriel Deck, Patricio Garino and Tayavek Gallizzi who are looking to carry that torch and winning tradition Argentina has brought to the table in the last 15 years of the competition.

There are no surprises in the system and the passion that Argentina will bring to the Palacio de los Deportes. Their identity is their identity and is part of the reason they have maintained the consistency throughout the years and 2015 won't be any different. They are a top contender at this championship with the return of 2008 Beijing Olympics bronze medal winning coach Sergio Hernandez, along with the maturation of Nicolas Laprovittola and Facundo Campazzo at the point guard position and the leadership role within the team. Expectations are to be there battling for a podium finish in this 2015 edition.

Speaking of which, 2013 FIBA Americas Championship runners-up Puerto Rico are also looking to make some noise in their way to a possible repeat performance in Mexico City. This team is different though.

The Carlos Arroyo era in the national team is over and Jose Juan Barea is the sole leading voice of the Puerto Rican squad. The presence of legendary head coach Rick Pitino is also new and a huge X-factor for a team that arrives in Mexico with the bad news of losing Maurice Harkless for the whole tournament.

Renaldo Balkman, John Holland and Carlos Rivera will have big roles in this defense-first philosophy that Pitino has instilled in the team. They looked good in the Tuto Marchand Cup a few days ago. The supporting cast of veteran Larry Ayuso, along with Angel Vassallo and Guillermo Diaz make them a real candidate to upset some teams in their way to a possible Olympic spot run in Mexico City. Their opener against Argentina will be key and if the winner finds the right kind of momentum, it can mean great things to come in the championship.

But the group also has some exciting underdogs in Cuba and Venezuela, who will also clash in the opening game of the tournament.

Cuba come into the championship with two of the more awaited prospects in the competition in Jasiel Rivero and Victor Justiz. If their performances in both the 2014 Centrobasket Championship and the 2014 Central American Games are signs of what is to be expected from them in Mexico City, they will be breakout stars at the continental level.

Rivero is a wing player that loves to be a presence on the boards with great basketball sense and exciting scoring ability. Justiz, meanwhile, is a left-handed big man with a soft touch and a versatile offensive skill-set that can wow audiences and fans alike. Cuba are not an easy opponent. They can surprise anybody if they get inspired. Lack of talent is not an issue for the Caribbean team.

Venezuela seem to be the exact opposite of Cuba. This is a team of veterans, of old dogs that know how to steal victories in the biggest of scenarios. Yes, Greivis Vasquez not being there is a big blow to the defending South American champions, but this team is full of experienced players at the continental level like the Vargas brothers (Jose and Gregory), Nestor Colmenares, David Cubillan and the addition of talented scorer John Cox.

If you count the fact that the team had an impressive preparation tour that included games against Spain, Serbia, Russia and a win over Mexico four days before the championship's tip-off, this is a national team ready for anything that might be thrown at them in terms of competition. Head coach Nestor "Che" Garcia loves the underdog spot and relishes the opportunity to shock the world. He has a rugged, offensively energetic team that might just do it.

The 2015 FIBA Americas Championship awards two spots to the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games and three spots to the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifiers.

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

FIBA