BARCELONA (FIBA Basketball World Cup/Liga Endesa) - Youngsters Mario Hezonja and Isaac Fotu have been like a couple of fireworks on standby, just waiting for someone to set them off.

On recent evidence, the fuse has been lit for each of the FIBA Basketball World Cup players.

Hezonja, a 19-year-old Croatia international, played a season-high 29 minutes and poured in 14 points for FC Barcelona in their 90-67 triumph over CAI Zaragoza on Sunday.

New Zealand Tall Black Fotu, who turns 21 on Thursday, had 14 points for La Bruixa d’Or Manresa in their thrilling 78-77 triumph over Valencia Basket.

Hezonja, in his second full season with Barca, has had to bide his time and wait for an opportunity at Barcelona since the club is stocked with talent and among the best in Europe.

The Dubrovnik-born forward spoke to FIBA.com earlier this year about having to fight for every single minute of playing time. 

Xavier Pascual, his coach in Spain, has decided that the 1.98m forward is ready for the big time because in the last three Turkish Airlines Euroleague contests, Henzonja played on average more than 23 minutes per game.

He had 13 points in a victory over EA7 Milan, 15 in a triumph over PGE Turow Zgorzelec and 12 in last week’s overtime defeat to Fenerbahce Ulker, a clash in which he made four of six shots from long range.

One of Hezonja’s most spectacular moments of the season came on Sunday against CAI, when the Croatian came up with a steal and went in for a dunk.

Fotu, meanwhile, who had a dramatic impact for New Zealand at the World Cup in Bilbao and helped them progress to the Round of 16 at the World Cup, left the Hawaii Rainbows in American college basketball shortly before the start of the NCAA season and signed for CAI, only to be loaned to strugglers Manresa.

For the second consecutive Liga Endesa game on Sunday against Valencia, Fotu showed he’s already set to be a major factor for the club.

After scoring 16 points on seven of 11 shooting, including two of three from the arc, in a defeat to Iberostar Tenerife, Fotu torched Valencia for 14 points.

He made both of his shots from long range and also showed a great low-post game, something you can see in the highlights of Manresa’s win.

Fotu had expected to be one of college basketball’s best players this season but now at the pro level, he can make an even bigger statement.

He is enjoying the change so far and could end up being the difference for a Manresa side that is fighting against relegation.