VERACRUZ (Central American and Caribbean Games) - Mexico coach Bill Cartwright has decided on the 12 players that will represent the country at the Central American and Caribbean Games.

Six members of the side that competed at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup are in the squad of the host nation, with the event being staged in Veracruz, Mexico.

Francisco 'Paco' Cruz, Pedro Meza, Marco Ramos, Adam Parada, Israel Gutiérrez and Adrián Zamora each wore the Mexico shirt in Gran Canaria and helped the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship winners advance to the Round of 16 in Barcelona, where they were upended by eventual champions USA.

Cruz, a 2.02m shooting guard, was a revelation.

He opened the tournament with a 21-point explosion against Lithuania, a game in which he nailed three of his six shots from the arc and hit nine of 17 from the field overall.

His scoring average of 12.2 points per game was second on the team behind Gustavo Ayon.

Ramos was another important player in the side that was coached by Sergio Valdeolmillos.

In his six games, the 1.98m power forward shot 65.2 percent from the floor (15 of 23) and drilled five of his nine shots from the arc.

Gutierrez did not receive much playing time as Ayon's back-up but the 2.13m center is just 24 years of age and oozes with potential.

Cartwright has also named Soles Mexicali pair Alex Perez and Jose Estrada Stone, Carlos Toussaint of Gigantes Edomex, Fernando Benitez of Halcones Rojos Veracruz, Arim Solares of Huracanes Tampico and Lance Allred of Fuerza Regia.

Like Benitez, Cruz, Ramos, Gutierrez and Zamaora will feel right at home in Veracruz, which is where they play for Halcones Rojos.

Allred and Perez will make their first appearances for Mexico at the Games.

FIBA