After a cycle that brought the Mexican basketball team back to a World Cup in 2014, after 40 years of absence, and that put them on the verge of an Olympic Games, the process starts again.

With Spanish Sergio Valdeolmillos back as coach, the journey begins this summer in the AmeriCup (August 25), which brings together 12 teams and grants seven tickets to the Pan American Games in Lima 2019.

"The important thing is to be back in every international tournament, we have been in them for several years, and within our possibilities, we did well. It is the first year of the AmeriCup, there are seven places and we have to be in one of them, that's the goal. Then compete at the highest level and qualify as best as possible, because in November the first window to go to the World Cup starts," said coach Valdeolmillos to La Afición.

In this tournament, which will have three venues, Mexico was placed in Group A in Medellin, Colombia, alongside the home team, Puerto Rico, and Paraguay or Brazil, and only the first place in the group will advance to the final stage in Argentina.

"The group changes a lot, it seems that it could be easier if it is Paraguay, although I think that in the end it will be Brazil, and in either case we have to compete at a good level to finish first. There is rivalry with Puerto Rico, we must prepare well, and this summer has other goals, like training to go to that championship, and the other one because it will be the way to concentrate for the first window of the World Cup," added Valdeolmillos.

However, Valdeolmillos is not satisfied with just obtaining one of the spots for the Pan American Games, he also wants to secure the ticket to Cordoba, Argentina, despite the difficulties that Brazil and Puerto Rico could represent.

"The dream is to be among the top four to compete in the final stage, the priority goal is to go to the Pan American Games, but we want to compete at the highest level, and it's for going to the other phase in Cordoba."

Looking ahead to this tournament, the coach will take the opportunity to gather the team and prepare for the new format of World Cup qualifiers, with matches at different times over the next two years.

"We want to do two things: focus on Mexico to play friendly matches and have the fans connect with the team, which is very important, and on the other hand, we are invited to Spain to play against the local team, which will be something transcendent, because it means they are starting to consider us"

Gustavo Ayón has been the team's reference on the court in recent years, a former NBA player currently in Spain's Real Madrid, who did not participate in the Olympic qualifiers. Valdeolmillos stated that it will be difficult for El Titán to wear the national team jersey this year.

"It is a matter that he has to define, the doors are open, it is in the plans, what we have to evaluate is how likely he is to be in the World Cup window, because the preparation phase is associated with that, and the problem is that the Euroleague and the NBA do not authorize the release of their players. That is what needs to be resolved, to see if he can be part of the process. When we know that, it will be the moment for him to decide if he wants to come or not," concluded the coach.