When remembering Mexico’s success in the 2013 Tournament of the Americas, the image of a solid collective game designed by coach Sergio Valdeolmillos and executed by his players comes to mind. Nonetheless, it's impossible to imagine that conquest without the presence of an astonishing Gustavo Ayón.

“Gustavo has been someone important for Mexico and this country's basketball. In countries that have a more developed athletic culture, Ayón would be much more recognized than he is now. Mexican sports should hurry up and value him and care for players like Gustavo, who don't come around much. He has an enormous leadership capacity out of the court and also when it's time to play. He’s very generous and doesn’t seek to score his points, but rather help his teammates and make them better with the qualities he has. In 2013, Ayón was essential for Mexico, who needed a reference like his in the inside game,” Valdeolmillos analyzes via telephone from Spain.

As the Spanish coach says, Ayón's presence in the 2013 Caracas FIBA Americas was the beacon that led a group that was able to work, for the first time after an extended period, as a true squad and not as a collection of individualities. And this is how the current player in Russia's Zenit recalls, from St. Petersburg, the experience: “My teammates completely trusted me, both in and out of the court. My goal was always to take care of them in both aspects, to have us 100% focused on achieving our dream of getting that ticket to the 2014 World Cup in Spain for Mexico, after a 40-year absence.”

The Nayarit-born center, who was 28 at the time of the tournament where Mexico won their only gold medal at the continental stage, had already played several Americas championships: in 2007 and 2009. In both, he portrayed an excellent level, particularly in the second event, where he averaged 10.4 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. In Caracas, without a doubt, he reached his peak performance with the national team. “Personally, it was an extraordinary tournament. I believed that I was in one of my best moments with the national team, and I couldn't miss that great opportunity of making the most out of that feeling. When the tournament concluded, I was thrilled to have achieved another goal I had set for my career."

Mexico’s trajectory in that magnificent 2013 tournament started with a win against hosts, Venezuela, 65-56, with 22 points, 18 rebounds, four assists, and four blocks by Ayón. It's evident that the Mexican star had a particular focus and was willing to take his team farther than expected. Gustavo continued with 14 points in a mere 14 minutes in the comfortable win against Paraguay, 87-65; 15 points and eight rebounds in the astounding success against the Dominican Republic, 85-61; and 19 points and ten rebounds in the tough loss against Argentina, 98-78, to close the first stage of the championship.

The second phase started with another loss by the Mexicans, this time 89-76 against Canada, although Ayón was outstanding again, with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Then, Valdeolmillos' men retook their victorious path, and the center kept up with the overwhelming contributions: 17 points in the 87-73 against Uruguay, and 19 in the 100-89 against Jamaica. The five points and eight rebounds in the 66-59 against Puerto Rico were the results of the mere 11 minutes during which the center was in the court.

In the fantastic 76-70 win against Argentina in the semifinals, Ayón once again portrayed his best self: 24 points, 12 rebounds, and three assists. He dominated the inside game and was, evidently, the encounter's great player. In the final, Ayón sealed the deal with 20 points, 16 rebounds, three assists, and two blocks in the 91-89 against Puerto Rico.

In short: 17.5 points (third in the top-ranking players in the championship), 9.2 rebounds (fourth in the tournament's ranking), and 1.4 blocks per game (the best in the competition). With these statistics and the gold medal on his chest, Ayón took home the MVP. "The MVP was a recognition of the work we did as a team because if the players hadn't given it all for their teammates in the game […], we wouldn't have gotten the results we did as a team. I dedicated it to my son, Álvaro, and I was very happy to receive it, because it meant that, as a national team, we had reached our goal," says the Mexican center.

Despite that marvelous performance, Ayón isn’t convinced that it was his best appearance with the Mexican team: "It would be very unfair because in the Nayarit Centrobasket, and the World Cup in Spain, both in 2014, I also had a very good level. However, I'll always cherish the 2013 FIBA Americas because a lot of people in the media and the basketball world didn't believe that we had chances to win. Still, in our minds, we always felt we were champions because we believed in ourselves as a team."

In 2013, Mexico embraced the Americas' glory for the first time in its history. The first name that comes to anyone's mind when remembering that tournament in Gustavo Ayón. The Nayarit-born player deserves this recognition.

Pablo Cormick
FIBA