TEPIC (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic will soon be shifting into a higher gear to get ready for the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.

Right now, the countries are making waves at the Centrobasket in the city of Tepic in Naharit, Mexico, and World Cup-bound players on all of the teams are putting on some terrific displays.

Former NBA champion Jose Barea of Puerto Rico and last year's FIBA Americas Championship Most Valuable Player Gustavo Ayon have been turning heads with their performances.

Barea launched his Centrobasket campaign with 19 points in an 88-72 triumph over the Bahamas and on Day 2 had 25 in a 97-64 triumph over the Virgin Islands.

With Barea taking Day 3 off, the Boricuas still rolled to a 93-58 victory over El Salvador to improve to 3-0 and also clinch their place in next year's FIBA Americas Championship.

Barea has been enjoying the moment in Mexico, going on Twitter and Facebook to post photos of himself and his teammates.

Ayon, who had a shoulder operation earlier this year and was in doubt for national team duty, has been a dominating force inside for Mexico as they claimed two wins in as many games.

On the opening day, the giant center had 14 rebounds to go with his 12 points in a 74-64 win over the Virgin Islands.

Ayon controlled the boards two days later against the Bahamas with 13 rebounds and also had four assists and a couple of points. Ayon showed, however, he is still shaking off the rust by turning the ball over nine times.

Mexico are going to have to do without another important big man, however, with a torn ligament ruling Lorenzo Mata out of the Centrobasket and the World Cup.

He announced the injury on his Facebook page, saying: "Really sad day not able to play the World Cup because of a ruptured knee ligament," he said, before asking for his teammates and fans to forgive him.

Adrian Zamora is the likely replacement for Mata at the World Cup.

Eloy Vargas, meanwhile, was slowed by a troublesome knee in the build-up to the Centrobasket but he's been in fine fettle for the Dominicans.

The 25-year-old center, whose importance has grown with the loss of Al Horford for this summer, had 10 points and six rebounds in the team's opening day 85-47 blowout of Costa Rica and followed that with 14 points and five boards in a 71-56 victory over Panama.

Vargas' strong start comes as no surprise to coach José 'Maita' Mercedes, who also said on the eve of the tournament that another big man, Ronald Roberts, can help the Dominicans in Mexico and maybe even the World Cup.

Roberts had 10 rebounds to go with his five points in the opening day win.

The president of the Dominican Republic Basketball Federation, Rafael Uribe, was very optimistic before the start of the Centrobasket that his team would again contend for honors.

They won the last Centrobasket.

"The Centrobasket is an event where several games are played in a few days and there is little recovery time," he said.

"We have had some difficulty inviting other players who have commitments to their universities, but we have formed a group capable of combining youth and experience to do a good job."

The Centrobasket wraps up on 7 August.

FIBA