SAN JUAN (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Ricky Sanchez's confidence is soaring ahead of Puerto Rico's national team training camp.

The 2.13m power forward shone for Regatas Corrientes this season, helping the club reach the FIBA Americas League Final Four and also the Liga Nacional Finals.

He figures to be an important player for coach Paco Olmos when the Spanish coach leads the Boricuas in Group B at the FIBA Basketball World Cup against Argentina, Croatia, Greece, Senegal and the Philippines.

"I'm going to go to the World Cup, which is a huge spectacle, especially if we progress from the first round," Sanchez said.

At Regatas, Sanchez has enhanced his credentials as a big-time player in the country the past couple of campaigns.

He says there is a good chance he'll return to the Liga Nacional next season, although a solid World Cup could change that.

"If I play well there and Puerto Rico goes far, perhaps I will get other offers that I will have to consider," he said.

While Sanchez has a reputation for being a big man who can drill the long ball, he understands the need to add other strings to his bow.

"I still have to penetrate more and attack the basket and I need to post more to open a little bit the play and that the others can move more," he said.

"If I stay on the perimeter it's, okay.

"I have worked a lot on that aspect in the Argentinian league.

"(However) They knew me well there so I had to incorporate other things to my game.

"It's a case of finding other things, like forcing to be fouled or going more often to the free-throw line."

Sanchez averaged 6.8 points and 4.5 rebounds last summer at the FIBA Americas Championship in Venezuela, where Puerto Rico finished runners-up to Mexico.

FIBA