SAN JUAN (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - The 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup is just around the corner. In the lead-up to the biggest international basketball event, we take an individual look at all 24 teams.

Country: Puerto Rico
FIBA bwin Ranking Men: No. 17
Last participation in the FIBA Basketball World Cup: 2010 (1 wins, 4 defeats; 18th place)
Best result in the history of the FIBA Basketball World Cup: 4th Place (1990)
Result in qualifying tournament for 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup: 2nd place at 2013 FIBA Americas Championship (7 wins, 3 defeats)

Puerto Rico are looking to regain their competitive edge at the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Heaving peaked in the tournament with a fourth-place finish in 1990 (Argentina) when they suffered a 107-105 defeat to the United States in the battle for third, Puerto Rico had Preliminary Round exits in Japan (2006) and Turkey (2010).

After narrowly missing out on a FIBA Americas Championship title one year ago, a crown that would have been theirs instead of Mexico's had Alex Galindo's three-pointer at the death in the Final been on target, the Puerto Ricans are eager to show they can go deep into a World Cup, too.

Point guard Carlos Arroyo is coming off a season at Galatasaray in Turkey in which he returned to his best form.

He will team up with Jose Barea in the backcourt, with Galindo set to provide firepower from the perimeter as he did last year in Venezuela when he shot 42.9 percent from long range.

What must happen for Puerto Rico to be successful is for their low post game to be effective.

Puerto Rico coach Paco Olmos preferred not to call Peter John Ramos into the World Cup squad so he needs quality minutes from veterans Daniel Santiago and Renaldo Balkman.

Power forward Balkman averaged 18.7 points and 8.9 rebounds - both team highs - at the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship.

If the preparations showed anything, 24-year-old center Jorge Brian Diaz has a lot to offer, too.

The 2.11m pivot, who was born in New York but moved to his hometown of Caguas, Puerto Rico, when he was three years old, refined his skills in the American college game with the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Having spent the most recent season with Piratas de Quebradillas in the Puerto Rican top flight, he raised eyebrows in an August friendly victory over Argentina when pouring in 14 points and collecting seven rebounds.

Alex Franklin, a 1.96m forward, is someone else with much to offer.

A tremendous leaper, Franklin was a nice fit for the Boricuas at the 2012 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, and in their 2014 Centrobasket campaign when the 26-year-old averaged 6.5 points and 2.8 rebounds.

Olmos has a reputation as a very demanding coach when it comes to defense, so all of those who make a commitment on that side of the court can expect to play a lot.

Puerto Rico would appear to have an excellent chance of progressing from a World Cup group that also includes Argentina, Greece, Croatia, the Philippines and Senegal, but they have to be strong mentally and play unselfish, team basketball for that to happen.

FIBA