SAN JUAN (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers) - Dallas Mavericks guard Jose Barea hopes to suit up for Puerto Rico in the third window of the World Cup Qualifiers.

Barea looked on from afar as the Boricuas lost 85-78 to the United States in a hard-fought encounter in Orlando in their first qualifier in November before seeing them bounce back with a 95-72 triumph over Cuba in Havana.

"It's kind of odd watching for me having to watch the national team games on television, but I saw them play and I've had a lot of communication with (Puerto Rico Basketball Federation president) Yum (Ramos)," Barea said to elvocero.com.

"As a group, they did a good job. We have a good group of veterans with a young team that I think is a good formula to represent Puerto Rico well."

Puerto Rico play at Mexico on February 23 and then at the United States on February 26. National team coach Eddie Casiano will be hoping that Barea, who played for his country at the FIBA AmeriCup last summer, will be available for the home games against Cuba (June 28) and Mexico (July 1).

"I hope to be [with the national team] in the summer," said the 33-year-old who has always been one of his country's most important players, including at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Barea's first tournament with Puerto Rico was the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games for Men and he has been a leader in the side ever since.

He was encouraged by the play of some of Puerto Rico's other emerging talents like Angel Rodriguez, who is also a guard. Rodriguez averaged 11 points, 5 assists and 1.5 steals in the two games.

The 25-year-old, who is on the books of Israeli side Maccabi Haifa, scored 13 points and dished out 8 assists while turning it over 4 times in the loss to the USA.

"I like Angel because of his speed," Barea said. "He began to gain some confidence at the end and played well."

Barea is currently averaging 12.1 points, 6.0 assists and 3.1 rebounds in 23 minutes per game for Dallas in the NBA.

FIBA