MONTEVIDEO (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers) — Right now the Uruguay and Mexico national teams are out of a World Cup ticket and, on Monday, both will aim for a triumph that allows them to continue with the dream of being in China 2019.

Both fell in their respective games past Friday at the start of the fourth window of the continental Qualifiers. Uruguay are welcoming Mexico this Monday at Montevideo’s Palacio Peñarol for a duel with several repercussions in both teams’ goal of being at the FIBA Basketball World Cup next year.

The locals are coming in from a disastrous defeat against the United States, perhaps because of their focus on the battle that awaits them with Mexico. The Uruguayans have a 4-3 record, good for the fourth spot in Group E. The South Americans are a game away from the third place, which is currently taken by Puerto Rico (5-2), which will play at Argentina on Monday.

Coach Marcelo Signorelli said to La Diaria tabloid that the confrontation against the Mexicans will be “really hard. They're an experienced team that knows what they're playing and defend very hard. At home we have chances. They’ll be tired after Argentina. Even so, beforehand, it looks live a really difficult game."

For the light blue jerseys, it’s important to react, since in their two most recent games they lost by more than 40 points — by 44 in July against Argentina, in Montevideo; and by 57, against the United States, on Friday. Uruguay need the win, since in November they will host their direct rival for the third qualifying ticket, which is Puerto Rico, and they will also be welcoming team USA.

In their encounter against Mexico, Uruguay will bring a reinforced squad with Luciano Parodi, Bruno Fitipaldo and Esteban Batista — a trio that stayed at home to avoid exhaustion and to be in ship shape before the visit.

As for the Mexican side, the quintet led by Spanish coach Iván Déniz gave it all, but at the end fell against Argentina, 78-74. This setback places the North American squad in a difficult position, since they are adding 3-4 and another defeat could put in danger their objective of being present in China.

“We're still alive. Until they tell us that we have no options, we must keep fighting. This team really wants to qualify (to the FIBA Basketball World Cup). We're going to reflect on what's to come. A long trip... an we’ll focus on Uruguay. If God permits, on Monday we’ll give good news to our country.”

- Ivan Deniz, head coach of Mexico

Mexico is confident in the star power of Francisco “Paco” Cruz, who had a discrete performance against the Argentines, with only four units (2/11 in field goals), with no 3-pointers.

“We're ready for the great Paco to be a part of the best days for (the game against) Uruguay. (But) this team doesn’t rely on just one person,” said Déniz, who had a strong Gustavo Ayón, with 18 points and 12 rebounds against Argentina.

Mexico and Uruguay will meet again in the last stage of the Qualifiers on February 22, 2019 in Mexican land.

FIBA