BAYREUTH (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers) - Venezuela took a major step in the development of their national team program by winning the FIBA AmeriCup 2015 and qualifying for the Men's Olympic Basketball Tournament 2016.

But veteran guard John Cox believes advancing through the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers is the crucial next big goal that needs achieving.

Cox helped Venezuela upset Canada in the AmeriCup Semi-Finals to book their ticket to the 2016 Rio Olympics. The Venezuelans finished the deal against Argentina to claim a first-ever continental title and also snap a 24-year absence from the Olympics.

For the 36-year-old Cox, the next step is seeing Venezuela play in their first World Cup since 2006.

"China 2019 is the next step of keeping it going," he said. "Qualifying would be another huge feat for us to accomplish, and it would be another spectacular feeling and leap for Venezuelan basketball and keep that level and not fall off."

For the 6ft 5in (1.95m) sharpshooter, the main thing is building upon the recent run of success.

"Just keep it going. That's how we are treating it. We want to keep it going and not look at it like (the FIBA AmeriCup 2015 title) was a fluke but keep up with the consistency of what we have done," he explained.

"CHINA 2019 IS THE NEXT STEP. QUALIFYING WOULD BE ANOTHER HUGE FEAT FOR US TO ACCOMPLISH" CoxCox

Cox did not play in Venezuela's first Qualifiers in November when he was dealing with a back issue. But he thinks the team did a good job in picking up an 85-71 home win over Colombia and losing 72-60 in Brazil in Group B.

"I think the team looked good. You would love to go 2-0, but the split was good. Brazil has a good team, but we're happy that we won one," said Cox, who plays for German side medi Bayreuth. "This time around we definitely want to pick up both games. That's just what it is."

Next up for Venezuela later this month are a home game against Chile on February 23 and a return contest in Colombia on February 26. And Cox believes the team's long history together will be a big help.

"We have a group that has been together for some time. Having everybody we should be able to just keep rolling and be on the same page no matter who we are playing," said Cox, who has been playing for Venezuela since 2012. "The guys did good in the first window. Again, we got the split. If we are playing how we can play with our chemistry I think we'll be fine. We're going to leave it all out there. That's what we do."

Cox, a native of Caracas, is also looking forward to playing in front of the home fans again - after missing out on that experience during the November window.

"(FIBA) HAS SUCCEEDED IN BRINGING THE ENTERTAINMENT AND NATIONAL TEAMS TO THE HOME FANS. THIS FORMAT DOES BENEFIT THAT AND THE PLAYERS ARE EXCITED ABOUT THAT" CoxCox

"(FIBA) has succeeded in bringing the entertainment and national teams to the home fans. This format does benefit that and the players are excited about that. You always like to play in front of your country and entertain everybody, that's nice," he said. "I am looking forward to that … It's a plus for sure."

FIBA