SAN JUAN (Puerto Rico) - Puerto Rico's veteran guard Jose Barea believes the recent draw in Shenzhen, China, for this summer's FIBA Basketball World Cup may have done the Boricuas a favor.

Puerto Rico, who didn't clinch a spot in the 32-team tournament until the very last Gameday of the Americas Qualifiers with a victory over Uruguay, were drawn in Group C with Spain, Iran and Tunisia.

If Puerto Rico were to finish in the top two, they would then compete in Group J in the Second Round against the top two sides that come from a Group D which consists of Angola, Italy, Philippines and Serbia.

"A World Cup is always very difficult," Barea said to El Nuevo Dia. "All the teams are good, they prepare very well. But in a matter of the group, I think we are well placed."

Barea stressed, however, that Puerto Rico's opponents must be respected.

"But I have a (Dallas Mavericks) teammate (Salah Mejri) who is the center of Tunisia, who are also very good," Barea said. "They do not have the basketball that we have, but Salah Mejri told me that they will have been practicing since June 25.

"They will prepare very well... I asked him and they've been playing together for eight years, now. They're big, athletic. They do not have the talent we have for basketball, but they will play hard. Iran is very good and those people are going to prepare incredible for that World Cup.

"I think if we prepare well, we'll have the chance to beat those two teams."

Puerto Rico have a longer tradition of excellence than both Iran and Tunisia, yet both of those teams will indeed be dangerous. Tunisia, the FIBA AfroBasket 2017 winners, have become one of the powers of Africa the past several years while Iran have featured at the last couple of World Cups.

"A WORLD CUP IS ALWAYS VERY DIFFICULT. ALL THE TEAMS ARE GOOD, THEY PREPARE VERY WELL. BUT IN A MATTER OF THE GROUP, I THINK WE ARE WELL PLACED."- Barea

Spain, the World Cup winners in 2006, are No. 2 in the FIBA World Ranking presented by NIKE and present the biggest hurdle for the Boricuas in the First Round.

"It's going to be on us, the way we prepare," Barea said. "If we go there well prepared, we will have a good opportunity to qualify for the next round... it will be a tremendous game and a good experience, but Spain is already on another level with those players with a lot of experience. But I do believe that we fell into a good group and that we have a chance."

FIBA