SAN JUAN (Puerto Rico) - Puerto Rico have failed to reach the top 16 in the last three editions of the FIBA Basketball World Cup, losing the opening game all three times. Guard Gian Clavell stressed the importance of opening China 2019 with a victory.

Puerto Rico's quest to advance through Group C in Guangzhou starts with a showdown against Iran on August 31 with the other two games coming against Spain and Tunisia.

"We have to start the competition the best way, and we are going to be 100 percent ready for this first game, which is a very, very important one for us," said Clavell, who will be playing in his first World Cup. "If you start winning in a competition like this, you gain confidence and you are in a positive dynamic, which is very helpful."

Most observers assume that Spain will win the group - or at the very least grab one of the two berths in the second group phase. That makes Puerto Rico's opener against Iran all the more important.

Puerto Rico's first test at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 will be against Iran

"Iran is a direct opponent for a spot in the next round, and we want to win as many games as we can to get into the first two spots of the group," Clavell said.

"We know that the battle for the first two spots is going to be intense, but we are going to be ready to fight for it. We don't want to go to China and go back home after a week of competition. We want to put all of our energy for this jersey, for our people, and have a good run to make them proud of us. We are going to China to represent Puerto Rico, the people, the island and all the fellow compatriots who live around the world, the best way."

Puerto Rico finished among the top eight in three of the four World Cups from 1990 to 2002. But first-game losses in the three most recent tournaments have led to a 17th place finish in 2006 followed by 18th place in 2010 and 19th place in 2014.

The 25-year-old guard played in all 12 games in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers in his first competition for Puerto Rico. And he cannot wait to line up against the world.

"IF YOU START WINNING IN A COMPETITION LIKE THIS, YOU GAIN CONFIDENCE."

 
"I feel so great and so excited for the FIBA World Cup to start. I have been waiting for this moment for so long. And since we punched our ticket for the competition a couple of months ago, I have had this in mind and thinking 'I can't wait for this summer to compete in China'," he said. "It's fantastic for all of us, for all of Puerto Rico, as we want to shine at the international level and keep showing the world that we have a good national team and that we love the game a lot. It’s going to be a superb competition, and being able to compete there is a great honor, a great opportunity for all of us to keep improving."

Clavell admitted that the game against Spain on September 2 will have a little more meaning after he played last season in Spain for Estudiantes Madrid.

"It's going to be special, but I will be focused on helping my team get a good result against the Spanish team," said Clavell, who was in his second professional season in Europe.

The Caguas native knows that he and his teammates will be facing a tall task against Spain.

Despite the departures of some veterans, Spain will be one of the top title contenders in China 

"They have such a great team, with a good mix of veterans such as Sergio Llull, Rudy Fernandez and Marc Gasol, and some younger ones, such as Ricky Rubio who is one of the best point guards in the world. They have been among the best teams in the world for so many years now that you can only see them and respect the hard work and the great performances they have been having in the last decade or so. They are the favorite of the group, the team that is supposed to finish in first place," Clavell said.

As one of three players who appeared in all 12 qualifying games - along with Ricky Sanchez and Jorge Bryan Diaz - Clavell played a major role in Puerto Rico grabbing a ticket for China 2019, averaging 12.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 steals in 21 minutes. But he is not insistent on having any specific role when it comes to the World Cup. 

"I am a team player and I would do everything for this jersey and for my teammates. I am here to represent Puerto Rico and sweat for my country," Clavell said. "I try to be impactful on both ends of the floor, and I want to help my team have a great run in China 2019. We are all pushing the same way, pushing for Puerto Rico to have a very competitive national team."

Clavell already has felt the passion of playing for his country - and doing that in his country as well. He collected 13 points - including a big three-pointer with 54 seconds left - as Puerto Rico knocked off Uruguay 65-61 in the final qualifying game, which was a winner-take-all contest at Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan.

"Oh man, that was so good. It's probably one of the best joys, one of the best moments of my career so far," he said. "The qualifying campaign was so long and intense and to be able to reach a spot after all those efforts and games was something amazing, an amazing feeling of relief and joy for sure. I will never forget that day, and the scenes of joy with our families and fans that were our sixth man. We were so happy and now we have to keep having that positivity going into the tournament, by fighting for every ball on every possession and to give our all for Puerto Rico."

All that passion will help as they aim to start China 2019 with a victory.

FIBA