MEXICALI (DIRECTV Liga de las Americas 2017) - Mexican basketball will make its return to the DIRECTV Liga de las Americas and for Soles de Mexicali that means an overly expected return to the best club competition of the continent after a long seven year absence.

The reigning Mexican National League runner-up will host Group A, which will open the 2017 edition of the DIRECTV Liga de las Americas in the Auditorio del Estado. The venue will once again serve as house of the competition after hosting the first Continental Final Four in 2008.

To face a very demanding season, Soles added several experienced players to the squad. One of them, is guard Pery Meza, who has wide international experience at club level, a fact that may be fundamental for the team’s aspirations.

How does Soles face this new participation in the Liga de las Americas?
We take it very seriously, because the club has high interests in participating in this contest. It was a goal and we got it. Now we have the opportunity of playing in the continents main club competition and were very excited and eager to do a good job.

What does it mean for Mexican basketball to compete again internationally at the club level, after last season's sanction?
It means a lot, because it is an opportunity to demonstrate the level of Mexican basketball and the National League in which we play. Mexico has good basketball level and it always shows with a Mexican team qualifying to the last instances of the competition. We will try to repeat it in the 2017 edition and I hope it is Soles de Mexicali who can get to the Final Four. Personally it is one of my favorite competitions and it’s a pleasure to play in this competition.

In the National League, Soles has shown irregularities, adding 12 wins and 8 losses, a record that maintains the team at third place. Is that the thing to correct before the start of the DIRECTV Liga de las Americas?
It is. We have struggled to integrate the different individualities of some players in the team, but every day we feel better and we see that we are evolving. To play internationally we will have to improve a lot, but we feel that we are getting to the level we want. I trust that when the date comes we will be ready to play the way we intend.

Soles added several players for this season, including you, and changed the Head Coach. How is that influencing?
What I mentioned earlier has to do with this. We have struggled to adapt with the team and the city. In addition, we are getting used to another philosophy from the coach, but every day we are playing better and that gives us peace of mind.

How do you analyze the qualifying group, in which Soles will face La Unión Formosa (ARG), Aguada (URU) and Correcaminos (PAN)? How important is the host factor?
We have not received much information about the rivals yet. However, we know that the Argentine and Uruguayan teams are very difficult because of how orderly they are. Here in Mexico we do not have a lot of team with these characteristics, so it's going to be something different from what we're used to. Experience factor will play an important role when we face those teams. Being hosts in the Auditorio del Estado will be fundamental for the team’s objective of qualifying for the Semi-Final Phase. Undoubtedly we have the best fans of Mexico and we have to show it.

FIBA