MONTERREY (DIRECTV League of the Americas) - This new international challenge cannot arrive at a better time for Fuerza Regia. The team of Monterrey dominates the National League of Mexico with total forcefulness and for that reason the team faces this 2017 edition of the DIRECTV Liga de las Americas with high expectations.

The current record of 30 wins in 31 games by Fuerza Regia impacts and imposes respect. That fact and the host condition highlights the team as a favorite.

This could be the perfect conditions that the team needs to advance to the next phase, something they couldn’t achieve in their previous four participations.

One of the reinforcement players of the team is Puerto Rican Carlos Rivera, has lived through the team’s good performances and he warns that the team is determined to be a prominent protagonist of the continental tournament.

What does a new participation in the DIRECTV Liga de las Americas represent for Fuerza Regia? What are your expectations for the tournament?
For us it is an important opportunity. Fuerza Regia always wants to participate in this tournament because of the importance it has and the impact it generates. We know we can do a good job in this tournament. We want to be among the best of America. That is the objective we set ourselves.

Is being first the Mexican National League an added stimulus for the international tournament?
Of course. Winning is addictive. We are on the right track in the LNBP and now we want to do the same thing in the Liga de las Americas. We want to be at the top. We have confidence in what we can achieve.

For this season several important names were added to the squad. How much did the team’s structure change? What was improved?
It is true that there were many changes and that modified the structure of the team and it’s potential. When you add to this team members of the national team, such as Juan Toscano and Hector Hernandez, the team improves immediately. We also grew in the commitment of the team. From the first day of practice I realized that there we no superstars here. We are all focused on the same goal: to obtain the best result for Fuerza Regia.

What do you think of the preliminary group, along with defending champions Guaros de Lara (VEN), Leones de Quilpué (CHI) and Caballos de Coclé (PAN)?
I really do not know much about the teams from Panama and Chile, but having the last champion of the Americas in your group, is enough to warn us that we cannot give advantages and we must be focused during the three games.

How important is it to be the host? What advantages does that generate?
It is very important for us, since we are playing in our auditorium in front of our fans, who will be many, in a court that we already know and we will have to take advantage of that fact. Getting off to a good star will be important.

FIBA