MONTERREY (FIBA Basketball World Cup/FIBA Americas Championship) - There is one very important factor to consider when weighing up Mexico's chances at the FIBA Americas Championship this summer in Monterrey.

Mexico's players, who were nowhere on the international basketball radar in early 2013, now have two important years of tournament experience that will come in handy this year when it attempts to reach the title game and qualify for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

"They're more mature, they understand the game more," recently appointed Mexico coach Eddie Casiano said to FIBA.com on Wednesday in Monterrey, where he attended the draw for the FIBA Americas Championship.

"(They make) Less mistakes. They understand how the FIBA tournaments are and how important it is to play as a team and how important it is to get ready for a tournament like this."

They've (Mexico's players) learned a lot and they've come a long way - Casiano

Casiano understood the importance of preparation and team play himself long ago because he once played for Puerto Rico's national team, including at the 1992 and the 2004 Olympics.

While he stresses the importance of team play, Casiano also says there is a player that Mexico will rely heavily on again this year.

That player is Gustavo Ayon, the MVP of the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship who now plays for Real Madrid.

Ayon was terrific last summer at the FIBA Basketball World Cup, helping Mexico advance to the Round of 16.

Casiano fully expects the center to be with the squad this summer and admits he will build the team around the big pivot.

This is Ayon's time - Casiano

"This is a tournament that's in Mexico," Casiano said.

"I think it's a very important time for him as a Mexican player and for the country of Mexico that he represents.

"You never know when you are going to get that opportunity again, especially having the tournament in Mexico here so yes, it's (going to be built) around him.

"Yes, he's a very important player in the national team.

"It's been built around him but we've got good players around, too, just in case something bad happens which I don't see because I know he's going to put on the Mexican shirt and represent his country."

Casiano didn't know that he was going to be the coach of Mexico until a couple of weeks ago.

He has raised eyebrows in the country as the coach of Halcones Rojos in the domestic league, and the DirecTV Liga de las Americas FIBA.

Casiano had to make some adjustments when he took over Halcones because he had worked in Puerto Rico's BSN league before.

"Puerto Rico is more of a run-and-gun league, little patience," he said.

"Over here, the top four teams have more patience, (they are) more basketball wise, oriented like Europe, the same kind of basketball game we'll play in FIBA.

"So, it's totally different as in Puerto Rico.

"You have to adjust.

"It's a slower game, a more cautious game than in Puerto Rico."

Casiano has big shoes to fill.

Not only did Sergio Valdeolmillos steer Mexico to glory in Caracas at the FIBA Americas Championship in 2013, but he got them to Spain 2014 and past the Group Phase.

He and Mexico went separate ways after the World Cup, with the country replacing him with former NBA center Bill Cartwright.

The ex-Chicago Bulls pivot coached hosts Mexico at the Central American and Caribbean Games but they did not reach the podium.

The team was missing Ayon and other key players.

Valdeolmillos is the coach that has raised the bar.

"Valdeolmillos had his time," Casiano said.

"Great job, he did a spectacular job in a (FIBA Americas Championship) tournament which he wasn't invited to and he got in because Panama wasn't there (Panama lost their place when they were suspended by FIBA)."

Casiano is quick to point out, though, that the 2015 tournament may be more competitive.

"Luckily (for Mexico in 2013), Argentina didn't go with their whole team and (also) Brazil," Casiano said.

"This tournament is totally different, where everybody is going to go with their whole team.

"Argentina is going to go with their stars, Brazil is going to have to qualify (for the Olympics), from what I've been hearing, so it's going to be a harder tournament where we're going to have more responsibilities.

"At the same time in Mexico, we should have a little bit of confidence and a little bit more (attitude) that we're difficult to be beat."

There are several months to go before the tournament begins and many things can happen between now and the start, but when pressed for a prediction on Mexico, Casiano said: "A lot of people will put us in the top two.

"You have to take it one game at a time.

"Anything can happen in the game but I think we should be right there knocking on the door to be in the top two."

Mexico will compete in Group A against Panama, the Dominican Republic, Brazil and Uruguay, while Group B consists of Canada, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Argentina and Venezuela.

FIBA