MEXICO CITY (2015 FIBA Americas Championship) - Mexico have taken a huge turn and put Sergio Valdeolmillos back in charge of their national team.

A Spaniard who had two spells in charge of Mexico before, the first in 2011 and the second from 2013 until the end of the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, Valdeolmillos will now guide the team at the Pan American Games in Toronto and then at the FIBA Americas Championship in Mexico City.

Former Puerto Rico national team star Eddie Casiano, a big hit in the country's domestic league at the helm of Halcones Rojos, had only but put in charge of the team two months ago.

But Valdeolmillos, who had been a candidate to coach Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic the past couple of months before missing out on those jobs, has now reclaimed the Mexico reins.

"Sergio Valdeolmillos has agreed to return to Mexico," said Alfredo Castillo Cervantes, the director of Mexico's Sports and Physical Culture National Commission (CONADE), in a press conference on Wednesday.

"It will be for the Pan American Games and the Pre-Olympic Basketball Tournament (FIBA Americas Championship).

"Depending on those results, we will have a possibility to define the future.

"Sergio has already sent a calendar [for the preparation schedule, training]."

Valdeolmillos knows what it takes to have success.

He steered them to silver at the 2011 Pan American Games and then, after taking over from Pep Claros for a second stint at the helm, Valdeolmillos led Mexico to their first-ever FIBA Americas Championship title in 2013.

Last year under Valdeolmillos, Mexico hosted the Centrobasket in Nayarit and won the title and at the World Cup, the Mexicans met their pre-tournament objective of progressing from the Group Phase.

Valdeolmillos had told FIBA.com at the start of March about his break-up with Mexico, attributing it to unpaid wages.

"With the regards to the legal issue, his wages, this is an issue that has to be managed by the authorities with the coach's legal representatives," Castillo said.

"The working and legal aspects will be done privately."

Castillo still sees Casiano as having an important job with Mexico.

Eddie Casiano is going to have a crucial role - Castillo

"We have spoken to him," Castillo said.

"He is a person that has all the availability to work with different age group national teams.

"He's going to work very close to the league, the CONADE and the committee."

The decision by Mexico has nevertheless come as a big disappointment to Casiano.

He had been excited about the prospect of leading Mexico on home soil, and having an opportunity to coach Gustavo Ayon, the MVP of the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship, despite concerns that the Real Madrid center might not play this summer.

Castillo was asked about Ayon's presence.

"I am in contact with him and I'm sure he will be there," the CONADE leader said.

Mexico will attempt to reach the Final because to do so would qualify the national team for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Go to fibaamericas.com/mex2015 for full coverage of the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship. 

FIBA