PUR - Larry's back

SAN JUAN (FIBA Americas Championship/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Puerto Rico are doing a very good job of raising eyebrows in the build-up to the FIBA Americas Championship.

The national federation took the surprise decision last week to replace Flor Melendez at the helm with Paco Olmos, a Spaniard who had done an excellent job in his first season in Puerto Rico's top flight with Santurce.

This week, the country has named 36-year-old Larry Ayuso in the preliminary squad.

One of the guards who helped stun the United States in the first game of the 2004 Olympics in Greece, Ayuso had run afoul of the national team program when he left the Manolo Cintron-coached squad in a huff not long before the start of the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey.

The action led to a fine and two-year ban from international competition by the federation.

The suspension was later reduced to one year, but Ayuso didn't feature for the Boricuas at last year's FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Caracas, Venezuela.

Now, the 1.92m guard is back in the fold although he may find it difficult to make the final squad that travels to the FIBA Americas Championship in Caracas.

The tournament, a qualifying event for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, tips off 30 August.

Ayuso will do everything he can to earn a place in the team.

He is thrilled to be back.

"I'm more than happy to be considered for what I love to do," Ayuso said.

"Having the opportunity to represent my country is always an honor."

Ayuso ensured that he would be one of Puerto Rico's most famous ever players at the Athens Olympics nine years ago.

In an unforgettable Olympic encounter, Ayuso played 35 minutes against the defending champions USA and scored 15 points as Puerto Rico rolled to a 92-73 victory.

At the FIBA Americas Championship, a top-four finish is required to clinch a spot in the World Cup.

Puerto Rico will play in Group A with Uruguay, Jamaica, Canada and Brazil.

FIBA