Paul Stoll's perseverance was put to the test during his senior year as a men's basketball student-athlete at legacy institution UT-Pan American (UTPA). Early in the 2007-08 season, Stoll, the starting point guard, went up for a routine rebound and came down limping.

Today, Stoll is a captain preparing to lead the Mexican National Team into the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, a tournament that runs from Aug. 25-Sept. 10 in Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia. This is Stoll's second appearance at the FIBA Basketball World Cup as Team Mexico qualified in 2014.

At 37 years old, Stoll reflects on his experiences on and off the court. The biggest lesson Stoll has learned through his years of experience is how to best handle adversity.

"You must be flexible and be able to adjust," Stoll said. "Your team is geared one way and then someone gets hurt and your role has completely changed."

During his senior season, Stoll helped lead UTPA to an 18-13 record while averaging 14.1 points per game. He ranks eighth in career assists and steals in program history. Stoll speaks glowingly about his time at UTPA as it gave him a platform to show he was capable of playing professional basketball.

"[My time at UTPA] was instrumental," Stoll said. "That's why to this day I love Coach [Tom] Schuberth. He took a chance on a kid that nobody wanted. I just never wanted to let him down."

He arrived the next day and never looked back. Stoll has earned four medals during his time with Team Mexico, including a silver medal at the 2011 Pan American Games, a gold medal at the 2013 FIBA AmeriCup, a gold medal at the 2014 Centrobasket, and a silver medal at the 2016 Centrobasket.

Stoll was designated team captain by his coaches in 2021.

"The Team Mexico coaching staff believed in me and showed me his appreciation for me," Stoll said. "I have always tried to lead by example by working hard and they see that."

During his time representing Team Mexico, Stoll has also played 12 years of professional basketball in Israel, Russia, Mexico, Turkey, Spain, and France, winning three league championships – one in Israel and two in Mexico. Stoll has also been selected to two all-star games.

Stoll won two Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional championships with Fuerza Regia de Monterrey. These championships combined with his national team experience ensured that he will leave a long-lasting legacy for basketball in Mexico.

Stoll and Team Mexico will be competing in the group stage of the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Manila, Philippines. Mexico is grouped with Montenegro, Lithuania, and Egypt. The top two teams from each group advance to the second round.

The 16 teams advancing to the second round will be put into four new groups. The top two teams of each group will advance to the quarterfinals.

The remaining eight teams play single-elimination games until the champion is determined.

Team Mexico FIBA Basketball World Cup Group Stage Schedule

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