Leonardo Meindl's double-double lands him Player of the Week award among Brazilians playing currently abroad:

Here is the weekly review of the top performing Brazilian players, who play currently abroad.

Leonardo Meindl

   #1. This week's number one is former international small forward Leonardo Meindl (201-1993, currently plays in Spain). He could not help one of league's weakest teams Fuenlabrada (7-13) in their last game. Despite Meindl's very good performance Fuenlabrada was badly defeated 73-53 at home by the higher-ranked (#13) Unicaja. He had a double-double by scoring 23 points and getting 15 rebounds in 34 minutes on the court. It was Fuenlabrada's third consecutive loss in a row. Meindl has relatively good stats this year: 14.6ppg, 6.1rpg, 1.9apg, 2FGP: 50.5%, 3FGP: 38.2% and FT: 73.2% in 14 games he played so far. He played for the Brazilian senior national team year ago.

Tim Soares

   #2. Second place goes to former international center Tim Soares (211-1997, college: Master's, currently plays in Israel). Soares led Ironi Nes-Ziona to a victory over the closely-ranked Hapoel Beer Sheva (6-10) 88-72 in the Israeli Winner League last Sunday. He was MVP of the game. Soares scored 24 points; quite an impressive performance considering it's only his first season in pro basketball. Ironi Hai Motors Nes-Ziona (8-8) is placed eighth in the Winner League. There are only four games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical. This season Soares has relatively solid stats: 13.7ppg, 6.6rpg, 1.5apg, 2FGP: 61.9%(65-105), 3FGP: 62.1%(18-29) and FT: 87.5%. He is a naturalized American. Soares played for the Brazilian national team in 21. Strangely he has never played in Brazil.

Vitor Benite

   #3. The Brazilian player who performed third best last week abroad was former international shooting guard Vitor Benite (194-1990, agency: Octagon Europe, currently plays in Spain). Benite was the major contributor in Burgos' victory against the 11th-ranked Bilbao (9-10) 104-97 in the Spanish Liga Endesa on Wednesday night. He scored 16 points and had 3 steals in 33 minutes. Hereda San Pablo Burgos (13-6) is placed second in the Liga Endesa. It was his team's fourth consecutive victory in a row. Benite has reliable stats this year: 12.6ppg, 2.2rpg, 1.3apg, 2FGP: 42.4%, 3FGP: 29.2% and FT: 88.5% in 16 games. He played for the Brazilian national team year ago.

Raul Neto

   #4. Point guard Raul Neto (185-1992, currently plays in NBA) contributed to a Washington Wizards' victory against the Detroit Pistons (13-45) 103-94 in the NBA in Monday night's game. Neto scored 11 points, had 4 boards, passed 3 assists and added 4 steals. The Washington Wizards have 27-31 record this season. Neto's stats this year are: 7.8ppg, 2.0rpg and 2.8apg. He used to play for the Brazilian national team back in 16.

Rafael Luz

   #5. Former international point guard Rafael Luz (188-1992, agency: Interperformances, currently plays in Spain) faced previously mentioned Vitor Benite in the Spanish Liga Endesa last game. Luz was not able to help Bilbao in their game against Burgos (5-14). He scored 5 points and added 7 assists. Bilbao was defeated 104-97 on the road by the league outsider Burgos (#18). So far Bilbao lost all three games in the Regular Season. Luz's overall stats this season are: 6.7ppg, 2.4rpg, 3.1apg and 1.2spg. He has a dual citizenship: Brazilian and Spanish. Luz used to play for the Brazilian national team years ago.

Fernando Salsamendi

   #6. Guard Fernando Salsamendi (196, college: Ave Maria, currently plays in Portugal) helped Electrico FC win their game against the fifth-ranked NB Queluz (8-9) 74-71 in the Portuguese Proliga (second division) last Saturday. He scored 22 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 29 minutes; not bad, considering it's only Salsamendi's first season in pro basketball. Electrico FC (7-10) is placed fifth in Places 1-8 group. Salsamendi has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 17.0ppg, 7.3rpg, 1.1apg and 1.3spg in 15 games. Salsamendi is a former U17 international player as he played for the Brazilian team year ago.

Scott Machado

   #7. Former international guard Scott Machado (185-1990, college: Iona, currently plays in Australia) was not able to secure a victory for Cairns Taipans (3-8) in their game against Illawarra Hawks (8-7) in the Australian NBL. He scored 7 points and grabbed 4 rebounds (went 5 for 5 at the free throw line). The bottom-ranked Cairns Taipans were crushed 79-54 in Gwynneville by the higher-ranked Illawarra Hawks (#5). It was Cairns Taipans' fourth consecutive loss in a row. Machado's overall stats this season are: 7.3ppg, 1.7rpg and 2.8apg. He is a naturalized American. Machado used to play for the Brazilian national team years ago. Apparently he has never played in Brazil.

Rodolfo Bolis

   #8. Forward Rodolfo Bolis (197-2003, currently plays college basketball in the States), who plays in the NCAA couldn't help the EIU (3-13) in their last game on Saturday. Despite his good performance the EIU was defeated 63-49 on their home court in Charleston by the Tennessee State University. Bolis scored 10 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. The Regular Season already ended in the NCAA. Bolis' overall stats this season are: 6.4ppg, 5.0rpg, 1.2apg and 1.2spg. He used to play for the Brazilian U17 national team back in 19.

Kayo Goncalves

   #9. Former U17 international forward Kayo Goncalves (203-1999, currently studies in the States) helped USA win their game against the Coastal Carolina College (6-8) 71-68 in the NCAA on Thursday night. He recorded 9 points. The University of South Alabama has 8-6 conference record this season. There are only three games left until the end of the NCAA Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial. Goncalves' overall stats this season are: 7.4ppg and 3.9rpg. He used to play for the Brazilian U17 national team years ago.

Matheus Silveira

   #10. Center Matheus Silveira (213-2000, is currently at the American university) helped Portland win their game against the Bushnell University (6-8) crushing them 84-39 in the NCAA in Tuesday night's game. Silveira scored 6 points in only 10 minutes. The University of Portland has 6-6 conference record this season. There are only two games left until the end of the NCAA Regular Season. So now every game will be important. This year Silveira's overall stats are: 4.7ppg and 2.1rpg in 20 games. He is a former U16 international player as years ago he still played for the Brazilian national team.


The list of other players, who all have Brazilian passport but never been selected to any of Brazilian national teams:

   #1. Oscar Da Silva (206-PF-1998, agency: BeoBasket, college: Stanford, currently plays in Germany) contributed to an easy victory against the ninth-ranked Skyliners 72-56 in the German BBL last Tuesday. Da Silva recorded 6 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists in 17 minutes. ALBA Berlinis placed first in the BBL. This year Da Silva averages: 9.3ppg, 3.8rpg and 1.8apg in four games he played so far. He has a dual citizenship: Brazilian and German. Despite Da Silva's Brazilian passport, he previously played for the German U19 national team and is probably not eligible to play for the Brazilian team.

   #2. Ayan Carvalho (196-G/F-1997, college: Temple, currently plays in Argentina) could not help Gimnasia (5-2) in their last game on Thursday. Despite Carvalho's good performance the league leader Gimnasia was defeated 89-80 on the road by the second-ranked Quimsa. He scored 10 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. Carvalho's overall stats this season are: 7.3ppg, 2.8rpg and 1.1apg. He is another player who holds two passports: Brazilian and Argentinian. Despite Carvalho's Brazilian nationality, he previously played for the Argentinian university national team and probably cannot be called to the Brazilian team.

   #3. Tristan Da Silva (203-F-2001, currently plays college basketball in the States) led Colorado to an easy victory against the Oregon State University (1-14) crushing them 90-64 in the NCAA in Tuesday night's game. Da Silva scored 15 points, grabbed 5 rebounds and dished 4 assists in 31 minutes. The University of Colorado has 10-7 conference record this season. The Regular Season already ended in the NCAA. This year Da Silva averages: 9.0ppg, 3.6rpg and 1.9apg in 25 games. He has both German and Brazilian nationalities. Despite Da Silva's Brazilian passport, he previously played for the German U20 national team.

   #4. Diego Maffia (185-G-2001, currently plays in Canada) led University of Victoria to a victory over the Cascades (9-9) crushing them 107-67 in the U Sports on Friday night. He was the best player in that game. Maffia scored 26 points (!!!), had 6 rebounds and dished 5 assists in 24 minutes. The University of Victoria has quite an impressive 13-2 record this season. It was his team's fifth consecutive victory in a row. They will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And that game will be critical. Maffia has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 17.6ppg, 4.3rpg, 3.7apg and 1.2spg in 15 games. Maffia also holds two passports: Brazilian and Canadian.

   #5. Gabriel Novaes (208-C-2001, currently plays in Argentina) was not able to help Bahia in their game against Del Progreso (7-8) in the Argentinian La Liga Argentina (second division). He scored 8 points, grabbed 7 rebounds and dished 4 assists. The 13th-placed Bahia (4-11) was defeated 92-85 at home by the higher-ranked Del Progreso (#10) in the Conferencia Sur. It was Bahia's seventh consecutive loss in a row. Novaes averaged so far 15.0ppg, 8.8rpg and 2.0apg.

   #6. Felipe Dos Anjos (218-C-1998, currently plays in Spain) managed to help Movistar Estudiantes Madrid in a victory against the 11th-ranked Alicante crushing them 98-75 in the Spanish LEB Gold (second division) in Saturday night's game. Dos Anjos scored 5 points in 14 minutes. This year Dos Anjos' overall stats are: 5.3ppg and 2.8rpg in 17 games.

   #7. Bernardo Da Silva (206-F-2000, currently studies in the States) contributed to Hawaii's victory against the University of California at San Diego 65-53 in the NCAA last Thursday. He recorded 12 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. Da Silva averaged so far 10.8ppg, 6.7rpg and 1.1apg.

   #8. Nick Silva (201-F, currently plays in NCAA2) contributed to a Francis Marion University's surprising victory against the Emmanuel College 80-78 in the NCAA2 on Saturday night. He recorded 13 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and made 2 blocks in 31 minutes. Silva averaged so far 12.4ppg, 5.0rpg and 2.3apg in 20 games.

   #9. Marcelo Ruediger (206-C-1993, college: Tampa, currently plays in Germany) was not able to secure a victory for Dragons Rhoendorf (3-5) in their last game. Despite Ruediger's good performance the eighth-placed Dragons Rhoendorf lost 68-82 on the opponent's court to the leading Muenster in the North group. He was the second best scorer with 11 points. Ruediger also added 6 rebounds in a mere 19 minutes. This year Ruediger's overall stats are: 4.2ppg and 4.2rpg in five games.

   #10. Leonardo Colimerio (201-G/F-2001, is currently at the American university) couldn't help the Fresno St. in their game against the San Diego State University in the NCAA. Colimerio cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones. He scored only 2 points. His team was badly defeated by 17 points 61-44. Colimerio's total stats this season are: 4.9ppg and 4.5rpg.