Marcelinho Huertas selected the top Brazilian playing abroad in last week's games

Traditionally, every week we bring you a list of the top performances of Brazilians who are currently playing abroad.

Marcelinho Huertas

   #1. This week's number one is an experienced former international point guard Marcelinho Huertas (191-1983, currently plays in Spain). He was the major contributor in Tenerife's victory against the 12th-ranked Zaragoza (8-14) 77-62 in the Spanish Liga Endesa in Saturday night's game. Huertas scored 20 points and added 6 passes in 30 minutes on the court. Lenovo Tenerife (13-8) is placed fifth in the Liga Endesa. It was his team's fourth consecutive victory in a row. Huertas has relatively good stats this year: 13.6ppg, 2.3rpg, 6.2apg, 2FGP: 52.5%, 3FGP: 26.1% and FT: 89.9% in 21 games he played so far. He has a dual citizenship: Brazilian and Italian. Huertas played for the Brazilian senior national team year ago.

Hatila Passos

   #2. Second place goes to former international center Hatila Passos (211-1985, college: NM State, currently plays in Uruguay). Passos led Defensor to a victory over the league outsider Capitol (2-20) 87-77 in a derby game in the Uruguayan LUB on Monday night. He was MVP of the game. Passos had a double-double by scoring 23 points and getting 12 rebounds in 36 minutes; not bad, considering it's only his first season in pro basketball. Defensor Sporting Club Montevideo (9-14) is placed ninth in the LUB. There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical. This year Passos has relatively solid stats: 11.2ppg, 11.6rpg, 1.1apg, 2FGP: 59.4%(63-106) and FT: 64.6% in 15 games. He is another player who holds two passports: Brazilian and Uruguayan. Former Paulistano/Unimed Sao Paolo starter played for the Brazilian national team in 10.

Tim Soares

   #3. The Brazilian player who performed third best last week abroad was former international center Tim Soares (211-1997, college: Master's, currently plays in Israel). Soares could not help one of league's weakest teams Ironi Nes-Ziona (9-9) in their last game on Monday. Despite his very good performance Ironi Nes-Ziona was badly defeated 99-83 on the road by the higher-ranked Hapoel Tel-Aviv (#6). Soares was the top scorer with 23 points. He also added 6 rebounds. There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial. Soares has reliable stats this season: 13.9ppg, 6.6rpg, 1.4apg, 1.1bpg, 2FGP: 62.6%(72-115), 3FGP: 63.6%(21-33) and FT: 86.0%. He is a naturalized American. Soares played for the Brazilian national team year ago. Strangely he has never played in Brazil.

Augusto Lima

   #4. Center Augusto Lima (210-1991, agency: Octagon Europe, currently plays in Spain) contributed to an easy victory against one of league's weakest teams Andorra (7-16) crushing them 96-67 in the Spanish Liga Endesa last Sunday. Lima scored 11 points, had 8 rebounds and dished 6 assists in 20 minutes. Universidad Catolica de Murcia CB (2-1) is placed second in the Liga Endesa. This year Lima's overall stats are: 8.2ppg, 7.2rpg and 2.6apg in 21 games. He used to play for the Brazilian national team back in 22.

Caio Pacheco

   #5. Former international point guard Caio Pacheco (189-1999, currently plays in Poland) was not able to help MKS DG (8-16) in their last game on Sunday. Despite Pacheco's very good performance MKS DG was badly defeated 94-75 in Slupsk by the leading Czarni. He was the top scorer with 23 points. Pacheco also added 3 assists. This season Pacheco averages: 9.6ppg, 3.7rpg and 3.4apg. He used to play for the Brazilian national team years ago.

Raul Neto

   #6. Point guard Raul Neto (185-1992, currently plays in NBA) was not able to secure a victory for the Washington Wizards (29-38) in their game against the Golden State Warriors (48-22) in the NBA. Neto recorded 8 points, 7 assists and 4 steals in 22 minutes. The Washington Wizards (29-38) lost 112-126 in Oakland to the Golden State Warriors. It was Wizards' fourth consecutive loss in a row. Neto's stats this year are: 7.9ppg, 2.0rpg and 3.2apg in 58 games. He is a former international player as he played for the Brazilian senior team year ago.

Vitor Benite

   #7. Former international shooting guard Vitor Benite (194-1990, also represented by Octagon Europe, currently plays in Spain) contributed to Burgos' victory against the closely-ranked Murcia (12-9) 89-83 in the Spanish Liga Endesa on Wednesday night. He scored 8 points in 20 minutes. Hereda San Pablo Burgos (13-7) is placed fourth in the Liga Endesa. It was his team's fourth consecutive victory in a row. Benite averaged so far 11.8ppg, 2.2rpg and 1.5apg in 19 games. He used to play for the Brazilian national team years ago.

Rafael Luz

   #8. Point guard Rafael Luz (188-1992, agency: Interperformances, currently plays in Spain) contributed to Bilbao's victory against the tenth-ranked Breogan (11-10) 94-86 in the Spanish Liga Endesa in Saturday night's game. Luz scored 10 points. Surne Bilbao Basket (0-3) is placed fourth in the Liga Endesa. Luz's total stats this season are: 6.7ppg, 2.5rpg, 3.0apg and 1.1spg. He used to play for the Brazilian national team back in 21.

Scott Machado

   #9. Former international guard Scott Machado (185-1990, college: Iona, currently plays in Australia) couldn't help Cairns Taipans (4-12) in their game against Kings (12-7) in the Australian NBL. Machado scored 7 points, had 4 boards, passed 3 assists and added 4 steals. The bottom-ranked Cairns Taipans were defeated 86-77 in Sydney by the much higher-ranked Kings (#3). It was Cairns Taipans' fourth consecutive loss in a row. Machado's total stats this season are: 9.7ppg, 2.7rpg and 4.1apg. He is a naturalized American. Machado used to play for the Brazilian national team years ago. Apparently he has never played in Brazil.

Leonardo Meindl

   #10. Small forward Leonardo Meindl (201-1993, currently plays in Spain) couldn't help Fuenlabrada (7-15) in their game against Barca (17-4) in the Spanish Liga Endesa. Meindl scored 7 points in 22 minutes. Fuenlabrada was badly defeated 86-69 at home by the leading Barca. It was Fuenlabrada's fifth consecutive loss in a row. Meindl averaged so far 14.1ppg, 5.6rpg and 1.9apg in 16 games. He is a former international player as years ago he still played for the Brazilian senior national team.

   #11. Former U17 international guard Fernando Salsamendi (196, college: Ave Maria, currently plays in Portugal) contributed to an easy victory against the seventh-ranked Olhanense crushing them 93-69 in the Portuguese Proliga (second division) last Saturday. Salsamendi recorded a double-double by scoring 14 points and getting 15 rebounds. He also added 2 blocks. Salsamendi has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 16.9ppg, 7.8rpg, 1.2apg and 1.3spg. Salsamendi used to play for the Brazilian U17 national team years ago.


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) was the major contributor in an ALBA Berlin's victory against the tenth-ranked 46ers crushing them 84-58 in the German BBL last Sunday. He recorded 17 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks; quite an impressive performance considering it's only Da Silva's first season in pro basketball. ALBA Berlinis placed first in the BBL. This season Da Silva has relatively solid stats: 10.9ppg, 5.6rpg, 1.2apg, 1.1bpg and 1.2spg. 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. Gabriel Novaes (208-C-2001, currently plays in Argentina) could not help Bahia (5-14) in their last game on Monday. Despite Novaes' good performance the 14th-placed Bahia (5-14) was defeated 76-72 at home by the higher-ranked Lanus (#10) in the Conferencia Sur. He recorded a double-double by scoring 13 points and getting 10 rebounds. Novaes' stats this season are: 14.5ppg, 8.7rpg and 2.1apg.

   #3. Tristan Da Silva (203-F-2001, currently plays college basketball in the States) led Colorado to a victory against the University of Oregon (11-9) 80-69 in the NCAA last Thursday. Da Silva recorded 12 points and blocked 2 shots in 27 minutes. The University of Colorado has 12-8 conference record this season. His team will play only one more game in the NCAA Regular Season. And that game will be critical. This year Da Silva's total stats are: 9.3ppg, 3.5rpg and 1.9apg in 30 games he played so far. He is another player who holds two passports: German and Brazilian. Despite Da Silva's Brazilian nationality, he previously played for the German U20 national team and probably cannot be called to the Brazilian team.

   #4. Ayan Carvalho (196-G/F-1997, college: Temple, currently plays in Argentina) managed to help Gimnasia y Esgrima Comodoro Rivadavia in a victory against the league leader Instituto (5-2) 89-81 in the Argentinian La Liga on Wednesday night. He scored only 3 points in 8 minutes on the court. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Gimnasia y Esgrima Comodoro Rivadavia (5-2) is placed first in the La Liga. It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row. This year Carvalho's total stats are: 6.5ppg and 2.1rpg in 16 games. He has both Brazilian and Argentinian nationalities.

   #5. Pedro Ribeiro (187-F-2002, currently plays in Portugal) contributed to an easy victory against the seventh-ranked Olhanense (7-13) crushing them 93-69 in the Portuguese Proliga (second division) in Saturday night's game. Ribeiro scored 13 points and added 3 passes. Electrico FC (9-11) is placed fifth in Places 1-8 group. There are only two games left until the end of the Second Stage. So now every game is very crucial. This season Ribeiro averages only 4.6ppg.

   #6. Felipe Dos Anjos (218-C-1998, currently plays in Spain) was not able to help Estudiantes in their game against Prat in the Spanish LEB Gold (second division). He cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones. Dos Anjos scored only 2 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 8 minutes on the court. His team was edged 80-79. This year Dos Anjos' total stats are: 5.4ppg and 2.8rpg in 19 games.

   #7. Cassio Santos (203-F/C-1990, currently plays in Sweden) was not able to secure a victory for the league outsider Fryshuset in their game against Boras Basket in the Swedish Basketligan. He scored 8 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. His team was crushed by 40 points 109-69. Santos' total stats this season are: 7.4ppg and 3.9rpg.

   #8. Bernardo Da Silva (206-F-2000, currently studies in the States) contributed to a 1-point Hawaii's victory against the University of California Riverside 68-67 in the NCAA in Thursday night's game. He recorded 6 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks in 23 minutes. This year Da Silva's total stats are: 9.5ppg and 6.3rpg in 22 games.

   #9. Victor Demetrio (206-F-1995, college: OVU, currently plays in Germany) contributed to a White Wings' surprising victory against the second-ranked Koblenz 76-68 in the German ProB (third division) last Saturday. He recorded 6 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. Demetrio's total stats this season are: 4.1ppg and 4.9rpg. He also holds two passports: Italian and Brazilian. Despite Demetrio's Brazilian nationality, he previously played for the Italian university national team.

   #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 Thursday's game as one of the best ones. He recorded only 2 points and added 3 passes in 25 minutes. His team lost 46-53. This year Colimerio's total stats are: 4.7ppg and 4.4rpg in 32 games.