Marcelinho Huertas' 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.

Marcelinho Huertas

   #1. This week's number one is an experienced former international point guard Marcelinho Huertas (191-1983, currently plays in Spain). He led Tenerife to a victory against one of league's weakest teams Burgos (7-16) 91-78 in the Spanish Liga Endesa in Sunday night's game. Huertas had a double-double by scoring 13 points and making the same number of passes in 31 minutes on the court. Lenovo Tenerife (14-8) is placed fourth in the Liga Endesa. It was his team's fifth consecutive victory in a row. There are only four games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical. Huertas has relatively good stats this year: 13.6ppg, 2.2rpg, 6.5apg, 2FGP: 52.2%, 3FGP: 27.5% in 22 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 (2-21) 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; quite an impressive performance 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 is very crucial. 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.

Augusto Lima

   #3. The Brazilian player who performed third best last week abroad was former international center Augusto Lima (210-1991, agency: Octagon Europe, currently plays in Spain). Lima could not help Murcia (2-1) in their last game on Saturday. Despite his good performance Murcia was defeated 105-95 on the road by the much lower-ranked Fuenlabrada (#13). Lima recorded a double-double by scoring 11 points and getting 10 rebounds. He also added 3 assists and 2 blocks. There are only four games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be important. This season Lima averages: 8.3ppg, 7.3rpg, 2.6apg, 2FGP: 71.2%(84-118) and FT: 38.5%. He played for the Brazilian national team year ago.

Tim Soares

   #4. Center Tim Soares (211-1997, college: Master's, currently plays in Israel) was not able to help Ironi Nes-Ziona in their game against Maccabi Tel-Aviv (13-7) in the Israeli Winner League, despite his very good performance last Wednesday. Soares was the second best scorer with 18 points. He also added 4 rebounds in 29 minutes; not bad, considering it's only Soares' first season in pro basketball. But Ironi Nes-Ziona lost 89-93 in Tel-Aviv to the second-ranked Maccabi. His team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. Soares has reliable stats this year: 14.2ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.3apg and 1.1bpg in 20 games. He is a naturalized American. Soares used to play for the Brazilian national team back in 21. Strangely he has never played in Brazil.

Vitor Benite

   #5. Former international shooting guard Vitor Benite (194-1990, also represented by Octagon Europe, currently plays in Spain) faced previously mentioned Marcelinho Huertas in the Spanish Liga Endesa last game. Benite was not able to secure a victory for Burgos (15-7) in their game against Tenerife (14-8). Despite his good performance on Sunday night He recorded 12 points. Benite's stats this season are: 11.9ppg, 2.2rpg and 1.5apg. He used to play for the Brazilian national team years ago.

Raul Neto

   #6. Point guard Raul Neto (185-1992, currently plays in NBA) couldn't help the Washington Wizards (30-41) in their game against the New York Knicks (30-41) in the NBA, despite his good performance in Friday night's game. Neto scored 11 points and added 4 assists in 24 minutes. But the Washington Wizards (30-41) were edged 100-97 in New York City by the New York Knicks. Neto's stats this year are: 7.9ppg, 2.1rpg and 3.3apg in 62 games. He is a former international player as he played for the Brazilian senior team year ago.

Scott Machado

   #7. Former international guard Scott Machado (185-1990, college: Iona, currently plays in Australia) contributed to a Cairns Taipans' victory against the closely-ranked Bullets (7-13) 98-88 in the Australian NBL last Sunday. Machado recorded a double-double by scoring 14 points and making 11 passes. Cairns Taipans (5-13) are placed second from the bottom (#9) in the NBL. They ended the series of five consecutive loses. There are only four games left until the end of the Regular Season. Machado's overall stats this season are: 9.3ppg, 2.9rpg and 4.8apg. 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

   #8. Small forward Leonardo Meindl (201-1993, currently plays in Spain) faced previously mentioned Augusto Lima in the Spanish Liga Endesa last game. Meindl helped Fuenlabrada win their game against the eighth-ranked Murcia (12-10) 105-95. He recorded 12 points and added 3 assists in 23 minutes. Meindl averaged so far 14.0ppg, 5.4rpg and 1.9apg in 17 games. He used to play for the Brazilian national team back in 22.

Rafael Luz

   #9. Former international point guard Rafael Luz (188-1992, agency: Interperformances, currently plays in Spain) couldn't help Bilbao (0-3) in their game against Andorra (8-16) in the Spanish Liga Endesa. Luz recorded 7 points and added 5 assists. Bilbao was defeated 82-72 on the opponent's court by the much lower-ranked Andorra (#15). So far Bilbao lost all three games in the Regular Season. There are only four games left until the end of the Regular Season. Luz's overall stats this season are: 6.7ppg, 2.5rpg, 3.0apg and 1.1spg. He used to play for the Brazilian national team years ago.

Caio Pacheco

   #10. Point guard Caio Pacheco (189-1999, currently plays in Poland) couldn't help MKS DG (8-17) in their game against Wilki Morskie (13-12) in the Polish EBL, despite his good performance in Friday night's game. Pacheco scored 11 points and added 8 passes in 31 minutes. But MKS DG lost 77-90 at home to the higher-ranked (#8) Wilki Morskie. There are only four games left until the end of the Regular Season. This year Pacheco's overall stats are: 9.8ppg, 3.5rpg and 4.0apg in eight games. He is a former international player as years ago he still played for the Brazilian senior national team.

   #11. Former U17 international forward Kayo Goncalves (203-1999, currently plays college basketball in the States) helped USA edge the Southeastern Louisiana University 70-68 in the NCAA National Tournament Round 1 on Wednesday night. He scored 9 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. Goncalves' total stats this season are: 7.3ppg and 4.0rpg. He used to play for the Brazilian U17 national team years ago.

   #12. Former international forward Leonardo Demetrio (209-1994, currently plays in Italy) managed to help Carpegna Prosciutto Basket Pesaro to win against the closely-ranked Varese 87-76 in the Italian Serie A last Sunday. Demetrio scored only 2 points. Demetrio's total stats this season are: 3.9ppg and 3.3rpg. He used to play for the Brazilian national team back in 20.

   #13. Former U16 international center Matheus Silveira (213-2000, currently studies in the States) helped Portland win their game against the University of New Orleans crushing them 94-73 in the NCAA National Tournament Round 2 in Saturday night's game. He scored only 4 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. Silveira's total stats this season are: 4.2ppg and 1.9rpg. He used to play for the Brazilian U16 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 Euroleague) could not help one of league's weakest teams ALBA Berlin (9-13) in their last game on Friday. Despite his good performance ALBA Berlin was badly defeated 85-68 on the road by the higher-ranked Baskonia (#10). Da Silva was the second best scorer with 13 points. He also added 7 rebounds. There are only four games left until the end of the Euroleague Regular Season. So now every game will be critical. This season Da Silva averages: 8.6ppg and 3.3rpg. 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) was the major contributor in Bahia's victory against the 15th-ranked Parque Sur (5-20) crushing them 79-56 in the Argentinian La Liga Argentina (second division) in Sunday night's game. Novaes recorded a double-double by scoring 15 points and getting 10 rebounds. Bahia Basket (6-14) is placed 13th in Conferencia Sur. Novaes averaged so far 14.5ppg, 8.8rpg and 2.0apg.

   #3. Tristan Da Silva (203-F-2001, currently plays college basketball in the States) was not able to help the Colorado in their game against the St. Bonaventure University (12-5) in the NCAA National Tournament Round 1, despite his very good performance last Tuesday. He scored 13 points, grabbed 5 rebounds and dished 4 assists in 30 minutes. But the Colorado lost 68-76 at home to the St. Bonaventure University. The National Tournament Round 1 already ended in the NCAA. This year Da Silva's overall stats are: 9.4ppg, 3.5rpg and 2.0apg in 31 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. Leonardo Colimerio (201-G/F-2001, currently studies in the States) led Fresno St. to a victory against the Eastern Washington University (11-9) 83-74 in the NCAA National Tournament Round 1 last Thursday. Colimerio scored 17 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. The Fresno State University has 8-9 conference record this season. The National Tournament Round 1 already ended in the NCAA. Colimerio's total stats this season are: 5.0ppg and 4.5rpg.

   #5. Felipe Dos Anjos (218-C-1998, currently plays in Spain) contributed to an easy victory against the 14th-ranked Almansa (10-15) 84-68 in the Spanish LEB Gold (second division) on Sunday night. He recorded 7 points in only 11 minutes. Movistar Estudiantes Madrid (19-5) is placed second in the LEB Gold. This year Dos Anjos' total stats are: 5.5ppg and 3.0rpg in 21 games.

   #6. Diego Maffia (185-G-2001, currently plays in Canada) contributed to an University of Victoria's victory against the Cougars 74-62 in the U Sports in Friday night's game. He scored 20 points, had 6 rebounds and dished 3 assists. Maffia has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 17.2ppg, 4.4rpg, 3.8apg and 1.3spg. Maffia has both Brazilian and Canadian nationalities.

   #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 in 30 minutes. His team was crushed by 40 points 109-69. This year Santos' total stats are: 7.4ppg and 3.9rpg in 20 games.

   #8. Victor Demetrio (206-F-1995, college: OVU, currently plays in Germany) contributed to a 3-point White Wings' victory against the fourth-ranked OrangeAcademy 86-83 in the German ProB (third division) in Saturday night's game. Demetrio scored 7 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in 23 minutes. This year Demetrio's total stats are: 4.3ppg and 5.1rpg in 16 games. He also holds two passports: Italian and Brazilian. Despite Demetrio's Brazilian nationality, he previously played for the Italian university national team.

   #9. Pedro Ribeiro (187-F-2002, currently plays in Portugal) couldn't help Electrico FC in their game against NB Queluz in the Portuguese Proliga (second division). Ribeiro recorded 8 points and added 4 assists in 33 minutes. His team was badly defeated by 20 points 88-68. This year Ribeiro's total stats are: 4.7ppg and 1.1rpg in 19 games.

   #10. Caio Oliveira (211-C-1998, currently plays in Argentina) managed to help Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata in a victory against the 12th-ranked Quilmes MP crushing them 82-59 in the Argentinian La Liga Argentina (second division) last Saturday. Oliveira scored only one point in 3 minutes on the court. This year Oliveira's total stats are: 2.6ppg and 2.6rpg in 14 games.