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

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 could not help Tenerife (14-9) in their last game. Despite Huertas' good performance Tenerife lost 77-89 on the road to the lower-ranked (#10) Gran Canaria. He scored 14 points and added 5 passes in 26 minutes on the court. It was Tenerife's first loss after five consecutive victories. There are only three 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, 2.3rpg, 6.5apg, 2FGP: 51.8%, 3FGP: 27.5% and FT: 89.6% in 23 games he played so far. He has a dual citizenship: Brazilian and Italian. Huertas 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 was the major contributor in an Ironi Nes-Ziona's victory against the closely-ranked Galil Gilboa (9-12) 81-71 in the Israeli Winner League on Friday night. He had a double-double by scoring 19 points and getting 11 rebounds in 29 minutes; quite an impressive performance considering it's only Soares' first season in pro basketball. Ironi Hai Motors Nes-Ziona (10-11) is placed seventh in the Winner League. The Regular Season already ended. This year Soares has relatively solid stats: 14.4ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.3apg, 1.1bpg, 2FGP: 62.7%(89-142), 3FGP: 59.5%(25-42) and FT: 87.7% in 21 games. 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 led Burgos to an easy victory against the 15th-ranked Zaragoza (8-16) crushing them 78-56 in the Spanish Liga Endesa in Saturday night's game. He scored 16 points. Hereda San Pablo Burgos (15-8) is placed fourth in the Liga Endesa. There are only four games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial. Benite has reliable stats this season: 12.0ppg, 2.2rpg, 1.4apg, 2FGP: 42.6%, 3FGP: 31.0% and FT: 87.7%. He played for the Brazilian national team year ago.

Leonardo Meindl

   #4. Small forward Leonardo Meindl (201-1993, currently plays in Spain) was not able to help Fuenlabrada (8-16) in their last game. Despite Meindl's very good performance Fuenlabrada lost 77-92 in a derby game to the second-ranked Real Madrid. He was the top scorer with 18 points. Meindl also added 6 rebounds and dished 3 assists in 26 minutes. There are only four games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be important. Meindl's stats this year are: 14.2ppg, 5.4rpg and 2.0apg in 18 games. He used to play for the Brazilian national team back in 22.

Hatila Passos

   #5. Former international center Hatila Passos (211-1985, college: NM State, currently plays in Uruguay) led Defensor to a victory against one of league's weakest teams Urunday (7-18) 76-68 in a derby game in the Uruguayan LUB on Tuesday night. Passos recorded a double-double by scoring 11 points and getting 13 rebounds. Defensor Sporting Club Montevideo (10-15) is placed tenth in the LUB. His team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. Passos' stats this season are: 11.1ppg, 11.5rpg and 1.1apg. He is another player who holds two passports: Brazilian and Uruguayan. Passos 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 (32-42) in their game against the Houston Rockets (20-56) in the NBA. He scored 6 points, grabbed 4 rebounds and dished 10 assists. The Washington Wizards (32-42) were badly defeated 115-97 in Houston by the Rockets. Neto averaged so far 7.9ppg, 2.1rpg and 3.3apg. He is a former international player as he played for the Brazilian senior team year ago.

Augusto Lima

   #7. Former international center Augusto Lima (210-1991, also represented by Octagon Europe, currently plays in Spain) couldn't help Murcia (2-1) in their game against Valencia (15-8) in the Spanish Liga Endesa. Lima scored 8 points in 17 minutes. Murcia was edged 72-71 at home by the lower-ranked (#5) Valencia. There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season. This year Lima's overall stats are: 8.3ppg, 7.1rpg and 2.5apg in 23 games. He used to play for the Brazilian national team years ago.

Fernando Salsamendi

   #8. Guard Fernando Salsamendi (196, college: Ave Maria, currently plays in Portugal) contributed to an easy victory against the sixth-ranked Portimonense (10-12) crushing them 86-66 in the Portuguese Proliga (second division) last Saturday. Salsamendi scored 16 points, grabbed 4 rebounds and dished 3 assists in 25 minutes; not bad, considering it's only his first season in pro basketball. Electrico FC (10-12) is placed fifth in Places 1-8 group. The Second Stage already ended. Salsamendi has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 16.8ppg, 7.6rpg, 1.3apg and 1.3spg in 19 games. Salsamendi used to play for the Brazilian U17 national team back in 13.

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 Baskonia (14-11) in the Spanish Liga Endesa. He cannot count Sunday's game as one of the best ones. Luz scored only 2 points and added 3 passes. Bilbao was crushed 90-62 on their home court in Bilbao by the lower-ranked Baskonia (#7). So far Bilbao lost all three games in the Regular Season. There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season. Luz's total stats this season are: 6.5ppg, 2.4rpg, 3.0apg and 1.1spg. He used to play for the Brazilian national team years ago.

Leonardo Demetrio

   #10. Forward Leonardo Demetrio (209-1994, currently plays in Italy) couldn't help Pesaro (2-1) in their game against Brescia (1-3) in the Italian Serie A. Demetrio cannot count Sunday's game as one of the best ones. He scored only 2 points in 4 minutes on the court. Pesaro lost 83-88 on their home court in Pesaro to the lower-ranked (#3) Brescia. This year Demetrio's total stats are: 3.8ppg and 3.3rpg in 22 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) contributed to USA's victory against the University of South Carolina Upstate 83-79 in the NCAA National Tournament Round 3 last Monday. He recorded 10 points in 23 minutes. Goncalves has averaged so far 7.4ppg and 4.0rpg in 32 games. He 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 Euroleague) could not help ALBA Berlin (10-14) in their last game on Tuesday. Despite his good performance ALBA Berlin was badly defeated 95-79 on the road by the leading Barca. Da Silva was the top scorer with 13 points. He also added 5 rebounds. There are only two games left until the end of the Euroleague Regular Season. So now every game will be critical. This season Da Silva averages: 8.5ppg 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 not able to help Bahia in their game against Quilmes MP (10-15) in the Argentinian La Liga Argentina (second division), despite his very good performance in Friday night's game. He had a double-double by scoring 18 points and getting 11 rebounds in 27 minutes. But the 13th-placed Bahia (7-16) lost 81-88 in Mar del Plata to the higher-ranked (#12) Quilmes MP in the Conferencia Sur. There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season. Novaes averaged so far 14.5ppg, 8.7rpg and 2.0apg in 34 games he played so far.

   #3. Ayan Carvalho (196-G/F-1997, college: Temple, currently plays in Argentina) contributed to Gimnasia's victory against the closely-ranked Argentino (1-6) 75-66 in the Argentinian La Liga in Thursday night's game. Carvalho scored 6 points and added 3 assists. 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 season Carvalho averages: 6.3ppg and 2.0rpg. 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.

   #4. Vinicius Da Silva (212-C-2001, currently plays in Czech Republic) managed to help GBA Fio banka Jindrichuv Hradec to win against the second-ranked NH Ostrava (12-20) 81-70 in the Czech Republic NBL last Saturday. Da Silva scored only 4 points, had 7 boards, handed out 3 passes and blocked 3 shots. GBA Fio banka Jindrichuv Hradec (6-25) is placed fourth in Places 9-12 group. There are only two games left until the end of the Second Stage. Da Silva has averaged so far 2.2ppg, 2.8rpg and 1.2bpg.

   #5. Leonardo Colimerio (201-G/F-2001, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to a Fresno St.'s victory against the Youngstown State University (12-10) 80-71 in the NCAA National Tournament Round 3 on Wednesday night. He recorded 6 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in 28 minutes. The Fresno State University has 8-9 conference record this season. The National Tournament Round 3 already ended in the NCAA. Colimerio has averaged so far 5.1ppg and 4.6rpg in 34 games.

   #6. Felipe Dos Anjos (218-C-1998, currently plays in Spain) helped Estudiantes win their game against the tenth-ranked Caceres 83-76 in the Spanish LEB Gold (second division) in Sunday night's game. He scored only 2 points. Dos Anjos has averaged so far 5.4ppg and 2.9rpg.

   #7. Pedro Ribeiro (187-F-2002, currently plays in Portugal) helped Electrico FC win their game against the sixth-ranked Portimonense crushing them 86-66 in the Portuguese Proliga (second division) on Saturday night. Ribeiro scored 5 points, grabbed 4 rebounds and dished 4 assists. Ribeiro has averaged so far 4.8ppg, 1.2rpg and 1.1apg.

   #8. Victor Demetrio (206-F-1995, college: OVU, currently plays in Germany) helped White Wings edge the tenth-ranked Rackelos 76-74 in the German ProB (third division) in Saturday night's game. He scored 6 points in only 12 minutes. Demetrio has averaged so far 4.4ppg and 4.9rpg in 17 games. He has both Italian and Brazilian nationalities. Despite Demetrio's Brazilian passport, he previously played for the Italian university national team.

   #9. Pedro Ianguas (210-C-1998, currently plays in Uruguay) was not able to secure a victory for O.Mundial in their game against Urunday in the Uruguayan LUB. Despite his very good performance last Monday Ianguas recorded a double-double by scoring 22 points and getting 15 rebounds. He also added 2 blocks. Ianguas averaged so far 12.2ppg, 11.2rpg, 1.2apg and 1.4bpg.

   #10. Gabriel De Oliveira (206-F/C-1998, currently plays in Germany) led Seawolves to an easy victory against the 14th-ranked Schwenningen 90-72 in the German ProA (second division) on Friday night. He recorded 11 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in a mere 19 minutes. De Oliveira has averaged so far 5.6ppg and 3.0rpg in 27 games. He also holds two passports: Brazilian and German.