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 led Tenerife to a 2-point victory over the league outsider Real Betis (6-20) 99-97 in the Spanish Liga Endesa in Tuesday night's game. Huertas was MVP of the game. He scored 26 points (!!!) and added 6 assists in 28 minutes on the court. Lenovo Tenerife (16-10) is placed sixth in the Liga Endesa. There are only two 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, 2.1rpg, 6.3apg, 2FGP: 52.3%, 3FGP: 28.6% and FT: 89.7% in 26 games he played so far. He has a dual citizenship: Brazilian and Italian. Huertas played for the Brazilian senior national team year ago.

Vitor Benite

   #2. Second place goes to former international shooting guard Vitor Benite (194-1990, agency: Octagon Europe, currently plays in Spain). Benite could not help Burgos (15-9) in their last game. Despite his very good performance Burgos lost 96-105 on the road to the lower-ranked (#8) Breogan. Benite was the second best scorer with 18 points. He also added 3 assists in 26 minutes. There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial. This year Benite has relatively solid stats: 12.3ppg, 2.2rpg, 1.5apg, 2FGP: 43.7%, 3FGP: 33.1% and FT: 86.2% in 22 games. He played for the Brazilian national team in 22.

Augusto Lima

   #3. The Brazilian player who performed third best last week abroad was former international center Augusto Lima (210-1991, also represented by Octagon Europe, currently plays in Spain). Lima was not able to help one of league's weakest teams Murcia (2-1) in their last game on Tuesday. Despite his good performance Murcia was edged 89-87 at home by the leading Barca. Lima scored 11 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be important. This season Lima averages: 8.5ppg, 7.1rpg, 2.4apg, 2FGP: 70.8%(97-137) and FT: 40.9%. He played for the Brazilian national team year ago.

Hatila Passos

   #4. Center Hatila Passos (211-1985, college: NM State, currently plays in Uruguay) was not able to secure a victory for Defensor (10-16) in their game against Trouville (13-13) in the Uruguayan LUB, despite his good performance last Thursday. Passos had a double-double by scoring 11 points and getting 10 rebounds. He also added 3 assists and 3 steals (made all of his five free throws) in 28 minutes. But Defensor was badly defeated 106-90 in a derby game by the higher-ranked (#7) Trouville. Passos' team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. Passos has reliable stats this year: 11.1ppg, 11.4rpg and 1.2apg in 18 games. He is another player who holds two passports: Brazilian and Uruguayan. Passos used to play for the Brazilian national team back in 10.

Scott Machado

   #5. Former international guard Scott Machado (185-1990, college: Iona, currently plays in Australia) was the major contributor in a Cairns Taipans' victory against the closely-ranked Melbourne Phoenix (11-11) 90-85 in the Australian NBL on Saturday night. He recorded a double-double by scoring 16 points and making 12 passes. Machado also added 5 rebounds; quite an impressive performance considering it's only his first season in pro basketball. Cairns Taipans (7-13) are placed eighth in the NBL. It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row. There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season. Machado's stats this season are: 10.1ppg, 3.0rpg and 5.3apg. He is a naturalized American. Machado used to play for the Brazilian national team years ago. Strangely he has never played in Brazil.

Rafael Luz

   #6. Point guard Rafael Luz (188-1992, agency: Interperformances, currently plays in Spain) couldn't help Bilbao (0-3) in their game against Fuenlabrada (9-16) in the Spanish Liga Endesa, despite his very good performance in Sunday night's game. Luz was the second best scorer with 13 points in 23 minutes. But Bilbao lost 82-87 in Madrid to the much lower-ranked (#13) Fuenlabrada. So far Bilbao lost all three games in the Regular Season. There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. This year Luz's overall stats are: 6.5ppg, 2.3rpg, 2.9apg and 1.1spg in 24 games. He is a former international player as he played for the Brazilian senior team year ago.

Tim Soares

   #7. Former international center Tim Soares (211-1997, college: Master's, currently plays in Israel) couldn't help Ironi Nes-Ziona (10-12) in their game against Hapoel Haifa (12-10) in the Israeli Winner League. He scored 8 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 28 minutes. Ironi Nes-Ziona was crushed 88-57 in Haifa by the higher-ranked (#5) Hapoel. The Regular Season already ended. Soares' stats this year are: 14.1ppg, 6.4rpg, 1.3apg and 1.1bpg in 22 games. He is a naturalized American. Soares used to play for the Brazilian national team years ago. Apparently he has never played in Brazil.

Raul Neto

   #8. Point guard Raul Neto (185-1992, currently plays in NBA) couldn't help the Washington Wizards (34-44) in their game against the Boston Celtics (49-30) in the NBA. Neto scored 5 points in 8 minutes. The Washington Wizards (34-44) were crushed 144-102 in Boston by the Celtics. There are only four games left until the end of the NBA Regular Season. Neto averaged so far 7.5ppg, 2.0rpg and 3.2apg in 67 games. He used to play for the Brazilian national team back in 16.

Didi Louzada

   #9. Former international swingman Didi Louzada (198-1999, currently plays in NBA) couldn't help the Portland Trail Blazers (27-51) in their game against the New Orleans Pelicans (34-44) in the NBA. Louzada scored 5 points. The Portland Trail Blazers (27-51) were defeated 117-107 in New Orleans by the Pelicans. It was Trail Blazers' seventh consecutive loss in a row. There are only four games left until the end of the NBA Regular Season. Louzada's total stats this season are: 3.7ppg and 1.3rpg. He used to play for the Brazilian national team years ago.

Leonardo Meindl

   #10. Small forward Leonardo Meindl (201-1993, currently plays in Spain) faced previously mentioned Rafael Luz in the Spanish Liga Endesa last game. Meindl managed to help Urbas Fuenlabrada Madrid in a victory against the closely-ranked Bilbao (10-15) 87-82. He scored only 4 points in 28 minutes. There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season. Meindl averaged so far 13.7ppg, 5.3rpg and 1.9apg in 19 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) couldn't help the USA in their game against the Coastal Carolina College in the NCAA Regional Finals. He scored 6 points in 25 minutes. His team was edged 69-68. This year Goncalves' total stats are: 7.4ppg and 3.9rpg in 33 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 (11-15) in their last game on Friday. Despite his very good performance ALBA Berlin was defeated 87-77 on the road by the higher-ranked Efes (#6). Da Silva was the top scorer with 20 points. He also added 5 rebounds. Da Silva's team will play only one more game in the Euroleague Regular Season. And that game will be critical. This season Da Silva averages: 8.8ppg and 3.6rpg. 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) led Bahia to an easy victory against the second-ranked Estudiantes Olavarria (17-9) 84-65 in the Argentinian La Liga Argentina (second division) last Thursday. Novaes scored 11 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. Bahia Basket (8-16) is placed 13th in Conferencia Sur. There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. Novaes averaged so far 14.4ppg, 8.7rpg and 2.0apg.

   #3. Ayan Carvalho (196-G/F-1997, college: Temple, currently plays in Argentina) was not able to help Gimnasia in their game against Quimsa (5-2) in the Argentinian La Liga. Carvalho scored 5 points. The league leader Gimnasia was crushed 97-75 at home by the second-ranked Quimsa. There are only four games left until the end of the Regular Season. Carvalho's total stats this season are: 6.3ppg and 2.0rpg. He is another player who holds two passports: Brazilian and Argentinian.

   #4. Vinicius Da Silva (212-C-2001, currently plays in Czech Republic) was not able to secure a victory for GBA Fio banka (7-26) in their last game. Despite Da Silva's good performance the fourth-placed GBA Fio banka (7-26) lost 73-87 on the opponent's court to the leading Decin in the Places 9-12 group. He recorded 12 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks in 33 minutes. The Second Stage already ended. This year Da Silva's total stats are: 4.4ppg, 3.7rpg and 1.3bpg in seven games he played so far.

   #5. Diego Maffia (185-G-2001, currently plays in Canada) couldn't help the University of Victoria (18-1) in their last game on Friday. Despite his very good performance the University of Victoria was badly defeated 94-77 in Ottawa by the Ravens. Maffia was the second best scorer with 18 points. He also added 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Maffia has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 17.1ppg, 4.3rpg, 3.6apg and 1.4spg. Maffia has both Brazilian and Canadian nationalities.

   #6. Leonardo Colimerio (201-G/F-2001, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to an easy victory against the Southern Utah University 67-48 in the NCAA Regional Finals in Monday night's game. Colimerio scored 6 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. Colimerio's total stats this season are: 5.1ppg and 4.6rpg.

   #7. Victor Demetrio (206-F-1995, college: OVU, currently plays in Germany) couldn't help White Wings in their game against Muenster in the German ProB (third division). He recorded 9 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 24 minutes. His team lost 72-81. This year Demetrio's total stats are: 4.7ppg and 4.9rpg in 18 games. He also holds two passports: Italian and Brazilian. Despite Demetrio's Brazilian nationality, he previously played for the Italian university national team and probably cannot be called to the Brazilian team.

   #8. Felipe Dos Anjos (218-C-1998, currently plays in Spain) managed to help Movistar Estudiantes Madrid to win against the 12th-ranked Valladolid 66-62 in the Spanish LEB Gold (second division) on Tuesday night. Dos Anjos scored only 2 points. Dos Anjos' total stats this season are: 5.2ppg and 2.7rpg.

   #9. Rafael Rodrigues (214-PF-2001, currently plays in Germany) contributed to an easy victory against the league outsider Ehingen/Urspringschule crushing them 84-52 in the German ProA (second division) in Wednesday night's game. He scored only 3 points in 9 minutes on the court. This year Rodrigues' total stats are: 2.3ppg and 1.7rpg in 22 games.

   #10. Marcelo Ruediger (206-C-1993, college: Tampa, currently plays in Germany) contributed to an easy victory against the ninth-ranked SSV Lok Bernau 92-74 in the German ProB (third division) last Saturday. He recorded 7 points. Ruediger's total stats this season are: 4.7ppg and 3.6rpg.