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 led Tenerife to an easy victory against the ninth-ranked Breogan (13-12) 96-78 in the Spanish Liga Endesa in Saturday night's game. Huertas recorded 16 points and added 5 passes in 27 minutes on the court. Lenovo Tenerife (17-10) is placed fifth in the Liga Endesa. His team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And that game will be critical. Huertas has relatively good stats this year: 13.7ppg, 2.1rpg, 6.2apg, 2FGP: 52.9%, 3FGP: 30.5% and FT: 89.7% in 27 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). He was the major contributor in Defensor's victory against the closely-ranked Olimpia (12-14) 105-97 in a derby game in the Uruguayan LUB in Friday night's game. Passos recorded a double-double by scoring 20 points and getting 14 rebounds; not bad, considering it's only his first season in pro basketball. Defensor Sporting Club Montevideo (10-16) is placed tenth in the LUB. This season Passos has relatively solid stats: 11.9ppg, 11.7rpg, 1.1apg, 2FGP: 61.0%(86-141) and FT: 71.0%. 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.

Leonardo Meindl

   #3. The Brazilian player who performed third best last week abroad was former international small forward Leonardo Meindl (201-1993, currently plays in Spain). Meindl led Fuenlabrada to a 1-point victory against the closely-ranked Obradoiro (9-18) 93-92 in the Spanish Liga Endesa last Saturday. He had a double-double by scoring 13 points and getting the same number of rebounds. Meindl also added 5 assists in 34 minutes. Urbas Fuenlabrada Madrid (10-16) is placed 13th in the Liga Endesa. There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial. Meindl has reliable stats this year: 13.7ppg, 5.7rpg, 2.1apg, 3FGP: 38.0% and FT: 74.6% in 20 games. He played for the Brazilian national team year ago.

Vitor Benite

   #4. Shooting guard Vitor Benite (194-1990, agency: Octagon Europe, currently plays in Spain) could not help Burgos (16-10) in their last game on Sunday. Despite Benite's good performance Burgos was badly defeated 78-62 at home by the lower-ranked Baskonia (#7). He was the top scorer with 14 points. Benite also added 4 rebounds. There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be important. Benite's stats this season are: 12.4ppg, 2.3rpg and 1.5apg. He used to play for the Brazilian national team back in 22.

Augusto Lima

   #5. Former international center Augusto Lima (210-1991, also represented by Octagon Europe, currently plays in Spain) contributed to Murcia's victory against the tenth-ranked Gran Canaria (13-12) 86-75 in the Spanish Liga Endesa in Sunday night's game. Lima recorded 8 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists in 34 minutes. Universidad Catolica de Murcia CB (2-1) is placed second in the Liga Endesa. His team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And now that game is quite important. This year Lima averages: 8.5ppg, 7.1rpg and 2.5apg in 26 games. 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 help the Washington Wizards (35-47) in their last game on Friday. Despite Neto's good performance the Washington Wizards (35-47) were crushed 114-92 on the road by the New York Knicks. He was the second best scorer with 14 points. The Regular Season already ended in the NBA. Neto averaged so far 7.5ppg, 1.9rpg and 3.1apg. 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) contributed to an easy victory against the sixth-ranked Maccabi Rishon (5-18) crushing them 99-75 in the Israeli Winner League on Sunday night. Soares recorded 10 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists in 22 minutes. Ironi Hai Motors Nes-Ziona (11-12) is placed second in Places 7-12 group. There are only four games left until the end of the Second Stage. Soares' stats this year are: 14.0ppg, 6.5rpg and 1.3apg in 23 games. He is a naturalized American. Soares used to play for the Brazilian national team years ago. Strangely he has never played in Brazil.

Didi Louzada

   #8. Swingman Didi Louzada (198-1999, currently plays in NBA) was not able to secure a victory for the Portland Trail Blazers (27-55) in their last game on Thursday. Despite Louzada's good performance the Portland Trail Blazers (27-55) were crushed 127-94 in New Orleans by the Pelicans. He scored 11 points. The Regular Season already ended in the NBA. Louzada's overall stats this season are: 5.0ppg and 2.1rpg. He used to play for the Brazilian national team back in 19.

Scott Machado

   #9. Former international guard Scott Machado (185-1990, college: Iona, currently plays in Australia) led Cairns Taipans to a victory against the league outsider New Zealand Breakers (5-19) 87-77 in the Australian NBL last Monday. Machado scored 15 points and added 6 passes in 33 minutes. Cairns Taipans (7-15) are placed eighth in the NBL. There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. This year Machado's overall stats are: 9.8ppg, 2.9rpg and 5.4apg in 16 games. He is a naturalized American. Machado used to play for the Brazilian national team years ago. Apparently he has never played in Brazil.

Rafael Luz

   #10. Point guard Rafael Luz (188-1992, agency: Interperformances, currently plays in Spain) managed to help Surne Bilbao Basket to win against the closely-ranked Valencia (17-9) 84-78 in the Spanish Liga Endesa last Saturday. Luz recorded only 2 points and added 4 passes. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Surne Bilbao Basket (0-3) is placed fourth in the Liga Endesa. His team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. Luz's total stats this season are: 6.3ppg, 2.3rpg, 2.9apg and 1.1spg. He is a former international player as years ago he still played for the Brazilian senior 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) was the major contributor in an ALBA Berlin's victory against the closely-ranked Bayreuth crushing them 87-53 in the German BBL last Monday. He recorded 20 points and blocked 3 shots; quite an impressive performance considering it's only Da Silva's first season in pro basketball. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. ALBA Berlinis placed first in the BBL. This season Da Silva has relatively solid stats: 11.6ppg, 5.5rpg, 1.3apg, 1.2bpg and 1.3spg. 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 a victory over the 14th-ranked Rocamora (8-20) 85-68 in the Argentinian La Liga Argentina (second division) on Monday night. Novaes was MVP of the game. He had a double-double by scoring 29 points and getting 13 rebounds. Novaes also added 3 blocks in 32 minutes. Bahia Basket (9-19) is placed 13th in Conferencia Sur. This year Novaes has relatively solid stats: 14.4ppg, 8.7rpg and 1.9apg in 38 games he played so far.

   #3. Felipe Dos Anjos (218-C-1998, currently plays in Spain). Dos Anjos could not help one of league's weakest teams Estudiantes (22-6) to beat Granada (22-6). He recorded 9 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. But Estudiantes was edged 70-68 at home by the leading Granada. It was Estudiantes' first loss after five consecutive victories. Dos Anjos' total stats this season are: 5.4ppg and 2.8rpg.

   #4. Ayan Carvalho (196-G/F-1997, college: Temple, currently plays in Argentina) was not able to help Gimnasia in their game against Atenas (4-3) in the Argentinian La Liga. He scored only 4 points in 12 minutes. The league leader Gimnasia lost 74-85 on the road to the lower-ranked (#3) Atenas. Carvalho's team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. This year Carvalho's total stats are: 5.9ppg and 1.8rpg in 22 games. He is another player who holds two passports: Brazilian and Argentinian.

   #5. Rafael Rodrigues (214-PF-2001, currently plays in Germany) contributed to a Science City Jena's victory against the 12th-ranked Rasta Vechta (16-16) 88-83 in the German ProA (second division) on Monday night. Rodrigues scored 6 points, grabbed 5 rebounds and made 2 blocks in 15 minutes. Medipolis Science City Jena (22-10) is placed third in the ProA. The Regular Season already ended. This year Rodrigues' total stats are: 2.4ppg and 1.8rpg in 24 games.

   #6. Victor Demetrio (206-F-1995, college: OVU, currently plays in Germany) was not able to secure a victory for White Wings in their game against Muenster in the German ProB (third division). He scored 7 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. His team was crushed by 35 points 93-58. Demetrio's total stats this season are: 4.8ppg and 5.1rpg. He has both Italian and Brazilian nationalities. Despite Demetrio's Brazilian passport, he previously played for the Italian university national team and probably cannot be called to the Brazilian team.

   #7. Marcelo Ruediger (206-C-1993, college: Tampa, currently plays in Germany) couldn't help Dragons Rhoendorf in their game against Rhein Stars in the German ProB (third division). Ruediger cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones. He recorded only 2 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in 17 minutes. His team lost 73-80. This year Ruediger's total stats are: 4.4ppg and 3.9rpg in 10 games.

   #8. Joao Gallina (192-SF-1994, currently plays in Portugal) managed to help Vitoria SC/Costa Guerreiro Lda. to win against the fourth-ranked Academica 87-76 in the Portuguese LPB on Saturday night. He scored only 2 points. Gallina's total stats this season are: 1.8ppg and 1.3rpg. He also holds two passports: Brazilian and Portuguese.