Tim Soares' double-double lands him Player of the Week award among Brazilians playing currently abroad:

We bring you last week's top performances from Brazilians who are playing abroad and who all have had prior experience of national team duties at youth or senior level.

Tim Soares

   #1. This week's number one is former international center Tim Soares (211-1997, college: Master's, currently plays in Israel). He could not help Ironi Nes-Ziona (11-14) in their last game. Despite Soares' very good performance the fourth-placed Ironi Nes-Ziona (11-14) lost 83-94 on the road to the lower-ranked (#5) Hapoel Beer Sheva in the Places 7-12 group. He had a double-double by scoring 24 points and getting 10 rebounds. Soares also added 3 assists and 4 blocks in 34 minutes on the court; quite an impressive performance considering it's only his first season in pro basketball. There are only two games left until the end of the Second Stage. So now every game will be critical. Soares has relatively good stats this year: 14.1ppg, 6.6rpg, 1.4apg, 1.2bpg, 2FGP: 61.4%(105-171), 3FGP: 54.0%(27-50) and FT: 83.8% in 25 games he played so far. He is a naturalized American. Soares played for the Brazilian senior national team year ago. Strangely he has never played in Brazil.

Marcelinho Huertas

   #2. Second place goes to an experienced former international point guard Marcelinho Huertas (191-1983, currently plays in Spain). He was not able to help Tenerife in their game against Barca (23-7) in the Spanish Liga Endesa. Huertas recorded 6 points and added 5 assists. Tenerife was defeated 69-65 in Barcelona by the leading Barca. They ended the series of four consecutive victories. There are only four games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial. This season Huertas has relatively solid stats: 13.1ppg, 2.1rpg, 6.3apg, 2FGP: 52.2%, 3FGP: 29.5% and FT: 90.1%(82-91). He has a dual citizenship: Brazilian and Italian. Huertas played for the Brazilian national team in 21.

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). He was not able to secure a victory for Murcia (2-1) in their last game. Despite Lima's good performance Murcia was edged 78-77 on the opponent's court by the much lower-ranked (#11) Bilbao. He recorded 13 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists in 23 minutes. There are only four games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be important. This year Lima averages: 8.9ppg, 7.0rpg, 2.6apg, 2FGP: 70.2%(113-161) and FT: 45.1% in 29 games. He played for the Brazilian national team year ago.

Vitor Benite

   #4. Shooting guard Vitor Benite (194-1990, also represented by Octagon Europe, currently plays in Spain) couldn't help Burgos (16-10) in their last game on Sunday. Despite Benite's good performance Burgos was edged 73-71 on the opponent's court by the one of league's weakest teams Andorra (#17). He recorded 10 points. There are only four games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be extremely important. Benite has reliable stats this season: 13.1ppg, 2.3rpg and 1.6apg. He used to play for the Brazilian national team back in 22.

Leonardo Meindl

   #5. Former international small forward Leonardo Meindl (201-1993, currently plays in Spain) couldn't help Fuenlabrada (10-19) in their game against Valencia (19-10) in the Spanish Liga Endesa. He recorded 8 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. Fuenlabrada was badly defeated 97-79 on the opponent's court by the much higher-ranked Valencia (#4). It was Fuenlabrada's third consecutive loss in a row. There are only four games left until the end of the Regular Season. Meindl's stats this season are: 13.1ppg, 5.7rpg and 2.0apg. He used to play for the Brazilian 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) contributed to an ALBA Berlin's victory against the eighth-ranked Hakro Merlins 78-70 in the German BBL last Wednesday. Da Silva scored 10 points and blocked 2 shots. ALBA Berlinis placed first in the BBL. This season Da Silva has relatively solid stats: 11.3ppg, 5.2rpg, 1.3apg, 1.3bpg and 1.1spg. 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 (9-19) in their last game. Despite Novaes' very good performance Bahia (#13) lost 81-87 at home to the much higher-ranked (#6) Estudiantes Concordia in the Conferencia Sur. He was the top scorer with 21 points. Novaes also added 9 rebounds and 4 assists in 32 minutes. This year Novaes has relatively solid stats: 14.4ppg, 8.8rpg and 1.9apg in 41 games he played so far.

   #3. Felipe Dos Anjos (218-C-1998, currently plays in Spain) was not able to help Estudiantes in their game against Coruna (18-13) in the Spanish LEB Gold (second division). Dos Anjos scored 9 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in 24 minutes. But the league leader Estudiantes was badly defeated 87-68 on the road by the lower-ranked (#5) Coruna. This year Dos Anjos' overall stats are: 5.6ppg and 3.1rpg in 27 games.

   #4. Jordan Arroyo (201-F, college: N.Mexico, currently plays in Puerto Rico) was not able to secure a victory for Brujos (2-3) in their game against Mets (2-3) in the Puerto Rican BSN. Arroyo scored 8 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 25 minutes. Brujos (#4) lost 80-85 in Guaynabo to the lower-ranked (#5) Mets in the Group A. But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen. This year Arroyo's overall stats are: 1.6ppg and 1.2rpg in five games.

   #5. Jonathan Silva (200-C-2003, currently plays in Portugal) couldn't help Imortal (12-0) in their game against Lusitania (12-15) in the Portuguese LPB. He scored 8 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. Imortal was badly defeated 86-68 in Angra by the lower-ranked Lusitania (#3) in the Places 5-8 group. Silva's team will play only one more game in the Second Stage. Silva's overall stats this season are: 3.0ppg and 2.8rpg.

   #6. Marcelo Ruediger (206-C-1993, college: Tampa, currently plays in Germany) led Dragons Rhoendorf to a victory against the 12th-ranked ETV 98-87 in the German ProB (third division) last Friday. He recorded 11 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in a mere 19 minutes. This year Ruediger's overall stats are: 5.5ppg and 4.4rpg in 12 games.

   #7. Feliciano Perez (210-C-1990, currently plays in Portugal) couldn't help Oliveirense in their game against Sporting in the Portuguese LPB. He scored 9 points. His team was edged 69-67. Perez's overall stats this season are: 3.3ppg and 2.6rpg.

   #8. Pedro Ianguas (210-C-1998, currently plays in Argentina) managed to help San Martin Corrientes in a victory against the closely-ranked Argentino 97-92 in the Argentinian La Liga in Monday night's game. He recorded only one point in 5 minutes on the court. This year Ianguas' overall stats are: 1.7ppg and 1.7rpg in three games.

   #9. Experienced Claudio Negri (197-SF-1985, currently plays in Italy) contributed to Oleggio's surprising victory against the leader Borgomanero 89-76 in the Italian Serie B (third division) last Saturday. He recorded 13 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks. Negri averaged so far 10.2ppg, 7.2rpg and 2.2apg. He is another player who holds two passports: Brazilian and Italian.