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 Basketball Champions League). He led his Spanish team Tenerife to a victory over the closely-ranked Rytas (0-1) 89-74 in the Basketball Champions League in Wednesday night's game. Huertas was MVP of the game. He recorded 19 points and added 7 assists in 25 minutes on the court. It was his first game for Tenerife this season. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. His team is placed second in the Basketball Champions League. Huertas has a dual citizenship: Brazilian and Italian. He played for the Brazilian senior national team year ago.

Cristiano Felicio

   #2. Second place goes to former international center Cristiano Felicio (206-1992, college: Oregon, currently plays in Spain). Felicio was the main contributor in Granada's victory against the closely-ranked Murcia (1-2) 89-82 in the Spanish Liga Endesa last Sunday. He was the best player in that game. Felicio scored 22 points and grabbed 8 rebounds; quite an impressive performance considering it's only his first season in pro basketball. Coviran Granada (2-1) is placed fifth in the Liga Endesa. But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen. Felicio has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 15.3ppg, 6.3rpg, 2FGP: 51.6% and FT: 73.3%. Former Clube de Regatas do Flamengo starter played for the Brazilian national team in 22.

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 Romania). Meindl contributed to an Cluj Napoca's victory against the eighth-ranked Pitesti (0-2) 98-85 in the Romanian Liga Nationala on Friday night. He scored 15 points and added 4 passes in 24 minutes. U-Banca Transilvania Cluj Napoca (2-0) is placed first in Group A. But the season just started, so everything may happen. Meindl has relatively good stats this year: 14.0ppg, 3.0rpg, 3.5apg, 2FGP: 66.7% and FT: 66.7% in two games he played so far. He played for the Brazilian national team year ago.

Tim Soares

   #4. Center Tim Soares (211-1997, college: Master's, currently plays in Australia) contributed to an easy victory against the closely-ranked United (1-1) crushing them 91-71 in the Australian NBL in Sunday night's game. Soares recorded a double-double by scoring 12 points and getting 10 rebounds. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Sydney Kings (3-0) are placed second in the NBL. So far his team won all three games in the Regular Season. But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. Soares' overall stats this season are: 8.3ppg, 7.3rpg and 1.7bpg. He is a naturalized American. Soares used to play for the Brazilian national team back in 21. Strangely he has never played in Brazil.

Augusto Lima

   #5. Former international center Augusto Lima (210-1991, agency: Octagon Europe, currently plays in Spain). Lima could not help one of league's weakest teams Unicaja (2-1) to beat Real Madrid (3-0). He did not have that impressive stats last Sunday. Lima scored only 3 points, had 6 rebounds, passed 3 assists and added 2 blocks in 17 minutes. Unicaja lost 71-76 at home to the leading Real Madrid. But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. This year Lima's overall stats are: 4.7ppg, 4.3rpg and 2.7apg in three games. He used to play for the Brazilian national team years ago.

Rafael Luz

   #6. Point guard Rafael Luz (186-1992, agency: Interperformances, currently plays in Spain) managed to help MoraBanc Andorra in a victory against the 12th-ranked Castello (0-1) 81-73 in the Spanish LEB Gold (second division) in Friday night's game. Luz recorded 5 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists in 26 minutes. It was his first game for Andorra this season. His team is placed third in the LEB Gold. But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. Luz is a former international player as he played for the Brazilian senior team year ago.

Yago Matheus

   #7. Former international point guard Yago Matheus (175-1999, currently plays in Germany) was not able to help ratiopharm Ulm in their game against BG Goettingen (6-6) in the German BBL. He scored 7 points and added 7 passes. ratiopharm Ulm was defeated 93-84 on the road by the lower-ranked BG Goettingen (#5). But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. Matheus' total stats this season are: 4.3ppg, 2.3rpg and 5.3apg. He used to play for the Brazilian national team years ago.

Kayo Goncalves

   #8. Forward Kayo Goncalves (203-1999, college: USA, currently plays in Slovakia) contributed to a Iskra Svit's victory against the closely-ranked Handlova (1-2) 85-73 in the Slovakian Nike SBL in Wednesday night's game. He scored 17 points and grabbed 8 rebounds; not bad, considering it's only Goncalves' first season in pro basketball. BK Iskra Svit (1-2) is placed sixth in the Nike SBL. But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. This season Goncalves has relatively solid stats: 12.0ppg, 9.3rpg, 1.3apg and 2.7spg. He used to play for the Brazilian U17 national team back in 15.

Fernando Salsamendi

   #9. Former U17 international swingman Fernando Salsamendi (194-1996, college: Ave Maria, currently plays in Lithuania) was not able to secure a victory for Delikatesas (0-1) in their last game. Despite his very good performance Delikatesas was edged 72-69 on their home court in Joniskis by the much higher-ranked (#3) Zalgiris II. Salsamendi was the top scorer with 18 points. He also added 8 rebounds in 34 minutes. It was his first game for Delikatesas this season. But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. Salsamendi used to play for the Brazilian U17 national team years ago.

Leonardo Demetrio

   #10. Forward Leonardo Demetrio (203-1994, currently plays in Spain) couldn't help Estudiantes (1-0) in their game against Lleida (1-0) in the Spanish LEB Gold (second division). He cannot count Friday's game as one of the best ones. Demetrio recorded only 3 points in 12 minutes. It was his first game for Estudiantes this season. Estudiantes was crushed 96-66 on the opponent's court by the lower-ranked (#8) Lleida. But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. Demetrio is a former international player as years ago he still played for the Brazilian senior national team.

   #11. Former U19 international center Felipe Braga (213-1994, currently plays in France) helped Rueil win their game against the 11th-ranked Poitiers 82-73 in the French NM1 (third division) last Friday. He scored 7 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 29 minutes. This year Braga's total stats are: 7.0ppg and 5.3rpg in three games. He used to play for the Brazilian U19 national team years ago.

   #12. Former U18 international guard Daniel Del Tedesco (193-2004, currently plays in Italy) couldn't help Adriatica Industriale Corato in their game against Bisceglie in the Italian Serie B (third division). He cannot count Sunday's game as one of the best ones. Del Tedesco scored only 2 points in 15 minutes. His team lost 74-81. This year Del Tedesco averages just 1.0ppg in two games. He used to play for the Brazilian U18 national team back in 22.

   #13. Former international forward Marcus Vinicius (201-1986, currently plays in Spain) couldn't help Valls (1-1) in their last game on Saturday. Despite Vinicius' good performance the eighth-placed Valls was edged 67-66 on their home court in Valls by the higher-ranked Olivar (#4) in the Group C-2. He was the second best scorer with 11 points. Vinicius also added 4 rebounds. Vinicius has reliable stats this season: 11.0ppg, 5.5rpg, 1.5apg and 2.0spg. 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 Spain) managed to help FC Barcelona Lassa to win against the closely-ranked Fuenlabrada (2-1) crushing them 84-56 in the Spanish Liga Endesa on Sunday night. Da Silva scored only 3 points, had 5 rebounds and made 2 blocks. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. FC Barcelona Lassa (3-0) is placed first in the Liga Endesa. So far his team won all three games in the Regular Season. But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. Da Silva's total stats this season are: 4.3ppg, 4.3rpg and 1.3bpg. He has a dual citizenship: Brazilian and German.

   #2. Gabriel De Oliveira (206-PF-1998, currently plays in Germany) contributed to Seawolves' victory against the league outsider ratiopharm Ulm (0-3) 85-80 in the German BBL on Sunday night. De Oliveira scored only 2 points in 5 minutes on the court. It was his first game for Seawolves this season. His team is placed sixth in the BBL. But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. De Oliveira is another player who holds two passports: Brazilian and German.

   #3. Felipe Dos Anjos (218-C-1998, currently plays in Spain) contributed to Andorra's victory against the 12th-ranked Castello (0-1) 81-73 in the Spanish LEB Gold (second division) last Friday. Dos Anjos recorded only 4 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 17 minutes. It was his first game for Andorra this season. His team is placed third in the LEB Gold. But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.

   #4. Experienced Thiago Makhlouf (210-C-1987, currently plays in Lebanon). Makhlouf could not help Atlas (0-2) to beat Dynamo (2-0). He cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones. Makhlouf scored only 3 points and grabbed 17 rebounds. It was his first game for Atlas this season. Atlas was crushed 92-53 at home by the leading Dynamo. His team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And that game will be critical. Makhlouf has both Brazilian and Lebanese nationalities.

   #5. Rafael Rodrigues (214-PF-2001, currently plays in Lithuania) contributed to Nevezis' victory against the closely-ranked Rytas (3-1) 92-88 in the Lithuanian LKL last Monday. He recorded only 4 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. Nevezis Kedainiai (2-2) is placed sixth in the LKL. But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. Rodrigues' total stats this season are: 2.3ppg and 1.5rpg.

   #6. Bruno Duranti (197-F-1993, currently plays in Italy) led Montecatiniterme to a victory over the 13th-ranked Campus Varese 78-71 in the Italian Serie B (third division) in Sunday night's game. He was the top player that evening. Duranti scored 18 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. Duranti has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 17.5ppg, 4.0rpg and 2.0spg. Duranti also holds two passports: Brazilian and Italian. Despite his Brazilian nationality, Duranti previously played for the Italian U16 national team and is probably not eligible to play for the Brazilian team.

   #7. Jonathan Silva (200-C-2003, currently plays in Portugal) was not able to help Imortal in their game against Lusitania in the Portuguese Liga Betclic. Silva scored 5 points. His team was defeated 62-57. This season Silva averages only 2.0ppg.