Juan Palacios selected the top Colombian playing abroad in last week's games

JUAN PALACIOS

Here is the weekly review of the top performing Colombian players, who play currently abroad.

Juan Palacios

   #1. This week's number one is an experienced former international power forward Juan Palacios (206-85, currently plays in France). He could not help Chalon/Saor (9-8) in their last game. Despite Palacios' very good performance Chalon/Saor was edged 81-78 on the road by the lower-ranked (#12) JSF Nanterre. He was the top scorer with 21 points. Palacios also added 3 assists in 26 minutes on the court. Palacios has relatively good stats this year: 13.7ppg, 5.2rpg, 2.4apg, 1.3spg, 2FGP: 50.7%, 3FGP: 30.9% and FT: 87.2% in 17 games he played so far. He has a dual citizenship: Colombian and Spanish. Former Guerreros de Bogota starter played for the Colombian senior national team two years ago.

Andres Ibarguen

   #2. Second place goes to former international forward Andres Ibarguen (196-96, currently plays college basketball in the States). He contributed to an Texas Arlington's victory against the Arkansas State University (2-3) 68-59 in the NCAA last Thursday. Ibarguen scored 6 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 31 minutes. The University of Texas at Arlington has a solid 4-2 conference record this season. This year Ibarguen averages: 6.8ppg, 6.8rpg, 2FGP: 58.3%(35-60) and FT: 51.4% in 13 games. He played for the Colombian national team in 2016.

Jhan Paul Mejia

   #3. The Colombian player who performed third best last week abroad was an international power forward Jhan Paul Mejia (208-94, college: Charleston, currently plays in Spain). Mejia contributed to an easy victory against the 16th-ranked Daimiel (4-12) crushing them 83-61 in the Spanish EBA (fourth division) on Saturday night. He scored 8 points. Basket Globalcaja Quintanar (9-7) is placed fifth in Group B. Mejia's overall stats this season are: 8.7ppg, 4.5rpg, 2FGP: 61.4%(35-57), 3FGP: 26.5% and FT: 65.0%. He is another player who holds two passports: Colombian and Spanish. Mejia is also a member of the Colombian senior national team.

Hansel Atencia

   #4. Point guard Hansel Atencia (178-97, currently plays in NAIA) was not able to help the The Master's College, CA (5-1) in their last game. Despite his very good performance the The Master's College, CA lost 75-82 in Costa Mesa to the Vanguard University. Atencia scored 29 points (!!!), had 5 rebounds and dished 4 assists in 40 minutes. Atencia has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 17.7ppg, 3.3rpg, 5.0apg and 1.4spg in 11 games. Atencia has both Spanish and Colombian nationalities. He is also Colombian national team player.


The list of other players, who all have Colombian passport but never been selected to any of Colombian national teams:

   #1. Experienced Luis Julio (201-C-80, currently plays in Chile) led Aleman to a victory over the fifth-ranked AB Ancud (11-12) 77-68 in the Chilean Liga Nacional last Saturday. Julio was MVP of the game. He scored 24 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. CD Aleman Puerto Varas Concepcion (13-11) is placed third in Conferencia Sur. There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical. It's Julio's first season with the team. This year Julio has relatively solid stats: 14.4ppg, 10.5rpg and 2.5apg. He has a dual citizenship: Colombian and Venezuelan.

   #2. Juan Cardenas (201-F-97, currently plays college basketball in the States), who plays in the NCAA could not help the Bryant (2-3) to beat the Robert Morris University (5-0). Cardenas scored 9 points, grabbed 5 rebounds and made 3 blocks in 16 minutes. Buthis team lost 65-79 on the road to the Robert Morris University. This year Cardenas averages: 4.2ppg, 3.2rpg and 1.4bpg in 14 games he played so far.

   #3. Jaime Echenique (211-F/C, currently studies in the States) managed to help Wichita State University to win against the University of Central Florida (5-0) 75-67 in the NCAA in Wednesday night's game. He scored 5 points, grabbed 4 rebounds and made 4 blocks. The Wichita State University has 1-4 conference record this season. It's Echenique's first year with the team. This year Echenique averages: 8.5ppg, 5.4rpg and 1.2bpg.

   #4. Ivan Losada (SG-96, currently plays in Spain) was not able to help PBB in their game against Betanzos (6-7) in the Spanish EBA (fourth division). Losada scored 5 points and added 3 assists. The seventh-placed PBB (7-6) was defeated 74-64 at home by the lower-ranked Betanzos (#9) in the Group A-B. It was PBB's third consecutive loss in a row. Losada's overall stats this season are: 2.5ppg and 1.5rpg.


Other top Colombian players, who play abroad:

Michaell Jackson (190-G-87) plays for Aaguacateros in Mexican LNBP
Cesar Silva (190-G/F-81) plays for Osorno Basquetbol in Chilean Liga Nacional
Oscar Ferro Ocampo (180-G-87) plays for Trelleborg in Swedish Superettan
Ahmed Al Mutawa (199-F/C-81) plays for Al-Ahli in Bahrain Premier League
Deiman Reyes (206-C-1) plays for Veritas Prep in the
Horace Wormely (168-PG-84) plays for Windsor Express in the NBL Canada