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

JUAN PALACIOS

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

Juan Palacios

   #1. This week's number one is an experienced former international power forward Juan Palacios (206-85, currently plays in France). He led Chalon/Saor to a victory over the fourth-ranked Gravelines-Dunkerque (13-5) crushing them 91-66 in the French Jeep ELITE in Monday night's game. Palacios was MVP of the game. He recorded 21 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists in 28 minutes on the court. ES Chalon-Sur-Saone (10-9) is placed eighth in the Jeep ELITE. Palacios has relatively good stats this year: 14.0ppg, 5.5rpg, 2.4apg, 1.2spg, 2FGP: 51.0%, 3FGP: 31.0% and FT: 85.1% in 18 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.

Jhan Paul Mejia

   #2. Second place goes to an international power forward Jhan Paul Mejia (208-94, college: Charleston, currently plays in Spain). He contributed to an easy victory against the 15th-ranked Liceo Frances (4-13) crushing them 95-70 in the Spanish EBA (fourth division) last Saturday. Mejia recorded 10 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 29 minutes. Basket Globalcaja Quintanar (10-8) is placed fifth in Group B. This year Mejia averages: 8.7ppg, 4.2rpg, 2FGP: 60.3%(41-68), 3FGP: 29.3% in 17 games. He is another player who holds two passports: Colombian and Spanish. Mejia is in the roster of the Colombian senior national team.

Andres Ibarguen

   #3. The Colombian player who performed third best last week abroad was former international forward Andres Ibarguen (196-96, currently plays college basketball in the States). He managed to help University of Texas at Arlington to win against the Texas State University at San Marcos (4-2) 84-77 in the NCAA on Saturday night. Ibarguen recorded only 2 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks. The University of Texas at Arlington has a solid 4-2 conference record this season. Ibarguen's overall stats this year are: 6.8ppg, 6.8rpg, 2FGP: 59.5%(44-74) and FT: 47.7%. He played for the Colombian national team three years ago.

Hansel Atencia

   #4. Point guard Hansel Atencia (178-97, currently plays in NAIA) could not help the The Master's College, CA (5-1) in their last game. Despite Atencia's very good performance the The Master's College, CA lost 84-90 on the road to the William Jessup University. He recorded 23 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals in 48 minutes. Atencia has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 18.8ppg, 3.4rpg, 4.8apg and 1.5spg in 14 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. Jaime Echenique (211-F/C, currently plays college basketball in the States) led Wichita St. to a victory against the The University of Tulsa (3-2) 79-68 in the NCAA last Saturday. Echenique recorded 16 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks. The Wichita State University has 1-4 conference record this season. This year Echenique averages: 8.5ppg, 5.4rpg and 1.5bpg.

   #2. Juan Cardenas (201-F-97, currently studies in the States), who plays in the NCAA could not help the Bryant (2-3) in their last game. Despite his good performance his team lost 59-64 at home to the Central Connecticut State University. Cardenas recorded 12 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in 37 minutes. This year Cardenas averages: 5.4ppg, 4.3rpg and 1.7bpg in 20 games he played so far.

   #3. Experienced Luis Julio (201-C-80, currently plays in Chile) contributed to an easy victory against the fifth-ranked Espanol de Talca (6-20) 94-75 in the Chilean Liga Nacional in Sunday night's game. He recorded a double-double by scoring 18 points and getting 13 rebounds. Julio also added 4 assists. CD Aleman Puerto Varas Concepcion (16-12) is placed third in Conferencia Sur. It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row. 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 he has relatively solid stats: 14.5ppg, 10.4rpg and 2.5apg. Julio has a dual citizenship: Colombian and Venezuelan.

   #4. Ivan Losada (SG-96, currently plays in Spain) managed to help Porrino Baloncesto Base to win against the 13th-ranked Rosalia (3-12) 59-49 in the Spanish EBA (fourth division) last Saturday. Losada recorded only 3 points and had 3 steals. Porrino Baloncesto Base (8-7) is placed eighth in Group A-B. It was his team's first victory after four consecutive loses. Losada's overall stats this season are: 2.3ppg 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
Horace Wormely (168-PG-84) plays for Windsor Express in the NBL Canada
Jesse Zarzuela (191-PG) plays for Spring Woods in the
Deiman Reyes (206-C-1) plays for Veritas Prep in the