POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
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.
#1. This week's number one is former international guard
Romario Roque (180-98, currently plays in Switzerland). He could not help
Nyon (10-1) in their last game. Despite Roque's very good performance the league leader Nyon lost
78-88 on the road to the much lower-ranked (#8) Starwings.
He was the top scorer with 29 points. Roque also added 4 rebounds in 29 minutes on the court.
It was Nyon's first loss after ten consecutive victories.
There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical.
Roque has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 20.8ppg, 4.0rpg, 2.3apg, 2.3spg, 2FGP: 46.2%, 3FGP: 33.3% and FT: 78.8% in four games he played so far.
Roque played for the Colombian senior national team two years ago.
#2. Second place goes to an international power forward
Tonny Trocha-Morelos (208-94, college:
Texas A&M, currently plays in Sweden). He contributed to an easy victory against the league outsider Fryshuset (0-23) crushing them
86-66 in the Swedish Basketligan last Tuesday.
Trocha-Morelos recorded 10 points and grabbed 9 rebounds.
KFUM Jamtland Basket (17-5) is placed second in the Basketligan.
Trocha-Morelos' overall stats this season are: 10.0ppg, 6.0rpg, 2.3apg, 2FGP: 52.9% and FT: 75.0%.
Ex-Titanes de Barranquilla player is in the roster of the Colombian senior national team.
#3. The Colombian player who performed third best last week abroad was an international guard
Siaan Rojas (201-96, college:
WWU, currently plays in Brazil). He was not able to help
Brasilia in their last game. Despite Rojas' good performance his team lost
86-90 at home to the lower-ranked (#4) Sao Paulo.
He scored 10 points, had 5 rebounds and dished 4 assists in 22 minutes.
This year Rojas' overall stats are: 7.9ppg, 4.4rpg, 2.1apg, 2FGP: 39.7%, 3FGP: 31.5% and FT: 62.7% in 18 games.
He is a naturalized American.
Rojas is also a member of the Colombian senior national team. He used to play for Piratas de Bogota in Colombian league.
#4. Forward
Andres Ibarguen (198-96, college:
Angelo St., currently plays in Spain) led
Prat to a victory over the ninth-ranked Palencia (8-5)
83-74 in the Spanish LEB Gold (second division) in Friday night's game.
Ibarguen was MVP of the game. He scored 18 points and grabbed 8 rebounds; quite an impressive performance considering it's only Ibarguen's second season in pro basketball. CB Prat Juventud (7-10) is placed 14th in the LEB Gold.
It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row.
It's Ibarguen's first year with the team.
He has relatively good stats this season: 10.8ppg and 5.1rpg.
Ibarguen is also Colombian national team player.
#5. Former international power forward
Jhan Paul Mejia (208-94, college:
Charleston, currently plays in Spain) was not able to secure a victory for
Quintanar (7-11) in their last game on Saturday. Despite Mejia's good performance the 11th-placed Quintanar (7-11) was badly defeated
73-57 on their home court in Quintanar by the higher-ranked Socuellamos (#8) in the Group B.
He recorded a double-double by scoring 12 points and getting 11 rebounds. Mejia also added 3 assists.
It's Mejia's first season with the team.
This year he has relatively solid stats: 10.8ppg, 6.5rpg, 1.4apg and 1.1spg.
Mejia has a dual citizenship: Colombian and Spanish.
He used to play for the Colombian national team
two years ago.
#6. An experienced forward
Deiman Reyes (203-1, currently plays college basketball in the States) couldn't help the
Lamar (0-6) in their game against the Abilene Christian University (2-2) in the NCAA.
Reyes scored only 4 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 24 minutes.
The Lamar was edged
85-82 in Abilene by the Christian University.
So far Lamar lost all six games in the conference This year Reyes' total stats are: 0.5ppg and 1.9rpg in 19 games.
He is a former U17 international player as he played for the Colombian team five years ago.
#7. International forward
Soren De Luque (196-98, currently plays in Argentina) contributed to
Pergamino's victory against the 11th-ranked Del Progreso (4-6)
105-95 in the Argentinian La Liga Argentina (second division) last Tuesday.
De Luque recorded a double-double by scoring 14 points and getting 13 rebounds.
Pergamino Basket (1-2) is placed fourth in Conferencia Sur.
De Luque has reliable stats this season: 14.0ppg, 9.3rpg and 2.0apg.
He is also Colombian national team player.
One more player who has never been selected to any of national teams, but has Colombian passport: #1. Jesse Zarzuela (188-PG, currently plays college basketball in the States) led
Coppin St. to a 2-point victory against the Howard University (2-3)
83-81 in the NCAA last Monday.
He recorded 15 points and added 4 assists in 36 minutes.
The Coppin State University has 3-2 conference record this season.
The Regular Season already ended in the NCAA.
This year Zarzuela has relatively solid stats: 14.6ppg, 3.1rpg, 3.1apg and 1.2spg in 17 games he played so far.
He has a dual citizenship: Colombian and Dominican Republic.
Other top Colombian players, who play abroad:Jaime Echenique (211-C-97) plays for
Washington Wizards in the NBA
Braian Angola-Rodas (198-G/F-94) plays for
AEK in Greek A1
Juan Palacios-Tello (206-F/C-85) plays for
Jonava in Lithuanian LKL
Jaret Teheran (203-F-3) plays for
Veritas Prep in the
Yustin Llerena (195-F-2) plays for
Riachuelo LR in Argentinian LDD
