Karel Guzman selected the top Cuban playing abroad in last week's games

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

Karel Guzman

   #1. This week's number one is an international shooting guard Karel Guzman (188-95, currently plays in Romania). He led Cluj Napoca to an easy victory against one of league's weakest teams CSM Steaua Bucuresti (0-1) crushing them 107-69 in the Romanian Liga Nationala in Thursday night's game. Guzman recorded 19 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists in 23 minutes on the court. It was his first game for Cluj Napoca this season. His team is placed first in the Liga Nationala. There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical. Guzman is currently a member of the Cuban senior national team.

Jasiel Rivero

   #2. Second place goes to an international power forward Jasiel Rivero (206-93, currently plays in Spain). Rivero contributed to Valencia's victory against the 14th-ranked Zaragoza (2-2) 76-70 in the Spanish Liga Endesa on Saturday night. He recorded 8 points in 16 minutes. It was his first game for Valencia this season. His team is placed fourth in the Liga Endesa. But the season just started, so everything may happen. It's Rivero's first year with the team. Rivero is in the roster of the Cuban senior national team.

Grismay Paumier

   #3. The Cuban player who performed third best last week abroad was an experienced former international power forward Grismay Paumier (205-88, currently plays in France). Paumier could not help Limoges CSP Elite (3-0) in their last game on Saturday. Despite his good performance Limoges CSP Elite was edged 88-87 on the road by the much lower-ranked JSF Nanterre (#9). Paumier recorded 10 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. It was his first game for Limoges CSP Elite this season. But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. Paumier played for the Cuban national team twelve years ago.

Yorman Polas Bartolo

   #4. Swingman Yorman Polas Bartolo (191-85, currently plays in Germany) was not able to help EnBW Ludwigsburg in their game against MLP Academics Heidelberg in the German BBL. He cannot count it as his best performance. Polas Bartolo scored only 3 points in 15 minutes. EnBW Ludwigsburg lost 67-73 in Heidelberg to the second-ranked MLP Academics. But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. This year Polas Bartolo averages: 5.5ppg and 3.0rpg in two games he played so far. He has a dual citizenship: Cuban and German. Polas Bartolo used to play for the Cuban national team back in 2011.


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

   #1. Darol Hernandez-Zinenko (207-F-89, currently plays in VTB United League) could not help Tsmoki-Minsk (0-2) in their last game on Saturday. Despite his good performance the 11th-placed Tsmoki-Minsk (0-2) was defeated 92-87 on the road by the higher-ranked Lokomotiv (#5) in the group A of VTB United League. Hernandez-Zinenko scored 11 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen. It's Hernandez-Zinenko's first year with the team. This season he averages: 5.5ppg, 5.5rpg and 2.0apg.

   #2. Juan Ferrales (187-G-91, college: Barry, currently plays in Norway) led Froya Basket to an easy victory against the eighth-ranked Tromso (1-2) crushing them 92-72 in the Norwegian BLNO in Saturday night's game. He scored 19 points, grabbed 5 boards, handed out 4 passes and blocked 2 shots. Froya Basket Laksevag (2-0) is placed second in the BLNO. But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. It's Ferrales' first year with the team. Ferrales has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 19.5ppg, 4.5rpg and 2.0apg. Ferrales has a dual citizenship: Cuban and American. Strangely he has never played in Cuba.

   #3. Howard Sant-Roos (201-G-91, agency: Octagon Europe, currently plays in Greece) was not able to help Panathinaikos (0-0) in their game against Aris (1-0) in the Greek A1, despite his good performance last Sunday. Sant-Roos recorded 10 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 23 minutes. It was his first game for Panathinaikos this season. But Panathinaikos lost 71-81 in Thessaloniki to the second-ranked Aris.


Other top Cuban players, who play abroad:

Javier Justiz (210-C-92) plays for Zaragoza in Spanish Liga Endesa
Yoanki Mencia (196-F-97) plays for Gimnasia in Argentinian La Liga
Yunio Barrueta (196-F/G-93) plays for M.Ashdod in Israeli National League
Sigfredo Casero-Ortiz (185-PG-97) plays for Moron in Spanish LEB Silver
Yankiel Moreno (187-G-90) plays for Cento in Italian Serie A2
Reynaldo Garcia (187-G-90) plays for Saga Ballooners in Japanese B2 League
Jonathan Merencio (204-C-94) plays for Puerto Sagunto in Spanish EBA
Santo Cabrera (200-C-1) plays for Xerez in Spanish EBA

Notice: The list above includes only some of the Cuban playing currently abroad. Go to Cuban Abroad Page to see completed list.