Here is the weekly review of the top performing Panamanian players, who play currently abroad.
#1. This week's number one is an experienced former international power forward
Ernesto Oglivie (203-1989, currently plays in Colombia). He led
Titanes to a victory over the closely-ranked Cafeteros (3-2)
77-65 in the Colombian LPB in Saturday night's game.
Oglivie was MVP of the game. He scored 29 points (!!!), grabbed 9 rebounds and dished 3 assists in 36 minutes on the court.
It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Titanes de Barranquilla (3-0) is placed first in the LPB.
So far his team won all three games in the Regular Season.
They will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And that game will be critical.
Oglivie has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 22.7ppg, 8.7rpg, 1.7apg, 2FGP: 61.8%(21-34), 3FGP: 71.4% and FT: 57.9% in three games he played so far.
Former Los Tigres de Villa Caceres starter played for the Panamanian senior national team year ago.
#2. Second place goes to former international center
Akil Mitchell (206-1992, college:
Virginia, currently plays in Germany). Mitchell could not help one of league's weakest teams
Brose Bamberg in their last game on Friday. Despite his good performance Brose Bamberg was crushed
89-57 on the road by the leading ALBA Berlin.
Mitchell was the second best scorer with 14 points. He also added 7 rebounds.
Mitchell has relatively good stats this season: 12.8ppg, 7.2rpg, 2.8apg, 1.3spg, 2FGP: 55.8%(77-138), 3FGP: 37.9% and FT: 53.6%.
He is a naturalized American.
Mitchell played for the Panamanian national team in 22.
Strangely he has never played in Panama.
#3. The Panamanian player who performed third best last week abroad was former international forward
Tony Bishop (201-1989, college:
Texas St., currently plays in Philippines). Bishop was not able to help
Meralco Bolts in their game against Ginebra Kings (6-5) in the Filipino PBA, despite his very good performance on Friday night.
He had a double-double by scoring 21 points and getting 16 rebounds in 48 minutes; quite an impressive performance considering it's only Bishop's first season in pro basketball. But Meralco Bolts lost
92-103 in a derby game to the lower-ranked (#6) Ginebra Kings.
Bishop has very impressive stats this year: 25.6ppg, 13.4rpg, 3.3apg, 1.6spg, 2FGP: 47.5%, 3FGP: 37.6% and FT: 81.3% in 22 games.
Former Correcaminos de Colon starter played for the Panamanian national team year ago.
#4. Guard
Eugenio Luzcando (187-1995, college:
Idaho St., currently plays in Chile) contributed to an easy victory against the league leader Puerto Varas (9-1)
96-79 in the Chilean LNB last Sunday.
He recorded 12 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists in 28 minutes.
It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. CD Universidad de Concepcion (9-2) is placed first in the LNB.
It was his team's fourth consecutive victory in a row.
They will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And now that game is very crucial.
This year Luzcando has relatively solid stats: 11.3ppg, 5.3rpg, 3.3apg and 1.8spg in 12 games.
He has a dual citizenship: Panamanian and Chilean.
Despite Luzcando played previously for the Chilean U16 national team, he is currently in the Panamanian national team roster.
#5. Former international forward
Michael Hicks (196-1976, college:
TAMUCC, currently plays in Colombia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Ernesto Oglivie. But that was another game of his team in Colombian LPB which we would like to mention.
Hicks contributed to a 1-point
Titanes' victory against one of league's weakest teams Team Cali (1-3)
83-82.
He scored 14 points and added 3 assists.
Titanes de Barranquilla (3-0) is placed first in the LPB.
So far his team won all three games in the Regular Season.
Hicks has reliable stats this season: 13.7ppg, 3.0rpg and 2.3apg.
He used to play for the Panamanian national team
years ago.
#6. Forward
Pablo Rivas (198-1994, college:
NCCU, currently plays in Chile) was the main contributor in a
Puerto Varas' victory against the sixth-ranked Espanol de Talca (1-9)
96-92 in the Chilean LNB in Saturday night's game.
He was the best player in that game. Rivas had a double-double by scoring 27 points and getting 14 rebounds (went 5 for 5 at the free throw line) in 34 minutes.
Club Deportes Puerto Varas (9-1) is placed first in the LNB.
It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row.
They will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And now that game is quite important.
Rivas has very impressive stats this year: 16.9ppg, 6.7rpg and 1.1apg in 19 games.
Worth to mention Rivas played also at
Eurobasket Summer League, which helped him get the job in pro basketball. He is a former international player as he played for the Panamanian senior team year ago.
#7. Former international power forward
Gil Atencio (202-1996, college:
St.Clair, currently plays in Chile) is a teammate of previously mentioned Pablo Rivas. He played also in the last Chilean LNB game facing Eugenio Luzcando (above) in the other team.
Atencio was not able to secure a victory for
Puerto Varas (9-1) in their game against Universidad de Concepcion (9-2). Despite his very good performance last Sunday He was the second best scorer with 15 points. Atencio also added 7 rebounds.
Atencio's overall stats this season are: 8.5ppg and 4.5rpg.
He used to play for the Panamanian national team
years ago.
#8. Forward
Tyler Gaskins (193-1992, college:
St.Peter's, currently plays in Romania) couldn't help
Constanta (13-9) in their game against Oradea (1-1) in the Romanian Liga Nationala.
Gaskins scored 5 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 17 minutes.
Constanta lost
68-83 on the opponent's court to the lower-ranked (#9) Oradea.
The Regular Season already ended.
Gaskins' stats this year are: 10.2ppg, 3.2rpg and 3.3apg in 19 games.
He is a naturalized American.
Gaskins used to play for the Panamanian national team
back in 22. He played also for Halcones de Calle P Panama City in Panamanian league.
#9. Former international power forward
Jamaal Levy (206-1983, college:
Wake Forest, currently plays in Argentina) contributed to an easy victory against the 11th-ranked Lanus (12-16)
86-67 in the Argentinian La Liga Argentina (second division) in Friday night's game.
Levy scored 9 points and grabbed 6 rebounds.
Villa Mitre de Bahia Blanca (16-12) is placed fifth in Conferencia Sur.
Levy's overall stats this season are: 7.6ppg, 6.7rpg and 1.3apg.
He used to play for the Panamanian national team
years ago.
One more player who has never been selected to any of national teams, but has Panamanian passport: #1. Doron Lamb (191-G-1991, college:
Kentucky, currently plays in Italy) was the major contributor in
Pesaro's victory against the closely-ranked Trento (0-4)
83-82 in the Italian Serie A in Saturday night's game.
He recorded 16 points; not bad, considering it's only Lamb's first season in pro basketball. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Carpegna Prosciutto Basket Pesaro (2-1) is placed second in the Serie A.
There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical.
This season Lamb has relatively solid stats: 13.0ppg and 1.8rpg.
He is a naturalized American.
Apparently Lamb has never played in Panama.
