We bring you last week's top performances from Panamanians 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 center
Akil Mitchell (206-1992, college:
Virginia, currently plays in Germany). He was the major contributor in a
Brose Bamberg's victory against the closely-ranked MLP Academics Heidelberg
94-81 in the German BBL last Friday.
Mitchell scored 17 points, had 5 rebounds and dished 7 assists; quite an impressive performance considering it's only his first season in pro basketball. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Brose Bambergis placed second in the BBL.
Mitchell has relatively good stats this season: 12.9ppg, 7.1rpg, 3.0apg, 1.5spg, 2FGP: 57.4%(89-155), 3FGP: 35.5% and FT: 52.2%.
He is a naturalized American.
Mitchell played for the Panamanian senior national team year ago.
Strangely he has never played in Panama.
#2. Second place goes to an experienced former international forward
Michael Hicks (196-1976, college:
TAMUCC, currently plays in Colombia). Hicks led
Titanes to a victory over the closely-ranked Bucaros (4-2) crushing them
102-73 in the Colombian LPB on Monday night.
He was MVP of the game. Hicks scored 28 points (!!!) and grabbed 9 rebounds in 33 minutes; not bad, considering it's only his first season in pro basketball. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Titanes de Barranquilla (6-0) is placed first in the LPB.
So far his team won all six games in the Regular Season.
There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical.
This year Hicks has relatively solid stats: 14.5ppg, 4.3rpg, 1.7apg, 2FGP: 56.7%(17-30), 3FGP: 33.3% and FT: 94.4%(17-18) in six games he played so far.
Former Toros del Chiriqui David starter played for the Panamanian national team in 22.
#3. The Panamanian player who performed third best last week abroad was former international guard
Eugenio Luzcando (187-1995, college:
Idaho St., currently plays in Chile). He contributed to an easy victory against the fifth-ranked Temuco (2-8) crushing them
97-61 in the Chilean LNB in Saturday night's game.
Luzcando scored 18 points and grabbed 8 rebounds.
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.
Luzcando has reliable stats this season: 11.1ppg, 5.1rpg, 3.4apg, 1.7spg, 3FGP: 26.8% and FT: 62.3%.
He has a dual citizenship: Panamanian and Chilean.
Despite Luzcando played previously for the Chilean U16 national team, he played also for the Panamanian national team in 22.
#4. Power forward
Ernesto Oglivie (203-1989, currently plays in Colombia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Michael Hicks and both played together in the last Colombian LPB game.
Oglivie contributed to an easy victory against the closely-ranked Bucaros (4-2) crushing them
102-73.
He scored 20 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 29 minutes.
Oglivie has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 18.0ppg, 7.2rpg, 1.5apg and 1.2spg in six games.
Oglivie used to play for the Panamanian national team
back in 22.
#5. Former international small forward
Luis Henriquez (196-1996, currently plays in Puerto Rico). He could not help
Piratas (7-3) to beat Cangrejeros (5-6).
Henriquez scored 6 points, had 5 rebounds and dished 3 assists.
The second-placed Piratas (7-3) was edged
90-88 on the road by the lower-ranked Cangrejeros (#4) in the Group A.
But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen.
Henriquez's overall stats this year are: 2.1ppg and 1.1rpg.
He used to play for the Panamanian national team
years ago.
#6. Forward
Tyler Gaskins (193-1992, college:
St.Peter's, currently plays in Romania) was not able to help
Constanta in their game against Cluj Napoca (4-0) in the Romanian Liga Nationala.
Gaskins scored only 4 points and added 3 assists in 18 minutes.
Constanta was crushed
92-69 in Cluj Napoca by the leading Cluj Napoca.
The Regular Season already ended.
Gaskins averaged so far 10.2ppg, 3.2rpg and 3.3apg in 19 games.
He is a naturalized American.
Gaskins is a former international player as he played for the Panamanian senior team year ago.
He used to play for Halcones de Calle P Panama City in Panamanian league.
#7. Former international power forward
Gil Atencio (202-1996, college:
St.Clair, currently plays in Chile) was not able to secure a victory for
Puerto Varas (9-1) in their game against Las Animas (6-4) in the Chilean LNB.
Atencio scored 8 points and grabbed 5 rebounds.
The league leader Puerto Varas was edged
81-78 in Valdivia by the second-ranked Las Animas.
There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season.
Atencio's overall stats this season are: 8.3ppg and 4.7rpg.
He used to play for the Panamanian national team
years ago.
#8. Power forward
Jamaal Levy (206-1983, college:
Wake Forest, currently plays in Argentina) contributed to an easy victory against the fourth-ranked Racing (17-11)
88-69 in the Argentinian La Liga Argentina (second division) last Sunday.
Levy scored 13 points in a mere 19 minutes.
Villa Mitre de Bahia Blanca (16-12) is placed fifth in Conferencia Sur.
This year Levy's overall stats are: 7.8ppg, 6.6rpg and 1.3apg in 45 games.
He used to play for the Panamanian national team
back in 20.
The list of other players, who all have Panamanian passport but never been selected to any of Panamanian national teams: #1. Experienced
Gabriel Giron (192-SG-1988, currently plays in Chile) was the major contributor in a
Deportivo Valdivia's victory against the 11th-ranked Tinguiririca (5-19)
90-77 in the Chilean LNB in Saturday night's game.
He scored 25 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in 34 minutes.
Club Deportivo Valdivia (4-6) is placed fourth in the LNB.
Giron's team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And that game will be critical.
Giron has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 16.9ppg, 4.7rpg and 3.3apg in 23 games he played so far.
Giron has a dual citizenship: Panamanian and Mexican.
#2. Doron Lamb (191-G-1991, college:
Kentucky, currently plays in Italy) could not help one of league's weakest teams
Pesaro (2-1) in their last game on Sunday. Despite his good performance Pesaro was defeated
85-75 at home by the leading Venezia.
Lamb scored 12 points.
His team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And now that game is very crucial.
Lamb's stats this season are: 13.0ppg and 1.9rpg.
He is a naturalized American.
Apparently Lamb has never played in Panama.
#3. Kaleb Joseph (190-G-1995, agency:
BIG, college:
Creighton, currently plays in Czech Republic) was not able to help
Usti n/Labem in their game against Nymburk (35-1) in the Czech Republic NBL, despite his very good performance in Wednesday night's game.
He was the second best scorer with 16 points. Joseph also added 4 rebounds in 22 minutes.
But the fifth-placed Usti n/Labem (18-18) was crushed
93-70 on the road by the leading Nymburk in the Places 1-8 group.
This year Joseph's overall stats are: 8.6ppg, 2.4rpg and 1.3apg in 28 games.
He is a naturalized American.
Apparently Joseph has never played in Panama.
#4. Nate Butler Lind (198-SF-1989, college:
TCU, currently plays in Puerto Rico) was not able to secure a victory for
Grises (4-4) in their game against Vaqueros (7-2) in the Puerto Rican BSN. Despite his good performance on Friday night Butler Lind recorded 11 points.
But the season just started, so everything may happen.
Butler Lind's total stats this year are: 5.1ppg and 2.6rpg.
He is another player who holds two passports: Panamanian and Puerto Rican.
Despite Butler Lind's Panamanian nationality, he previously played for the Puerto Rican U19 national team and is probably not eligible to play for the Panamanian team.
