We bring you last week's top performances from Puerto Ricans 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 an experienced international point guard
J.J. Barea (183-84, college:
Northeastern, currently plays in Spain). He led
Movil Estudiantes to a victory over the ninth-ranked Andorra (12-13)
97-85 in the Spanish Liga Endesa in Monday night's game.
Barea was MVP of the game. He recorded 20 points and added 7 passes (made all of his six free throws) in 27 minutes on the court.
Movistar Estudiantes Madrid (18-12) is placed fourth in the Liga Endesa.
Barea has relatively good stats this year: 13.5ppg, 1.2rpg, 4.8apg, 1.2spg, 2FGP: 46.3%, 3FGP: 30.8% and FT: 82.8% in 11 games he played so far.
He is currently a member of the Puerto Rican senior national team.
#2. Second place goes to an international power forward
Devon Collier (203-91, college:
Oregon St., currently plays in Uruguay). Collier contributed to an easy victory against the eighth-ranked Defensor (2-2)
106-88 in a derby game in the Uruguayan LUB last Saturday.
He recorded a double-double by scoring 11 points and getting the same number of rebounds. Collier also added 5 assists.
Nacional De Futbol Montevideo (3-1) is placed fourth in the LUB.
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.
This season Collier has relatively solid stats: 11.3ppg, 8.0rpg, 2.8apg, 1.8spg, 2FGP: 54.8% and FT: 73.3%.
He has a dual citizenship: Puerto Rican and American.
Collier is in the roster of the Puerto Rican senior national team. He used to play for Caciques de Humacao in Puerto Rican league.
#3. The Puerto Rican player who performed third best last week abroad was an international forward
Christopher Ortiz (203-93, agency:
Network Sports International, college:
Kent St., currently plays in Uruguay). Ortiz contributed to
Defensor's victory against the third-ranked Urunday (3-1)
76-66 in a derby game in the Uruguayan LUB on Wednesday night.
He recorded 15 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in 30 minutes.
Defensor Sporting Club Montevideo (2-2) is placed eighth in the LUB.
There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial.
Ortiz has reliable stats this year: 14.8ppg, 6.8rpg, 1.3spg, 2FGP: 40.7%, 3FGP: 42.1% and FT: 81.3% in four games.
He is another player who holds two passports: Puerto Rican and American.
Ortiz is also a member of the Puerto Rican senior national team. He used to play for Santurce in Puerto Rican league.
#4. Guard
Gary Browne (185-93, college:
WVU, currently plays in Italy) could not help
Trento (3-0) in their last game on Sunday. Despite Browne's good performance the league leader Trento was badly defeated
88-70 on the road by the lower-ranked Varese (#3).
He scored 10 points and added 6 passes.
It's Browne's first season with the team.
Browne's stats this year are: 13.5ppg, 3.8rpg, 5.4apg and 1.4spg.
He has both American and Puerto Rican nationalities.
Browne is also Puerto Rican national team player.
He used to play for Coamo in Puerto Rican league.
#5. Former international forward
Maurice Harkless (203-93, college:
St.John's, currently plays in NBA) contributed to an easy victory against the San Antonio Spurs (24-22)
132-115 in the NBA last Monday.
Harkless scored 13 points in only a mere 14 minutes.
The Sacramento Kings have 22-27 record this season.
This year Harkless averages: 4.3ppg, 1.3rpg and 1.3apg in four games.
He also holds two passports: Puerto Rican and American.
Harkless used to play for the Puerto Rican national team
five years ago.
Strangely he has never played in Puerto Rico.
#6. Guard
John Holland (196-88, college:
Boston U., currently plays in VTB United League) was not able to help
Unics in their game against CSKA (15-5) in the VTB United League.
Holland scored 9 points.
But the third-placed Unics (15-5) was badly defeated
102-86 in Moscow by the second-ranked CSKA in the group A of VTB United League.
They ended the series of ten consecutive victories.
There are only four games left until the end of the VTB United League Regular Season. So now every game will be important.
Holland's overall stats this season are: 9.9ppg, 2.4rpg, 1.4apg and 1.3spg.
He holds both American and Puerto Rican passports.
Holland is a former international player as he played for the Puerto Rican senior team two years ago.
He used to play for Caciques de Humacao in Puerto Rican league.
#7. Former U18 international guard
Ethan Thompson (196-99, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to an
Oregon St.'s victory against the Loyola University of Chicago
65-58 in the NCAA National Tournament Round 3 in Saturday night's game.
Thompson recorded 22 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists (made all of his eight free throws) in 40 minutes.
The Oregon State University has 10-10 conference record this season.
The National Tournament Round 3 already ended in the NCAA.
Thompson is one of the most experienced players in a team as it's his fourth year in Oregon St.'s roster.
He has individually a very good season with high stats. Thompson averages: 15.7ppg, 4.0rpg, 3.9apg and 1.2spg in 33 games.
He holds both American and Puerto Rican passports.
Thompson used to play for the Puerto Rican U18 national team
five years ago.
Apparently he has never played in Puerto Rico.
#8. Small forward
Isaiah Pineiro (200-95, college:
San Diego, currently plays in Basketball Champions League) was not able to secure a victory for the league outsider
VEF Riga (0-5) in their game against CB Canarias (4-1) in the Basketball Champions League.
Pineiro scored only 4 points and grabbed 7 rebounds.
VEF Riga (#4) was defeated
77-64 at home by the second-ranked CB Canarias in the group J of Basketball Champions League.
So far VEF Riga lost all five games in the Top 16.
His team will play only one more game in the Basketball Champions League Top 16. And now that game is quite important.
Pineiro averaged so far 11.2ppg, 7.0rpg and 2.0apg.
He plays currently for the Puerto Rican national team.
#9. International forward
Timajh Parker-Rivera (202-94, college:
Towson, currently plays in Basketball Champions League Americas), who plays in Panama couldn't help the league outsider one of league's weakest teams
Caballos (3-3) in their last game. Despite Parker-Rivera's good performance Caballos lost
72-78 on their home court in Aguadulce to the leading Real Esteli.
He scored 10 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 15 minutes.
The Regular Season already ended in the Basketball Champions League Americas.
This year Parker-Rivera's overall stats are: 7.5ppg, 6.0rpg and 2.0apg in two games.
He holds both American and Puerto Rican passports.
Parker-Rivera is also in the roster of the Puerto Rican national team.
He used to play for Cariduros de Fajardo in Puerto Rican league.
#10. Forward
Jonathan Rodriguez (196-87, college:
Campbell, currently plays in Basketball Champions League Americas), who plays in Colombia couldn't help the league outsider one of league's weakest teams one of league's weakest teams
Titanes (2-4) in their last game on Monday. Despite Rodriguez's good performance Titanes was defeated
86-81 in Aguadulce by the second-ranked Caballos.
He recorded 13 points.
The Regular Season already ended in the Basketball Champions League Americas.
This season Rodriguez has very high stats. He averages: 15.7ppg, 4.7rpg, 3.8apg and 1.7spg.
Rodriguez is an international player who is currently on the senior Puerto Rican National Team roster.
#11. Former international guard
Jezreel De Jesus (185-91, currently plays in Basketball Champions League Americas) faced previously mentioned Timajh Parker-Rivera in the Torneo Carlos Ulloa last game.
De Jesus was the main contributor in a
Real Esteli's victory against the closely-ranked Caballos
78-72.
He was the best player in that game. De Jesus scored 28 points (!!!) and grabbed 6 rebounds in 36 minutes.
De Jesus has very impressive stats this year: 19.8ppg, 5.3rpg, 3.2apg and 2.3spg in 18 games.
He used to play for the Puerto Rican national team
six years ago.
#12. International point guard
Alexander Abreu (180-91, college:
UWG, currently plays in Dominican Republic) contributed to
CPN's victory against one of league's weakest teams Plaza
108-101 in a derby game in the Dominican Rep. Santiago League (second division) last Sunday.
Abreu scored 13 points and added 9 passes.
Abreu's total stats this season are: 9.7ppg, 2.0rpg and 9.7apg.
He is also in the roster of the Puerto Rican national team.
#13. International forward
Jose Rodriguez (201-92, college:
Texas Southern, currently plays in Dominican Republic) contributed to a 3-point
CDP's victory against the league outsider Sameji
85-82 in a derby game in the Dominican Rep. Santiago League (second division) on Tuesday night.
Rodriguez scored 18 points and blocked 2 blocks (went 6 for 6 at the free throw line) in 26 minutes.
Rodriguez has very impressive stats this year: 16.5ppg, 4.5rpg and 1.5apg in two games.
He is also Puerto Rican national team player.
#14. Former international shooting guard
Javier Mojica (190-84, agency:
Paris Global Sports, college:
CCSU, currently plays in Basketball Champions League Americas) is a teammate of previously mentioned Jezreel De Jesus and both played together in the last Torneo Carlos Ulloa game.
Mojica was the major contributor in a
Real Esteli's victory against the closely-ranked Caballos
78-72.
He scored 20 points, had 7 rebounds and dished 4 assists in 34 minutes.
This year Mojica's total stats are: 3.4ppg and 2.4rpg in nine games.
He holds both American and Puerto Rican passports.
Mojica used to play for the Puerto Rican national team
back in 2019. He played also for Fajardo in Puerto Rican league.
#15. International forward
Renaldo Balkman (201-84, college:
S.Carolina, currently plays in Basketball Champions League Americas) is a teammate of previously mentioned Jezreel De Jesus. But that was another game of his team in Torneo Carlos Ulloa which we would like to mention.
Balkman contributed to a
Real Esteli's victory against the closely-ranked Titanes
81-72.
He recorded 18 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists.
Balkman has averaged so far 3.4ppg and 2.4rpg.
He is also in the roster of the Puerto Rican national team.
The list of other players, who all have Puerto Rican passport but never been selected to any of Puerto Rican national teams: #1. Experienced
Francis Han (185-PG-87, college:
Fairfield, currently plays in Poland). He could not help
Spojnia (0-3) to beat Enea Zastal BC Zielona Gora (27-3).
Han scored 5 points in 11 minutes.
Spojnia lost
74-89 on the road to the leading Enea Zastal BC Zielona Gora.
So far Spojnia lost all three games in the Quarter-Finals.
This year Han's total stats are: 2.1ppg, 1.3rpg and 2.5apg in 11 games he played so far.
He has a dual citizenship: Puerto Rican and Polish.
#2. Stephen Thompson Jr. (194-G-97, college:
Oregon St., currently plays in Italy) was the major contributor in a
SAzzurra RO's victory against the 13th-ranked San Severo (4-17)
71-65 in the Italian Serie A2 (second division) on Sunday night.
Thompson Jr. scored 18 points, grabbed 5 boards, passed 3 assists and added 3 steals; quite an impressive performance considering it's only his second season in pro basketball. Stella Azzurra Roma (4-15) is placed 12th in Group B.
Thompson Jr.'s team will play only one more game in the Regular Season.
Thompson Jr. has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 19.8ppg, 5.3rpg, 3.2apg and 2.3spg.
Thompson Jr. is another player who holds two passports: Puerto Rican and American.
Interesting that he has never played in Puerto Rico.
#3. Denilson Fonseca (190-G-98, currently plays in Luxembourg) was not able to help one of league's weakest teams
Esch in their game against Larochette (9-4) in the Luxembourg Total League.
Fonseca recorded 7 points.
Esch was edged
78-76 at home by the higher-ranked Larochette (#4).
Fonseca has been at the team for five years.
His total stats this season are: 3.4ppg and 2.4rpg.
#4. Benjamin Colon (201-F-84, college:
Florida St. Jkv, currently plays in Dominican Republic) was not able to secure a victory for
GUG (1-2) in their game against CDP (2-0) in the Dominican Rep. Santiago League (second division).
Colon recorded 6 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists. It was his first game for GUG this season.
GUG was edged
100-99 in a derby game by the second-ranked CDP.
His team will play only one more game in the Regular Season.
Colon has both American and Puerto Rican nationalities.
He used to play for Vanqueros de Bayamon in Puerto Rican league.
#5. Jose Guitian (207-F-87, college:
Lasell, currently plays in Dominican Republic) couldn't help one of league's weakest teams
Sameji (0-2) in their game against Plaza (1-2) in the Dominican Rep. Santiago League (second division).
Guitian recorded 5 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 30 minutes.
The bottom-ranked Sameji was badly defeated
109-93 in a derby game by the one of league's weakest teams (#5) Plaza.
His team will play only one more game in the Regular Season.
Guitian has averaged so far 2.5ppg, 4.5rpg and 1.5apg in two games.
He also holds two passports: Puerto Rican and American.
Guitian used to play for Leones de Ponce in Puerto Rican league.
#6. Jared Ruiz (188-G-92, currently plays in Basketball Champions League Americas) contributed to a
Real Esteli's victory against the closely-ranked Titanes
81-72 in the Torneo Carlos Ulloa on Sunday night.
He recorded 7 points and added 3 passes.
Ruiz has averaged so far 2.5ppg, 4.5rpg and 1.5apg.
