Here is the weekly review of the top performing Puerto Rican players, who play currently abroad.
#1. This week's number one is an experienced former international guard
John Holland (196-88, college:
Boston U., currently plays in EuroCup). He could not help
Unics (5-1) in their last game on Tuesday. Despite Holland's good performance the first-placed Unics (5-1) was edged
89-87 on the road by the leading Monaco in the group H of Eurocup.
He recorded 14 points.
Holland has relatively good stats this season: 10.3ppg, 2.3rpg, 1.7apg, 2FGP: 52.0%, 3FGP: 43.4% and FT: 81.4%.
He has a dual citizenship: Puerto Rican and American.
Holland played for the Puerto Rican senior national team two years ago.
He used to play for Caciques de Humacao in Puerto Rican league.
#2. Second place goes to an international small forward
Isaiah Pineiro (200-95, college:
San Diego, currently plays in Latvia). Pineiro led
VEF Riga to an easy victory against Liepaja
100-81 in the Latvian LBL on Wednesday night.
He scored 13 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 22 minutes.
VEF Rigais placed fifth in the LBL.
It's Pineiro's first season with the team.
This year Pineiro averages: 10.0ppg, 5.5rpg, 1.5apg, 2.0spg, 2FGP: 61.5% in two games he played so far.
He is in the roster of the Puerto Rican senior national team.
#3. The Puerto Rican player who performed third best last week abroad was an international point guard
J.J. Barea (183-84, college:
Northeastern, currently plays in Spain). Barea was not able to help
Movil Estudiantes (18-12) in their last game on Friday. Despite his very good performance Movil Estudiantes was edged
87-86 in a derby game by the much lower-ranked Baloncesto Fuenlabrada (#15).
Barea was the second best scorer with 16 points. He also added 4 rebounds and 5 assists.
There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical.
This season Barea has relatively solid stats: 12.6ppg, 1.4rpg, 4.6apg, 2FGP: 40.2%, 3FGP: 31.3% and FT: 83.7%.
He is also a member of the Puerto Rican senior national team.
#4. Forward
Jonathan Rodriguez (196-87, college:
Campbell, currently plays in Colombia) led
Titanes to a victory over the closely-ranked Storm (1-1) crushing them
103-82 in the Colombian LPB last Thursday.
Rodriguez was MVP of the game. He recorded 21 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 34 minutes. It was his first game for Titanes this season.
It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. His team is placed third in the LPB.
Rodriguez is another player who holds two passports: Dominican Republic and Puerto Rican.
He is also Puerto Rican national team player.
#5. Former international forward
Maurice Harkless (203-93, college:
St.John's, currently plays in NBA) contributed to a
Sacramento Kings' victory against the Dallas Mavericks (35-27)
113-106 in the NBA in Monday night's game.
He recorded 6 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 35 minutes.
The Sacramento Kings have 26-37 record this season.
This year Harkless' overall stats are: 6.2ppg, 2.7rpg and 1.1apg in 18 games.
He has both American and Puerto Rican nationalities.
Harkless used to play for the Puerto Rican national team
five years ago.
Strangely he has never played in Puerto Rico.
#6. Point guard
Alexander Abreu (180-91, college:
UWG, currently plays in Dominican Republic) helped
CPN win their game against the league leader Cupes (8-2)
87-81 in a derby game in the Dominican Rep. Santiago League (second division) last Tuesday.
Abreu recorded a double-double by scoring 24 points and making 10 passes. He also added 4 rebounds.
It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Pueblo Nuevo (7-3) is placed second in the Santiago League.
Abreu's total stats this season are: 8.9ppg, 2.5rpg and 7.7apg.
He is an international player who is currently on the senior Puerto Rican National Team roster.
#7. International forward
Emmanuel Andujar (198-93, college:
Manhattan, currently plays in Dominican Republic) helped
Cupes edge the closely-ranked GUG (6-4)
119-118 in a derby game in the Dominican Rep. Santiago League (second division) last Saturday.
Andujar scored 21 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in 49 minutes.
It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Cupes de los Pepines (8-2) is placed first in the Santiago League.
It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row.
Andujar has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 15.9ppg, 5.7rpg, 2.9apg and 2.0spg in 15 games.
Andujar also holds two passports: Puerto Rican and American.
He is also Puerto Rican national team player.
Andujar used to play for Humacao in Puerto Rican league.
#8. Forward
Owens Perez (203-92, currently plays in El Salvador) was the main contributor in a
Santa Tecla's victory against the league outsider Chalchuapa (1-8) crushing them
126-79 in the Salvadorean Liga MB (second division) on Wednesday night.
He was the best player in that game. Perez recorded a double-double by scoring 25 points and getting 18 rebounds.
Santa Tecla BC (11-0) is placed first in the Liga MB.
So far his team won all eleven games in the Regular Season.
There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season.
This season Perez has very high stats. He averages: 17.5ppg, 20.3rpg and 3.0apg.
Perez used to play for the Puerto Rican U18 national team
back in 2010.
#9. International forward
Jose Rodriguez (201-92, college:
Texas Southern, currently plays in Dominican Republic) was not able to secure a victory for one of league's weakest teams
CDP (6-4) in their game against CPN (7-3) in the Dominican Rep. Santiago League (second division).
He scored 9 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 31 minutes.
But CDP lost
84-97 in a derby game to the second-ranked CPN.
Rodriguez has reliable stats this year: 14.5ppg, 5.3rpg and 2.2apg in 11 games.
He is also in the roster of the Puerto Rican national team.
#10. Shooting guard
Gilberto Clavell (200-89, college:
SHSU, currently plays in Mexico) couldn't help
Dorados (11-1) in their last game. Despite his very good performance the league leader Dorados was crushed
123-102 at home by the leading Soles.
Clavell was the top scorer with 23 points (was perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line) in 29 minutes.
Clavell has very impressive stats this year: 18.9ppg, 4.3rpg and 1.6apg in 15 games.
He is an international player who is currently on the senior Puerto Rican National Team roster.
The list of other players, who all have Puerto Rican passport but never been selected to any of Puerto Rican national teams: #1. Kyle Vinales (185-G-92, agency:
Network Sports International, college:
CCSU, currently plays in Lithuania) led
Lietkabelis to a victory over the closely-ranked Juventus (21-13)
98-86 in the Lithuanian LKL in Wednesday night's game.
He was MVP of the game. Vinales scored 22 points and added 7 passes in 27 minutes.
It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Panevezys Lietkabelis (21-12) is placed third in the LKL.
There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical.
It's Vinales' first season with the team.
He has individually a very good year with high stats. Vinales averages: 16.9ppg, 2.1rpg and 4.9apg in 31 games he played so far.
He has a dual citizenship: Puerto Rican and American.
Vinales used to play for Bayamon in Puerto Rican league.
#2. Ivan Aska (201-F-90, agency:
011 Sports, college:
Murray St., currently plays in North Macedonia) was the major contributor in
Rabotnicki's victory against the league outsider Crn Dream (1-20)
85-78 in the North Macedonian Prva Liga on Sunday night.
Aska recorded 19 points and grabbed 9 rebounds.
KK Rabotnicki AD Skopje (15-6) is placed second in the Prva Liga.
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 very crucial.
This season Aska has very high stats. He averages: 16.8ppg, 6.5rpg and 1.5spg.
Aska is another player who holds two passports: U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rican.
#3. Denilson Fonseca (190-G-98, currently plays in Luxembourg) could not help one of league's weakest teams
Esch (11-4) in their last game. Despite Fonseca's good performance Esch lost
78-92 at home to the higher-ranked (#3) T71.
He scored 13 points in 24 minutes.
It was Esch's first loss after three consecutive victories.
Fonseca has been at the team for five years.
This season Fonseca's total stats are: 4.4ppg and 2.6rpg in 13 games.
#4. Stephen Thompson Jr. (194-G-97, college:
Oregon St., currently plays in Italy) was not able to help
SAzzurra RO (0-1) in their last game on Wednesday. Despite his very good performance SAzzurra RO (#3) was crushed
100-67 on the road by the second-ranked Biella in the Places 25-27 group.
Thompson Jr. was the second best scorer with 16 points.
There are only three games left until the end of the Second Stage. So now every game will be important.
This season Thompson Jr. has very high stats. He averages: 19.5ppg, 5.3rpg, 2.8apg and 2.2spg.
Thompson Jr. has both American and Puerto Rican nationalities.
Apparently he has never played in Puerto Rico.
#5. Experienced
Benjamin Colon (201-F-84, college:
Florida St. Jkv, currently plays in Dominican Republic) was not able to secure a victory for
GUG (6-4) in their game against Cupes (8-2) in the Dominican Rep. Santiago League (second division).
Colon scored only 4 points.
GUG was edged
119-118 in a derby game by the leading Cupes.
Colon's total stats this season are: 6.9ppg, 4.4rpg and 1.2apg.
He also holds two passports: Puerto Rican and American.
Colon used to play for Vanqueros de Bayamon in Puerto Rican league.
