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 international forward
Jonathan Rodriguez (196-87, college:
Campbell, currently plays in Colombia). He led
Titanes to a victory over the sixth-ranked Motilones (1-1) crushing them
69-45 in the Colombian LPB in Thursday night's game.
Rodriguez was MVP of the game. He scored 23 points, had 8 rebounds and dished 3 assists in 40 minutes on the court.
Titanes de Barranquilla (3-0) is placed second in the LPB.
So far his team won all three games in the Regular Season.
There are only four games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical.
Rodriguez has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 20.3ppg, 8.0rpg, 2.7apg, 2FGP: 64.0%(16-25) and FT: 88.9% in three games he played so far.
Rodriguez has a dual citizenship: Dominican Republic and Puerto Rican.
Ex-Gallitos de Isabela player is currently a member of the Puerto Rican senior national team.
#2. Second place goes to former international forward
Maurice Harkless (203-93, college:
St.John's, currently plays in NBA). He could not help the
Sacramento Kings (29-38) in their last game on Friday. Despite Harkless' good performance the Sacramento Kings (29-38) were defeated
113-104 on the road by the San Antonio Spurs.
He scored 12 points, had 5 rebounds and dished 4 assists.
Harkless' overall stats this season are: 6.5ppg, 2.9rpg, 1.2apg, 1.1spg, 2FGP: 62.5%(40-64), 3FGP: 22.8% and FT: 85.7%.
He is another player who holds two passports: Puerto Rican and American.
Harkless played for the Puerto Rican national team in 2016.
Strangely he has never played in Puerto Rico.
#3. The Puerto Rican player who performed third best last week abroad was an international guard
Gary Browne (185-93, college:
WVU, currently plays in Italy). Browne contributed to
Trento's victory against the closely-ranked Brindisi (4-2)
83-73 in the Italian Serie A on Friday night.
He scored 11 points and added 5 passes (went 5 for 5 at the free throw line) in 27 minutes.
It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Dolomiti Energia Trentino (3-0) is placed first in the Serie A.
So far his team won all three games in the Regular Season.
They will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And now that game is very crucial.
It's Browne's first season with the team.
Browne has relatively good stats this year: 13.1ppg, 3.8rpg, 5.4apg, 1.6spg, 2FGP: 43.6%, 3FGP: 31.4% and FT: 84.6% in 27 games.
He has both American and Puerto Rican nationalities.
Browne is also a member of the Puerto Rican senior national team. He used to play for Coamo in Puerto Rican league.
#4. Point guard
J.J. Barea (183-84, college:
Northeastern, currently plays in Spain) was not able to help
Movil Estudiantes (18-12) in their last game on Friday. Despite Barea's very good performance Movil Estudiantes was edged
87-86 in a derby game by the much lower-ranked Baloncesto Fuenlabrada (#15).
He was the second best scorer with 16 points. Barea also added 4 rebounds and 5 assists.
There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be important.
This season Barea has relatively solid stats: 12.6ppg, 1.5rpg and 4.6apg.
He is also Puerto Rican national team player.
#5. International power forward
Devon Collier (203-91, college:
Oregon St., currently plays in Uruguay) contributed to an easy victory against the eighth-ranked Capitol (5-6)
102-84 in a derby game in the Uruguayan LUB last Sunday.
Collier scored 12 points in 23 minutes.
Nacional De Futbol Montevideo (7-4) is placed second in the LUB.
The Regular Season already ended.
Collier has reliable stats this year: 13.1ppg, 9.6rpg, 2.4apg, 1.4bpg and 1.3spg in 10 games.
He also holds two passports: Puerto Rican and American.
Collier plays currently for the Puerto Rican national team.
He used to play for Caciques de Humacao in Puerto Rican league.
#6. Small forward
Isaiah Pineiro (200-95, college:
San Diego, currently plays in Latvia) managed to help VEF Riga in a victory against Liepaja
101-82 in the Latvian LBL in Saturday night's game.
He scored 5 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 25 minutes.
VEF Rigais placed fifth in the LBL.
This year Pineiro's overall stats are: 8.3ppg, 5.3rpg, 1.3apg and 1.7spg in three games.
He is an international player who is currently on the senior Puerto Rican National Team roster.
#7. Former U18 international forward
Owens Perez (203-92, currently plays in El Salvador) was not able to secure a victory for
Santa Tecla (12-2) in their last game on Friday. Despite his very good performance the league leader Santa Tecla was defeated
87-80 in Izalco by the lower-ranked Brujos (#6).
Perez recorded a double-double by scoring 16 points and getting 20 rebounds. He also added 8 assists.
The Regular Season already ended.
This season Perez has very high stats. He averages: 16.0ppg, 19.5rpg and 3.6apg.
Perez used to play for the Puerto Rican U18 national team
eleven years ago.
#8. Shooting guard
Gilberto Clavell (200-89, college:
SHSU, currently plays in Mexico) was the major contributor in
Dorados' victory against the league leader Soles (13-5)
112-107 in the Mexican LBE (third division) in Friday night's game.
He scored 21 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in 34 minutes.
It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Chihuahua Dorados (11-1) is placed first in the LBE.
Clavell has very impressive stats this year: 18.3ppg, 4.2rpg and 1.6apg in 18 games.
He plays currently for 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
Jose Guitian (207-F-87, college:
Lasell, currently plays in Colombia) led
Piratas to an easy victory against the closely-ranked Team Cali (2-1) crushing them
97-76 in the Colombian LPB on Monday night.
Guitian recorded a double-double by scoring 15 points and getting 10 rebounds. He also added 4 assists.
It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Piratas de Bogota (2-1) is placed third in the LPB.
Guitian averaged so far 12.3ppg, 7.3rpg and 3.3apg.
He has a dual citizenship: Puerto Rican and American.
Guitian used to play for Leones de Ponce in Puerto Rican league.
#2. Ivan Aska (201-F-90, agency:
011 Sports, college:
Murray St., currently plays in North Macedonia) could not help one of league's weakest teams
Rabotnicki (15-7) in their last game on Thursday. Despite Aska's very good performance Rabotnicki was badly defeated
94-77 on the road by the leading Pelister Bitola.
He scored 15 points and grabbed 6 rebounds.
The Regular Season already ended.
Aska has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 16.4ppg, 6.4rpg and 1.6spg.
Aska is another player who holds two passports: U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rican.
#3. 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 second-ranked Bergamo crushing them
87-60 in the Italian Serie A2 (second division) on Sunday night.
He scored 20 points and added 4 assists in 34 minutes; quite an impressive performance considering it's only Thompson Jr.'s second season in pro basketball. It was the game of the round between two top 3 ranked teams in group Places 25-27. Stella Azzurra Roma (1-1) is placed third.
It was his team's first victory after four consecutive loses.
There are only two games left until the end of the Second Stage. So now every game will be critical.
Thompson Jr. has very impressive stats this year: 19.5ppg, 5.2rpg, 2.8apg and 2.1spg in 23 games he played so far.
He has both American and Puerto Rican nationalities.
Apparently Thompson Jr. has never played in Puerto Rico.
#4. Gary Diaz (193-G-92, currently plays in Colombia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Jose Guitian and both played together in the last Colombian LPB game.
Diaz contributed to an easy victory against the closely-ranked Team Cali (2-1) crushing them
97-76.
He scored 6 points.
Diaz's total stats this season are: 3.7ppg and 2.7rpg.
#5. Denilson Fonseca (190-G-98, currently plays in Luxembourg) contributed to
Esch's victory against the closely-ranked Contern (11-8)
102-98 in the Luxembourg Total League last Wednesday.
He recorded 8 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 23 minutes.
Basket Esch (12-5) is placed fourth in the Total League.
There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season.
Fonseca has been at the team for five years.
This season Fonseca's total stats are: 4.5ppg and 2.7rpg in 15 games.
