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 international guard
Gary Browne (185-93, college:
WVU, currently plays in Italy). He led
Trento to a victory over the league leader Virtus BO (5-1)
91-83 in the Italian Serie A in Monday night's game.
Browne was MVP of the game. He scored 26 points (!!!), had 5 rebounds and dished 9 assists in 32 minutes on the court.
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 that game will be critical.
It's Browne's first season with the team.
Browne has relatively good stats this year: 13.6ppg, 3.8rpg, 5.5apg, 1.5spg, 2FGP: 44.6%, 3FGP: 34.0% and FT: 85.0% in 30 games he played so far.
He has a dual citizenship: Puerto Rican and American.
Browne is currently a member of the Puerto Rican senior national team. He used to play for Coamo in Puerto Rican league.
#2. Second place goes to an experienced former international guard
John Holland (196-88, college:
Boston U., currently plays in VTB United League). Holland was the major contributor in
Unics' victory against the sixth-ranked Enea Zastal BC Zielona Gora (13-11)
90-79 in the VTB United League last Friday.
He scored 17 points and added 4 passes.
Unics Kazan (18-6) is placed second in group A.
It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row.
This season Holland averages: 9.4ppg, 2.7rpg, 2.3apg, 1.3spg, 2FGP: 53.3%, 3FGP: 39.1% and FT: 95.5%(21-22).
He is another player who holds two passports: Puerto Rican and American.
Holland played for the Puerto Rican national team in 2019.
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 former international forward
Maurice Harkless (203-93, college:
St.John's, currently plays in NBA). Harkless was the main contributor in a
Sacramento Kings' victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder (21-50) crushing them
126-98 in the NBA on Sunday night.
He was the best player in that game. Harkless scored 18 points, grabbed 5 rebounds and dished 3 assists in 26 minutes.
The Sacramento Kings have 31-40 record this season.
His team will play only one more game in the NBA Regular Season. And now that game is very crucial.
This year Harkless' overall stats are: 6.9ppg, 3.0rpg, 1.4apg, 1.1spg, 2FGP: 58.2%(46-79), 3FGP: 24.7% and FT: 80.5% in 26 games.
He has both American and Puerto Rican nationalities.
Harkless played for the Puerto Rican national team five years ago.
Strangely he has never played in Puerto Rico.
#4. Forward
Jonathan Rodriguez (196-87, college:
Campbell, currently plays in Colombia) contributed to
Titanes' victory against the closely-ranked Bucaros (3-3)
96-90 in the Colombian LPB in Tuesday night's game.
Rodriguez recorded a double-double by scoring 22 points and getting 12 rebounds. He also added 8 assists.
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.
They will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And now that game is quite important.
Rodriguez has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 19.8ppg, 8.8rpg and 4.2apg.
Rodriguez also holds two passports: Dominican Republic and Puerto Rican.
He is also Puerto Rican national team player.
#5. International guard
Gian Clavell (193-93, college:
Colorado St., currently plays in Greece) contributed to
Promitheas' victory against the sixth-ranked Peristeri GS (12-11)
90-79 in the Greek A1 last Friday.
Clavell scored 13 points in 25 minutes.
ASP Promitheas Patras (4-1) is placed second in the A1.
This year Clavell's total stats are: 9.5ppg and 1.5rpg in two games.
He plays currently for the Puerto Rican national team.
#6. Small forward
Isaiah Pineiro (200-95, college:
San Diego, currently plays in Latvia) contributed to an easy victory against one of league's weakest teams Ventspils
99-81 in the Latvian LBL on Tuesday night.
Pineiro scored 10 points and grabbed 9 rebounds.
VEF Rigais placed fifth in the LBL.
Pineiro has averaged so far 8.7ppg, 5.8rpg, 1.3apg and 1.2spg.
He is an international player who is currently on the senior Puerto Rican National Team roster.
#7. International forward
Timajh Parker-Rivera (202-94, college:
Towson, currently plays in Colombia) could not help
Piratas (3-3) in their last game. Despite Parker-Rivera's very good performance Piratas lost
97-104 on the road to the higher-ranked (#4) Bucaros.
He was the second best scorer with 24 points. Parker-Rivera also added 7 rebounds, passed 3 assists and added 2 blocks in 24 minutes.
There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be important.
This year Parker-Rivera has relatively solid stats: 14.0ppg, 8.7rpg and 4.3apg in three games.
He holds both American and Puerto Rican passports.
Parker-Rivera is also Puerto Rican national team player.
He used to play for Cariduros de Fajardo in Puerto Rican league.
#8. 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 Sunday. Despite Barea's good performance Movil Estudiantes was defeated
94-83 in Santiago de Comp by the much lower-ranked Blusens Monbus (#14).
He recorded 12 points and added 6 assists.
Barea's team will play only one more game in the Regular Season.
Barea has reliable stats this season: 12.6ppg, 1.6rpg and 4.7apg.
He plays currently for the Puerto Rican national team.
#9. 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. Despite his very good performance the league leader Santa Tecla lost
80-87 in Izalco to the lower-ranked (#6) Brujos.
Perez had a double-double by scoring 16 points and getting 20 rebounds. He also added 8 assists in 30 minutes.
Perez's team will play only one more game in the Regular Season.
Perez has very impressive stats this year: 15.8ppg, 18.3rpg and 3.4apg in 16 games.
He used to play for the Puerto Rican U18 national team
eleven years ago.
#10. Power forward
Ramon Clemente (200-85, college:
Wichita St., currently plays in Dominican Republic) contributed to an easy victory against the league outsider Los Prados (0-4) crushing them
108-82 in the Dominican Rep. TBS (fourth division) last Friday.
Clemente scored 15 points, had 7 rebounds and dished 3 assists.
Club Rafael Barias (3-1) is placed third in the TBS.
The Regular Season already ended.
Clemente's stats this season are: 11.8ppg, 6.0rpg and 2.5apg.
He holds both American and Puerto Rican passports.
Clemente is an international player who is currently on the senior Puerto Rican National Team roster.
He used to play for Indios de Mayaguez in Puerto Rican league.
#11. International swingman
Justin Reyes (193-95, college:
STAC, currently plays in Dominican Republic) couldn't help one of league's weakest teams
San Lazaro (3-1) in their last game. Despite Reyes' very good performance San Lazaro lost
77-84 at home to the leading Mauricio Baez.
He had a double-double by scoring 17 points and getting 11 rebounds. Reyes also added 3 assists in 30 minutes.
Reyes has very impressive stats this year: 16.0ppg, 8.0rpg, 3.3apg and 1.3spg in four games.
He holds both American and Puerto Rican passports.
Reyes plays currently for the Puerto Rican national team.
He used to play for Indios de Mayaguez in Puerto Rican league.
#12. International forward
Derek Reese (203-93, college:
Tennessee, currently plays in Dominican Republic) couldn't help
San Carlos in their game against San Lazaro in the Dominican Rep. TBS (fourth division).
He recorded 8 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in 23 minutes.
His team was edged
72-70.
Reese has averaged so far 8.0ppg, 6.5rpg and 2.0apg in two games.
He holds both American and Puerto Rican passports.
Reese is also in the roster of the Puerto Rican national team.
He used to play for Humacao in Puerto Rican league.
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) could not help
Piratas (3-3) in their last game. Despite Guitian's very good performance Piratas lost
97-104 on the road to the higher-ranked (#4) Bucaros.
He scored 16 points, grabbed 6 rebounds and dished 4 assists in 33 minutes.
There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season.
Guitian's stats this year are: 11.8ppg, 7.3rpg and 3.0apg in six games he played so far.
He has a dual citizenship: Puerto Rican and American.
Guitian used to play for Leones de Ponce in Puerto Rican league.
#2. Stephen Thompson Jr. (194-G-97, college:
Oregon St., currently plays in Italy) led
SAzzurra RO to a victory over the second-ranked Biella (2-2)
87-75 in the Italian Serie A2 (second division) in Wednesday night's game.
He was the top player that evening. Thompson Jr. recorded a double-double by scoring 31 points and getting 11 rebounds. He also added 3 assists; 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 (2-1) is placed first.
His team will play only one more game in the Second Stage.
Thompson Jr. has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 20.0ppg, 5.4rpg, 2.8apg and 2.1spg.
Thompson Jr. is another player who holds two passports: Puerto Rican and American.
Apparently he has never played in Puerto Rico.
#3. Kyle Vinales (185-G-92, agency:
Network Sports International, college:
CCSU, currently plays in Lithuania) managed to help Panevezys Lietkabelis in a 1-point victory against the closely-ranked Neptunas (14-22)
94-93 in the Lithuanian LKL last Thursday.
Vinales recorded only 4 points in 15 minutes.
Panevezys Lietkabelis (23-13) is placed third in the LKL.
Vinales has very impressive stats this year: 16.5ppg, 2.0rpg and 4.8apg in 32 games.
He has both American and Puerto Rican nationalities.
Vinales used to play for Bayamon in Puerto Rican league.
#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 was not able to help
Piratas in their game against Bucaros (3-3). He cannot count Thursday's game as one of the best ones.
Diaz scored only 3 points and grabbed 4 rebounds.
Piratas was defeated
104-97 in Bucaramanga by the higher-ranked Bucaros (#4).
Diaz has averaged so far 2.7ppg and 2.3rpg.
#5. Kevin Maura (173-PG-95, agency:
Paris Global Sports, college:
UMBC, currently plays in Dominican Republic) contributed to an easy victory against the league outsider Los Prados (0-4) crushing them
108-82 in the Dominican Rep. TBS (fourth division) in Friday night's game.
Maura scored only 2 points and added 6 assists.
Club Rafael Barias (3-1) is placed third in the TBS.
The Regular Season already ended.
Maura has averaged so far 3.5ppg, 3.5rpg, 6.0apg and 1.3spg.
