Jezreel De Jesus selected the top Puerto Rican playing abroad in last week's games

Here is the weekly review of the top performing Puerto Rican players, who play currently abroad.

Jezreel De Jesus

#1. This week's number one is former international guard Jezreel De Jesus (185-91, agency: Interperformances, currently plays in Nicaragua). He could not help Real Esteli (7-2) in their last game on Monday. Despite De Jesus' very good performance Real Esteli was edged 73-71 on the road by the one of league's weakest teams Rivas (#8). He was the top scorer with 27 points. De Jesus also added 5 rebounds and 4 assists (made all of his seven free throws). De Jesus has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 22.4ppg, 4.1rpg, 4.8apg, 1.9spg, 2FGP: 52.3%, 3FGP: 48.2% (27-56) and FT: 83.8%. De Jesus played for the Puerto Rican senior national team five years ago.

Felix Rivera-Vega

#2. Second place goes to former U18 international forward Felix Rivera-Vega (201-97, college: Georgetown, KY, currently plays in Nicaragua). Rivera-Vega was the major contributor in Indigenas' victory against the closely-ranked Jinotega (6-4) 90-84 in the Nicaraguan LSB last Wednesday. He had a double-double by scoring 25 points and getting 18 rebounds in 33 minutes; not bad, considering it's only Rivera-Vega's third season in pro basketball. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Indigenas de Matagalpa (17-2) is placed second in the LSB. It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row. It's Rivera-Vega's first year with the team. He has very impressive stats this season: 20.0ppg, 14.5rpg, 1.3apg, 1.8spg, 2FGP: 46.8%, 3FGP: 26.7% and FT: 34.5% in four games he played so far. Rivera-Vega played for the Puerto Rican U18 national team in 2014.

Xavier Zambrana

#3. The Puerto Rican player who performed third best last week abroad was former U19 international power forward Xavier Zambrana (193-91, currently plays in Nicaragua). He led Leones to a victory over one of league's weakest teams Rivas (2-7) 81-67 in the Nicaraguan LSB on Saturday night. Zambrana was MVP of the game. He recorded a double-double by scoring 23 points and getting 10 rebounds. Leones de Managua (6-4) is placed third in the LSB. It was his team's fourth consecutive victory in a row. This season Zambrana has very high stats. He averages: 16.9ppg, 10.9rpg, 2.3apg, 2FGP: 43.1%, 3FGP: 46.9% (23-49) and FT: 76.7%. Former Cariduros de Fajardo starter played for the Puerto Rican U19 national team eleven years ago.

Christopher Gaston

#4. Power forward Christopher Gaston (201-89, college: Fordham, currently plays in Nicaragua) is a teammate of previously mentioned Xavier Zambrana. But that was another game of his team in Nicaraguan LSB which we would like to mention. Gaston was not able to help one of league's weakest teams Leones (6-4) in their last game on Friday. Despite his very good performance Leones was edged 69-67 at home by the second-ranked Real Esteli. Gaston was the top scorer with 19 points. He also added 6 rebounds. It's Gaston's first season with the team. Gaston has relatively good stats this year: 11.7ppg, 5.7rpg and 3.0apg. He has a dual citizenship: Puerto Rican and American. Gaston used to play for the Puerto Rican national team back in 2018. He played also for Ponce 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. Jared Ruiz (188-G-92, currently plays in Nicaragua) led Real Esteli to a victory over one of league's weakest teams Rivas (2-7) crushing them 101-65 in the Nicaraguan LSB in Wednesday night's game. He was MVP of the game. Ruiz scored 27 points (!!!), grabbed 7 rebounds and dished 4 assists in 27 minutes. Real Esteli (7-2) is placed second in the LSB. It's Ruiz's first season with the team. He has individually a very good year with high stats. Ruiz averages: 20.2ppg, 5.0rpg, 3.9apg and 2.0spg in nine games he played so far.

#2. Experienced Jose Guitian (207-F-87, college: Lasell, currently plays in Nicaragua) is a teammate of previously mentioned Jared Ruiz and both played together in the last Nicaraguan LSB game. Guitian contributed to an easy victory against one of league's weakest teams Rivas (2-7) crushing them 101-65. He scored 17 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in 26 minutes. It's Guitian's first season with the team. This year Guitian's overall stats are: 7.4ppg, 5.1rpg and 2.0apg in nine games. He has a dual citizenship: Puerto Rican and American. Guitian used to play for Leones de Ponce in Puerto Rican league.

#3. Evander Ortiz (178-G-97, college: PR-Bayamon, currently plays in Nicaragua) was the major contributor in Jinotega's victory against the closely-ranked Bufalos (3-6) 70-64 in the Nicaraguan LSB in Saturday night's game. He recorded 23 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists; quite an impressive performance considering it's only Ortiz's second season in pro basketball. Jinotega (17-2) is placed third in the LSB. This season Ortiz has very high stats. He averages: 17.0ppg, 5.0rpg, 5.4apg and 3.0spg.

#4. Jorge Matos (185-G-92, currently plays in Nicaragua) contributed to Leones' victory against one of league's weakest teams Rivas (2-7) 81-67 in the Nicaraguan LSB in Saturday night's game. Matos recorded 23 points and grabbed 6 rebounds (made all of his six free throws) in 30 minutes. Leones de Managua (6-4) is placed third in the LSB. It was his team's fourth consecutive victory in a row. Matos has very impressive stats this year: 16.3ppg, 6.7rpg, 2.9apg and 1.1spg in nine games.

#5. Lee Vazquez (173-PG-91, college: Westfield St., currently plays in Nicaragua) could not help Chinandega (1-8) in their last game. Despite Vazquez's very good performance the bottom-ranked Chinandega was crushed 95-73 at home by the higher-ranked (#4) Jinotega. He had a double-double by scoring 18 points and getting 10 rebounds. Vazquez also added 6 assists in 39 minutes. It was Chinandega's seventh consecutive loss in a row. Vazquez has very impressive stats this year: 24.2ppg, 5.2rpg, 4.4apg and 3.2spg in nine games.

Tags : JEZREEL DE JESUS, REAL ESTELI, PUERTO RICAN BASKETBALL