Gregory Echenique selected the top Venezuelan playing abroad in last week's games

We bring you last week's top performances from Venezuelans who are playing abroad and who all have had prior experience of national team duties at youth or senior level.

Gregory Echenique

   #1. This week's number one is an international center Gregory Echenique (206-90, agency: Pensack Sports, college: Creighton, currently plays in Japan). He was the major contributor in Dragonflies' victory against the second-ranked Kagawa FA (23-10) 87-76 in the Japanese B2 League in Saturday night's game. Echenique scored 24 points, grabbed 9 rebounds and made 5 blocks in 38 minutes on the court. It was the game of the round between two top 3 ranked teams in group West. Hiroshima Dragonflies (29-6) are placed first. It was his team's eighth consecutive victory in a row. Echenique has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 20.3ppg, 12.4rpg, 2.1apg, 1.5bpg, 1.1spg, 2FGP: 70.9%(261-368) and FT: 73.0% in 32 games he played so far. Echenique is currently a member of the Venezuelan senior national team.

Nestor Colmenares

   #2. Second place goes to an experienced international power forward Nestor Colmenares (203-87, agency: Pro Sports, college: Campbellsville, currently plays in Israel). He could not help Maccabi Haifa (8-8) in their last game. Despite Colmenares' good performance Maccabi Haifa lost 77-91 on the road to the leading Maccabi T-A. He had a double-double by scoring 13 points and getting 12 rebounds. Colmenares also added and 3 steals in 33 minutes. Colmenares has relatively good stats this year: 10.8ppg, 8.4rpg, 2.1apg, 2.1spg, 2FGP: 61.4%(62-101) and FT: 41.0% in 13 games. He is in the roster of the Venezuelan senior national team.

Jhornan Zamora

   #3. The Venezuelan player who performed third best last week abroad was an international swingman Jhornan Zamora (196-89, currently plays in France). He led ALM Evreux to a victory against the seventh-ranked SPO Rouen (9-7) 92-87 in the French ProB (second division) last Friday. Zamora recorded 13 points and added 5 passes. ALM Evreux Basket (6-10) is placed 14th in the ProB. They ended the series of three consecutive loses. It's Zamora's first season with the team. This year he has relatively solid stats: 12.1ppg, 3.6rpg, 3.9apg, 1.3spg, 2FGP: 52.9%, 3FGP: 40.7% and FT: 64.7%. Zamora has a dual citizenship: Spanish and Venezuelan. Ex-Broncos de Caracas player is also a member of the Venezuelan senior national team.

Michael Carrera

   #4. Forward Michael Carrera (196-93, agency: Duran International, college: S.Carolina, currently plays in Germany) was not able to help Hamburg (6-3) in their last game. Despite his good performance Hamburg was edged 86-83 at home by the lower-ranked (#6) s Oliver Baskets. Carrera was the second best scorer with 13 points. He also added 6 rebounds (was perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line) in 22 minutes. This year Carrera's overall stats are: 9.1ppg and 3.6rpg in seven games. He is a naturalized American. Carrera is also Venezuelan national team player. He used to play for Trotamundos de Carabobo in Venezuelan league.

Gregory Vargas

   #5. International point guard Gregory Vargas (180-86, also represented by Pro Sports, currently plays in Israel) is a teammate of previously mentioned Nestor Colmenares and both played together in the last Israeli Winner League game. Vargas was not able to secure a victory for Maccabi Haifa (8-8) in their game against Maccabi T-A (15-0). He cannot count Sunday's game as one of the best ones. Vargas scored only 3 points and added 11 assists in 33 minutes. Maccabi Haifa lost 77-91 in Tel-Aviv to the leading Maccabi T-A. This year Vargas' total stats are: 9.7ppg, 3.7rpg, 9.2apg and 1.7spg in 15 games. He plays currently for the Venezuelan national team.

Miguel Ruiz

   #6. Forward Miguel Ruiz (197-90, currently plays in Argentina) couldn't help CA Platense (6-9) in their game against Hispano Americano de Rio Gallegos (7-12) in the Argentinian La Liga. Despite his good performance on Friday night Ruiz scored 12 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. Ruiz has averaged so far 9.8ppg, 9.2rpg, 1.8apg and 1.3spg. He is an international player who is currently on the senior Venezuelan National Team roster.

Carlos Paez

   #7. Former U16 international point guard Carlos Paez (178-0, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to an Austin Peay's victory against the Belmont University (5-2) 86-78 in the NCAA last Saturday. He recorded 13 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists (made all of his six free throws). The Austin Peay State University has a very solid 7-0 conference record this season. So far Austin Peay won all seven games in the conference. Paez has averaged so far 7.4ppg, 1.8rpg, 4.0apg and 1.4spg. He used to play for the Venezuelan U16 national team five years ago.

Luis Valera

   #8. Power forward Luis Valera (202-88, college: UTRGV, currently plays in Spain) couldn't help Azuqueca (9-8) in their game against Rivas (12-4) in the Spanish EBA (fourth division), despite his very good performance on Saturday night. Valera was the top scorer with 17 points. He also added 6 rebounds (made all of his six free throws) in 31 minutes. But the seventh-placed Azuqueca (9-8) lost 60-71 on the opponent's court to the higher-ranked (#3) Rivas in the Group B. Valera is one of the most experienced players in a team as it's his fourth year in Azuqueca's roster. Valera has reliable stats this season: 14.6ppg, 7.1rpg and 1.1apg in 17 games. He used to play for the Venezuelan national team back in 2015.

Javinger Vargas

   #9. International center Javinger Vargas (202-90, currently plays in Portugal) couldn't help one of league's weakest teams Illiabum (5-12) in their game against Ovarense (5-12) in the Portuguese LPB. Vargas scored 9 points and added 3 assists. But Illiabum was defeated 91-87 on the opponent's court by the higher-ranked Ovarense (#11). Vargas has averaged so far 9.1ppg, 5.0rpg, 1.6apg and 1.1spg. He is also in the roster of the Venezuelan national team.

Adrian Espinoza Malave

   #10. Power forward Adrian Espinoza Malave (210-97, currently plays in Argentina) couldn't help Independiente (9-10) in their game against Union SF (14-7) in the Argentinian La Liga Argentina (second division). Espinoza Malave scored 7 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 17 minutes. Independiente (#5) lost 67-78 on their home court in Santiago del Estero to the higher-ranked (#3) Union SF in the Conferencia Noroeste. Espinoza Malave has averaged so far 3.1ppg and 1.8rpg in 11 games. He is a former U17 international player as seven years ago he still played for the Venezuelan national team.

   #11. Former international point guard Harold Cazorla (175-91, currently plays in Spain) couldn't help Estela in their game against Marbella in the Spanish LEB Silver (third division). He scored only 4 points. His team was edged 66-63. Cazorla has averaged so far 7.0ppg, 4.1rpg, 3.8apg and 2.1spg. He used to play for the Venezuelan national team three years ago.

   #12. International power forward Jose Ascanio (204-96, currently plays in Argentina) couldn't help Atenas in their game against Estudiantes Olavarria in the Argentinian La Liga Argentina (second division). Ascanio cannot count Sunday's game as one of the best ones. He recorded only 2 points in 10 minutes. His team lost 83-90. Ascanio has averaged so far 8.5ppg and 2.0rpg in four games. He is also in the roster of the Venezuelan national team.


The list of other players, who all have Venezuelan passport but never been selected to any of Venezuelan national teams:

   #1. Carlos Rodriguez (206-C-89, currently plays in Panama) led Caballos to a victory against the closely-ranked Panteras (6-2) 98-85 in the Panamanian LPB last Tuesday. He recorded 13 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Caballos de Cocle Aguadulce (6-1) is placed first in the LPB. It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row. They will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And that game will be critical. Rodriguez has relatively good stats this season: 11.0ppg, 4.0rpg and 4.8apg.

   #2. Experienced Donta Smith (201-SF-83, college: SE Illinois JC, currently plays in France) contributed to Levallois' victory against the 14th-ranked Chalon/Saor (6-13) 98-90 in the French Jeep ELITE ProA in Saturday night's game. Smith scored 8 points. Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans (15-5) is placed fourth in the Jeep ELITE ProA. It was Levallois' fifth consecutive victory in a row. It's Smith's first season with the team. His overall stats this year are: 8.1ppg, 3.8rpg, 4.5apg and 1.6spg. Smith is a naturalized American. He used to play for Marinos de Anzoategui in Venezuelan league.

   #3. Kelvin Caraballo (198-F-88, currently plays in Argentina) was the major contributor in an Union SF's victory against the fourth-ranked Dep Norte (14-7) crushing them 98-77 in the Argentinian La Liga Argentina (second division) last Tuesday. Caraballo had a double-double by scoring 17 points and getting 14 rebounds. He also added and 4 steals (was perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line) in 25 minutes. Union de Santa Fe (14-7) is placed third in Conferencia Noreste. It was his team's fourth consecutive victory in a row. This year Caraballo's overall stats are: 9.8ppg, 7.5rpg, 1.2bpg and 1.2spg in six games he played so far.

   #4. Juan Fontena (196-F-87, currently plays in Chile) could not help CD Castro (1-1) in their last game on Saturday. Despite his good performance the third-placed CD Castro (1-1) was defeated 98-84 on the road by the second-ranked Universidad de Concepcion in the Conferencia Sur. Fontena recorded a double-double by scoring 11 points and getting the same number of rebounds. Fontena's overall stats this season are: 8.9ppg, 6.1rpg and 1.6apg. He has a dual citizenship: Venezuelan and Chilean.

   #5. Graddy Osorio (193-SF-87, currently plays in Panama) was not able to help the league outsider Toros in their game against Panteras (6-2) in the Panamanian LPB, despite his very good performance in Sunday night's game. Osorio was the second best scorer with 20 points. He also added 7 rebounds in 31 minutes. But the bottom-ranked Toros lost 71-78 at home to the second-ranked Panteras. So far Toros lost all eight games in the Regular Season. The Regular Season already ended. This year Osorio has relatively solid stats: 11.8ppg, 6.4rpg and 3.6apg in five games.

   #6. Osbel Caraballo (196-F-98, currently plays in NCAA2) contributed to a St. Thomas Aquinas College's victory against the Queens College 88-77 in the NCAA2 in Saturday night's game. Caraballo recorded 27 points (!!!), 9 rebounds and 3 assists. Caraballo has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 15.3ppg, 7.5rpg and 1.5apg.

   #7. Jose Serrano (201-G/F-98, currently plays in NCAA2) was not able to secure a victory for the Eastern New Mexico University in their game against the Angelo State University in the NCAA2, despite his very good performance in Saturday night's game. Serrano recorded 19 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists (made all of his six free throws) in 24 minutes. But his team lost 70-74 in the NCAA2. Serrano has averaged so far 9.1ppg, 3.6rpg and 1.2apg in 16 games.

   #8. Vito Tomas Zaccaria couldn't help CB Guadalajara in their game against Alcala in the Spanish EBA (fourth division). Zaccaria cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones. He recorded only 3 points. His team was defeated 79-65. This season Zaccaria averages just 0.4ppg.

   #9. Luis A. Hurtado (198-G-98, currently plays college basketball in the States) couldn't help the UAB in their game against the Louisiana Tech University in the NCAA. He cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones. Hurtado recorded only one point in 5 minutes on the court. His team lost 58-72. This year Hurtado averages only 1.3ppg in six games.

   #10. Luis Rubianes (202-F/C-97, currently plays in Spain) managed to help Ucogs Seguros C.B. Chantada to win against the sixth-ranked Obradoiro Silleda crushing them 64-42 in the Spanish EBA (fourth division) in Saturday night's game. Rubianes recorded only 3 points. Rubianes has averaged so far 3.7ppg and 3.8rpg.