Gregory Vargas' triple-double lands him Player of the Week award among Venezuelans playing currently abroad:

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 Vargas

   #1. This week's number one is an experienced international point guard Gregory Vargas (180-86, agency: Pro Sports, currently plays in Israel). He led Maccabi Haifa to a victory against the tenth-ranked Galil Gilboa (7-11) 93-84 in the Israeli Winner League in Monday night's game. Vargas had a triple-double by scoring 16 points, grabbing 12 rebounds and passing 13 assists in 36 minutes on the court. Maccabi Hunter Haifa (10-8) is placed fourth in the Winner League. There are only four games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical. Vargas has relatively good stats this year: 10.4ppg, 4.1rpg, 9.7apg, 1.7spg, 2FGP: 46.9%, 3FGP: 41.2% and FT: 63.2% in 17 games he played so far. Ex-Protectores de Miranda BBC player is currently a member of the Venezuelan senior national team.

Gregory Echenique

   #2. Second place goes to 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 fourth-ranked Bambitious Nara (17-23) 108-99 in the Japanese B2 League last Saturday. Echenique recorded 29 points (!!!), 9 rebounds and 6 assists. Hiroshima Dragonflies (33-7) are placed first in West group. It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row. It's Echenique's first season with the team. He has individually a very good year with high stats. Echenique averages: 20.8ppg, 12.2rpg, 2.1apg, 1.5bpg, 2FGP: 71.0%(309-435) and FT: 73.2%. He is in the roster of the Venezuelan senior national team.

Nestor Colmenares

   #3. The Venezuelan player who performed third best last week abroad was an international power forward Nestor Colmenares (203-87, also represented by Pro Sports, college: Campbellsville, currently plays in Israel) is a teammate of previously mentioned Gregory Vargas and both played together in the last Israeli Winner League game. Colmenares contributed to a Maccabi Haifa's victory against the tenth-ranked Galil Gilboa (7-11) 93-84. He recorded a double-double by scoring 16 points and getting 13 rebounds. Colmenares also added 6 assists. This season Colmenares has relatively solid stats: 11.2ppg, 8.7rpg, 2.3apg, 2.0spg, 2FGP: 61.7%(71-115) and FT: 47.3%. He 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) could not help one of league's weakest teams Hamburg (7-3) in their last game. Despite Carrera's very good performance Hamburg lost 92-98 at home to the second-ranked EnBW Ludwigsburg. He was the second best scorer with 21 points. Carrera also added 7 rebounds in 25 minutes. Carrera has reliable stats this year: 10.6ppg and 4.0rpg in eight games. He is a naturalized American. Carrera is also Venezuelan national team player. He used to play for Trotamundos de Carabobo in Venezuelan league.

Jhornan Zamora

   #5. International swingman Jhornan Zamora (196-89, currently plays in France) was not able to help ALM Evreux (7-12) in their last game. Despite his very good performance ALM Evreux was edged 73-70 on the road by the higher-ranked (#11) Provence Basket. Zamora was the second best scorer with 17 points. He also added 5 rebounds and 6 assists in 33 minutes. Zamora's stats this year are: 11.9ppg, 3.9rpg, 4.4apg and 1.1spg in 19 games. He has a dual citizenship: Spanish and Venezuelan. Zamora plays currently for the Venezuelan national team.

Luis Bethelmy

   #6. Forward Luis Bethelmy (200-86, currently plays in Uruguay) was not able to secure a victory for Defensor (8-12) in their game against Capitol (5-15) in the Uruguayan LUB. Bethelmy recorded 8 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists in 31 minutes. Defensor lost 80-85 in a derby game to the lower-ranked (#11) Capitol. His team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And now that game is very crucial. Bethelmy averaged so far 10.5ppg, 6.5rpg and 4.5apg in two games. 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) helped Austin Peay win their game against the Eastern Illinois University (3-4) 68-64 in the NCAA on Saturday night. He scored 11 points and added 5 passes. The Austin Peay State University has a very good 7-0 conference record this season. So far Austin Peay won all seven games in the conference. Paez's overall stats this season are: 7.8ppg, 2.0rpg, 3.9apg and 1.5spg. He used to play for the Venezuelan U16 national team five years ago.

Jose Ascanio

   #8. Power forward Jose Ascanio (204-96, currently plays in Argentina) helped Atenas win their game against the fourth-ranked Petrolero (12-12) 81-70 in the Argentinian La Liga Argentina (second division) in Saturday night's game. Ascanio had a double-double by scoring 10 points and getting the same number of rebounds in 19 minutes. Atenas de Patagones (7-19) is placed sixth in Conferencia Sur. This year Ascanio's overall stats are: 7.6ppg and 4.0rpg in seven games. He plays currently for the Venezuelan national team.

Luis Valera

   #9. Former international power forward Luis Valera (202-88, college: UTRGV, currently plays in Spain) couldn't help Azuqueca (10-9) in their last game. Despite his very good performance the seventh-placed Azuqueca (10-9) lost 83-89 on their home court in Azuqueca to the lower-ranked (#11) Estudio in the Group B. Valera recorded 15 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks in 26 minutes. Valera is one of the most experienced players in a team as it's his fourth year in Azuqueca's roster. He averaged so far 14.5ppg, 6.8rpg and 1.2apg in 19 games. Valera used to play for the Venezuelan national team five years ago.

Javinger Vargas

   #10. Center Javinger Vargas (202-90, currently plays in Portugal) helped Illiabum win their game against one of league's weakest teams Maia Basket (6-13) crushing them 93-60 in the Portuguese LPB in Saturday night's game. He scored 6 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. Illiabum Clube (6-13) is placed 12th in the LPB. Vargas' total stats this season are: 8.7ppg, 4.9rpg, 1.7apg and 1.1spg. He is an international player who is currently on the senior Venezuelan National Team roster.

   #11. International forward Miguel Ruiz (197-90, currently plays in Argentina) couldn't help CA Platense in their game against Instituto in the Argentinian La Liga. Ruiz cannot count Wednesday's game as one of the best ones. He scored only 2 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 20 minutes. His team was badly defeated by 16 points 74-58. This year Ruiz's total stats are: 9.0ppg, 8.9rpg, 1.7apg and 1.3spg in 15 games. He plays currently for the Venezuelan national team.

   #12. Former international point guard Harold Cazorla (175-91, currently plays in Spain) couldn't help Estela in their game against Gijon in the Spanish LEB Silver (third division). He scored 7 points and added 8 passes in 23 minutes. His team was crushed by 22 points 100-78. Cazorla has averaged so far 6.4ppg, 3.8rpg, 4.0apg and 2.0spg in 21 games. He used to play for the Venezuelan national team back in 2017.

   #13. Former U16 international guard Luis Mora (190-99, currently plays in NAIA) couldn't help the Dillard University in their game against the Talladega College in the NAIA. He cannot count Monday's game as one of the best ones. Mora recorded only 2 points in 6 minutes on the court. His team was crushed by 26 points 94-68 in the NAIA. This year Mora averages just 1.7ppg in three games. He used to play for the Venezuelan U16 national team five years ago.


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

   #1. Experienced Donta Smith (201-SF-83, college: SE Illinois JC, currently plays in France) could not help Levallois (15-6) in their last game. Despite Smith's good performance Levallois was edged 85-84 on the road by the much lower-ranked (#12) Entente Orleans 45. He had a double-double by scoring 14 points and getting 13 rebounds in 30 minutes. It was Levallois' first loss after five consecutive victories. This year Smith's overall stats are: 8.4ppg, 4.2rpg, 4.4apg and 1.5spg in 21 games he played so far. He is a naturalized American. Smith used to play for Marinos de Anzoategui in Venezuelan league.

   #2. Carlos Rodriguez (206-C-89, currently plays in Panama) led Caballos to a victory against the closely-ranked Halcones (5-4) 76-64 in the Panamanian LPB on Tuesday night. Rodriguez scored 14 points, had 4 rebounds and dished 5 assists. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Caballos de Cocle Aguadulce (8-1) is placed first in the LPB. It was his team's fifth consecutive victory in a row. Rodriguez's stats this season are: 10.7ppg, 5.2rpg, 5.3apg and 1.4spg.

   #3. Juan Fontena (196-F-87, currently plays in Chile) was the major contributor in a CD Castro's victory against the fifth-ranked Los Leones (12-18) 80-70 in the Chilean Liga Nacional last Saturday. He scored 14 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. Club Deportes Castro (1-1) is placed third in Conferencia Sur. Fontena's team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And that game will be critical. Fontena's overall stats this season are: 8.9ppg, 6.5rpg and 1.5apg. He has a dual citizenship: Venezuelan and Chilean.

   #4. Osbel Caraballo (196-F-98, currently plays in NCAA2) contributed to an easy victory against the Mercy College (2-5) 95-80 in the NCAA2 in Saturday night's game. Caraballo scored 27 points (!!!) and grabbed 8 rebounds. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. The St. Thomas Aquinas College has quite an impressive 6-1 record this season. Caraballo has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 16.2ppg, 7.5rpg and 1.5apg.

   #5. Kelvin Caraballo (198-F-88, currently plays in Argentina) contributed to an Union SF's victory against the leader Ameghino (14-10) 89-85 in the Argentinian La Liga Argentina (second division) last Friday. Caraballo scored 8 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in only 14 minutes. It was the game of the round between two top 3 ranked teams in group Conferencia Noreste. Union de Santa Fe (16-8) is placed third in Conferencia Noreste. This year Caraballo's overall stats are: 8.4ppg and 7.3rpg in nine games.

   #6. Jose Serrano (201-G/F-98, currently plays in NCAA2) was not able to help the Eastern New Mexico University (2-3) in their last game on Saturday. Despite Serrano's good performance his team was defeated 81-76 in Silver City by the Western New Mexico University. He scored 13 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. Serrano's total stats this season are: 9.4ppg, 3.7rpg and 1.2apg.

   #7. Luis A. Hurtado (198-G-98, currently plays college basketball in the States) was not able to secure a victory for the UAB in their game against the Rice University in the NCAA. Hurtado cannot count Thursday's game as one of the best ones. He recorded only 3 points and added 3 assists. His team was defeated 86-72. Hurtado has averaged so far 1.5ppg and 1.3apg.

   #8. Luis Rubianes (202-F/C-97, currently plays in Spain) managed to help Ucogs Seguros C.B. Chantada to win against the 14th-ranked Zamora crushing them 85-55 in the Spanish EBA (fourth division) last Saturday. Rubianes scored only 3 points. Rubianes has averaged so far 3.4ppg and 3.4rpg.