Jhornan Zamora's double-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.

Jhornan Zamora

   #1. This week's number one is an international swingman Jhornan Zamora (196-89, currently plays in France). He led ALM Evreux to a 1-point victory over the 14th-ranked Gries/Oberhoffen (8-11) 71-70 in the French ProB (second division) in Thursday night's game. Zamora was MVP of the game. He had a double-double by scoring 24 points and getting 13 rebounds. Zamora also added 3 assists in 37 minutes on the court. ALM Evreux Basket (12-9) is placed eighth in the ProB. Zamora has relatively good stats this year: 13.7ppg, 4.9rpg, 4.3apg, 1.2spg, 3FGP: 36.9% and FT: 73.7% in 19 games he played so far. He has a dual citizenship: Spanish and Venezuelan. Ex-Trotamundos de Carabobo player is currently a member of the Venezuelan senior national team.

Miguel Ruiz

   #2. Second place goes to an international forward Miguel Ruiz (197-90, currently plays in Argentina). Ruiz could not help Gimnasia (23-13) in their last game on Thursday. Despite his good performance Gimnasia was defeated 78-70 at home by the higher-ranked Boca Juniors (#4). Ruiz was the top scorer with 14 points. He also added 8 rebounds. It's Ruiz's first season with the team. This year Ruiz averages: 7.2ppg, 7.7rpg, 1.5apg, 1.3spg, 2FGP: 53.2% and FT: 71.7%. He is in the roster of the Venezuelan senior national team.

Gregory Echenique

   #3. The Venezuelan player who performed third best last week abroad was former international center Gregory Echenique (206-90, agency: Pensack Sports, college: Creighton, currently plays in Japan). Echenique was not able to help Dragonflies in their game against Shimane Magic (23-32) in the Japanese B1 League, despite his very good performance on Sunday night. He had a double-double by scoring 18 points and getting 17 rebounds. Echenique also added 5 assists in 35 minutes. But the tenth-placed Dragonflies (8-42) lost 58-72 on the road to the higher-ranked (#5) Shimane Magic in the West group. There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical. Echenique has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 17.1ppg, 9.8rpg, 2.1apg, 2FGP: 61.4%(316-515) and FT: 75.0% in 50 games. Echenique played for the Venezuelan national team two years ago.

Luis Valera

   #4. An experienced power forward Luis Valera (202-88, college: UTRGV, currently plays in Spain) led Guadalajara to a victory over the eighth-ranked Aguimes (4-14) crushing them 76-56 in the Spanish EBA (fourth division) in Saturday night's game. He was the best player in that game. Valera scored 26 points (!!!) and grabbed 6 rebounds. Lujisa Guadalajara Basket (8-9) is placed seventh in Group B-B. There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial. This season Valera has very high stats. He averages: 17.0ppg and 6.9rpg. Valera used to play for the Venezuelan national team back in 2015.


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

   #1. Experienced Darwin Jaramillo (192-F-86, currently plays in El Salvador) contributed to an easy victory against the fifth-ranked Aguila (3-5) 83-65 in the Salvadorean Liga MB (second division) last Thursday. He recorded 9 points in only 12 minutes. Santa Tecla BC (8-0) is placed first in the Liga MB. So far his team won all eight games in the Regular Season. This year Jaramillo's overall stats are: 9.6ppg, 4.6rpg, 1.6apg and 1.1spg in seven games he played so far.

   #2. Rafael Melgarejo (184-G-91, currently plays in Spain) could not help Sant Cugat (2-9) in their last game on Saturday. Despite his good performance Sant Cugat (#7) was crushed 72-50 on the road by the higher-ranked SESE (#4) in the Group C2. Melgarejo was the top scorer with 11 points. The Regular Season already ended. This season Melgarejo has relatively solid stats: 10.7ppg, 3.4rpg and 1.4apg.


Other top Venezuelan players, who play abroad:

David Cubillan (181-PG-87) plays for Huesca in Spanish LEB Gold
Michael Carrera (196-F-93) plays for Basquet in Spanish LEB Gold
Juan Fontena (196-C-87) plays for CD Puerto Varas in Chilean Liga Nacional
Jose Juan Bravo (202-C-86) plays for Quilicura in Chilean Liga Nacional
Antony Gonzalez (181-G-0) plays for Sol de Mayo in Argentinian Regional League
Luis Gonzalez (200-C/F-85) plays for Sant Cugat in Spanish EBA
Julio Miglionico (202-C-91) plays for ULB OH!TELS in Spanish EBA
Franger Pirela (187-F-2) plays for La Matanza in Spanish EBA
Andres Marrero (186-F-2) plays for Upper Room Christian in the

Notice: The list above includes only some of the Venezuelan playing currently abroad. Go to Venezuelan Abroad Page to see completed list.