Windi Graterol'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.

Windi Graterol

   #1. This week's number one is an experienced former international center Windi Graterol (204-1986, agency: Pro Sports, currently plays in Argentina). He was the major contributor in Olimpico's victory against the closely-ranked Quimsa (5-2) 85-70 in the Argentinian La Liga in Wednesday night's game. Graterol had a double-double by scoring 15 points and getting 11 rebounds in 21 minutes on the court. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Ciclista Olimpico de La Banda (3-4) is placed fourth in the La Liga. This year Graterol averages: 8.3ppg, 8.0rpg, 2FGP: 55.6%(30-54), 3FGP: 47.1%(8-17) and FT: 62.5% in 12 games he played so far. Former Cocodrilos de Caracas starter played for the Venezuelan senior national team year ago.

Gregory Echenique

   #2. Second place goes to former international center Gregory Echenique (206-1990, agency: Pensack Sports, college: Creighton, currently plays in Japan). He could not help Hiroshima Dragonflies (21-21) in their last game. Despite Echenique's very good performance the fifth-placed Hiroshima Dragonflies (21-21) lost 66-74 on the road to the second-ranked Alvark Tokyo in the West group. He was the second best scorer with 17 points. Echenique also added 4 rebounds in 22 minutes; quite an impressive performance considering it's only his first season in pro basketball. It was Hiroshima Dragonflies' fifth consecutive loss in a row. Echenique has relatively good stats this year: 10.5ppg, 6.6rpg, 1.3apg, 2FGP: 59.3%(159-268) and FT: 72.5% in 40 games. He played for the Venezuelan national team in 19.

Gregory Vargas

   #3. The Venezuelan player who performed third best last week abroad was former international point guard Gregory Vargas (181-1986, also represented by Pro Sports, currently plays in Israel). Vargas managed to help Hapoel Next Urban Haifa to win against the tenth-ranked Hapoel Beer Sheva (7-13) crushing them 80-53 in the Israeli Winner League in Saturday night's game. He recorded 5 points and added 9 passes. Hapoel Next Urban Haifa (11-9) is placed sixth in the Winner League. Vargas' team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And that game will be critical. This season Vargas has relatively solid stats: 11.1ppg, 4.3rpg, 6.0apg, 1.8spg, 2FGP: 42.7%, 3FGP: 38.3% and FT: 78.4%. Former Protectores de Miranda BBC starter played for the Venezuelan national team year ago.

   #4. Center Sergio Mijares (1997, currently plays in Chile) was not able to help Espanol de Talca (1-9) in their last game. Despite his very good performance Espanol de Talca lost 76-80 in San Fernando to the lower-ranked (#11) Tinguiririca. Mijares was the top scorer with 17 points. He also added 7 rebounds in 32 minutes. It was Espanol de Talca's fifth consecutive loss in a row. Mijares has reliable stats this year: 10.2ppg, 6.5rpg and 2.6apg in 13 games. He used to play for the Venezuelan U17 national team back in 13.

Jhornan Zamora

   #5. Former international swingman Jhornan Zamora (196-1989, currently plays in France) led Saint-Quentin to a victory against the closely-ranked Chalon/Saor (17-8) 91-86 in the French ProB (second division) on Friday night. Zamora recorded 12 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Saint-Quentin Basket-Ball (5-2) is placed third in the ProB. It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row. Zamora's stats this season are: 12.9ppg, 4.1rpg, 2.3apg and 1.5spg. He has a dual citizenship: Spanish and Venezuelan. Zamora used to play for the Venezuelan national team years ago.

Michael Carrera

   #6. Forward Michael Carrera (196-1993, agency: Global Sports Basketball, college: S.Carolina, currently plays in Spain) led Lleida to a victory over the league leader Granada (20-5) 78-69 in the Spanish LEB Gold (second division) in Friday night's game. He was MVP of the game. Carrera scored 17 points, grabbed 9 rebounds and made 2 blocks in 38 minutes; not bad, considering it's only his first season in pro basketball. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. ICG Forca Lleida (18-7) is placed third in the LEB Gold. Carrera has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 17.7ppg, 7.8rpg and 2.3apg in 26 games. Carrera is a former international player as he played for the Venezuelan senior team year ago.

Nestor Colmenares

   #7. Former international center Nestor Colmenares (200-1987, another player represented by Pro Sports, college: Campbellsville, currently plays in Uruguay) was not able to secure a victory for Goes (18-10) in their last game on Friday. Despite his very good performance his team was edged 72-69 in a derby game by the much lower-ranked O.Mundial (#12). Colmenares was the top scorer with 15 points. He also added 6 boards, dished 4 assists and stole 3 balls. There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial. Colmenares averaged so far 12.5ppg, 11.0rpg, 2.7apg and 1.4spg. He used to play for the Venezuelan national team years ago.

Pedro Chourio

   #8. Swingman Pedro Chourio (186-1990, another player represented by Pro Sports, currently plays in Argentina) is a teammate of previously mentioned Windi Graterol. But that was another game of his team in Argentinian La Liga which we would like to mention. Chourio couldn't help Olimpico (3-4) in their last game. Despite his good performance Olimpico lost 71-81 in Santiado del Estero to the second-ranked Quimsa. Chourio scored 10 points in 26 minutes. Chourio's stats this year are: 11.5ppg, 4.0rpg and 1.8apg in eight games. He used to play for the Venezuelan national team back in 22.

Luis Valera

   #9. Former international power forward Luis Valera (202-1988, college: UTRGV, currently plays in Spain) was the main contributor in Guadalajara's victory against the 13th-ranked Quintanar (10-16) crushing them 87-61 in the Spanish EBA (fourth division) in Saturday night's game. Valera was the best player in that game. He recorded 19 points. Lujisa Guadalajara Basket (11-13) is placed eighth in Group B. There are only four games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be important. Valera averaged so far 13.9ppg and 5.2rpg. He used to play for the Venezuelan national team years ago.

Edgar Martinez

   #10. Small forward Edgar Martinez (199-1997, currently plays in Argentina) contributed to a Salta Basket's victory against the fourth-ranked CAO Ceres (17-6) 93-84 in the Argentinian La Liga Argentina (second division) on Wednesday night. Martinez scored 5 points, grabbed 4 rebounds and dished 3 assists. Salta Basket (15-9) is placed sixth in Conference Norte. It was his team's fifth consecutive victory in a row. There are only four games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be extremely important. Martinez's overall stats this season are: 8.5ppg, 3.5rpg and 1.8apg. He is a former international player as years ago he still played for the Venezuelan senior national team.

   #11. Former international guard Yohanner Sifontes (192-1995, currently plays in Argentina) helped Ameghino win their game against the 15th-ranked Jachal 98-87 in the Argentinian La Liga Argentina (second division) last Saturday. Sifontes was the top player that evening. He scored 29 points (!!!), had 4 boards, dished 3 assists and stole 3 balls. This season Sifontes has very high stats. He averages: 18.5ppg, 5.2rpg, 4.0apg and 1.2spg. Sifontes used to play for the Venezuelan national team years ago.

   #12. Former international point guard Harold Cazorla (175-1991, agency: Promo Sport ID, currently plays in Spain) helped Cantabria win their game against the 14th-ranked Marbella 74-70 in the Spanish LEB Silver (third division) on Saturday night. He scored only 2 points in 11 minutes. This year Cazorla's overall stats are: 3.0ppg, 1.8apg and 1.8spg in four games. He used to play for the Venezuelan national team back in 17.

   #13. Former U16 international point guard Angel Lugo (181-1999, currently plays in Spain) helped Molina win their game against the eighth-ranked Calpe 89-72 in the Spanish EBA (fourth division) on Sunday night. He recorded 8 points. Lugo's total stats this season are: 4.3ppg, 2.0rpg and 1.3apg. He used to play for the Venezuelan U16 national team years ago.


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

   #1. Luis Merida (190-SG-1992, currently plays in Chile) led Castro to an easy victory against the closely-ranked Temuco (2-8) crushing them 105-54 in the Chilean Liga Nacional last Friday. He scored 14 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. Club Deportes Castro (2-6) is placed fifth in the Liga Nacional. Merida's overall stats this season are: 7.4ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.8apg and 1.1spg.

   #2. Experienced Juan Fontena (196-C-1987, currently plays in Chile) could not help Puerto Varas (9-1) in their last game. Despite Fontena's good performance the league leader Puerto Varas was edged 73-72 at home by the lower-ranked (#5) Castro. He recorded 10 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and made 2 blocks in 35 minutes. Fontena averaged so far 10.6ppg and 5.1rpg in 14 games he played so far. He has a dual citizenship: Venezuelan and Chilean.

   #3. Jose Sosa (203-PF-1998, currently plays in Spain) was the major contributor in Lliria's victory against the sixth-ranked Esportiu (2-7) crushing them 84-63 in the Spanish EBA (fourth division) in Saturday night's game. Sosa recorded 14 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks in 20 minutes. Refitel Basquet Lliria (6-3) is placed fifth in Group Eclasif. There are only four games left until the end of the Regular Season. This year Sosa's overall stats are: 4.4ppg and 3.8rpg in 18 games. He is another player who holds two passports: Venezuelan and Spanish.

   #4. Rafael Melgarejo (184-G-1991, currently plays in Spain) was not able to help Sant Cugat in their game against Roser (10-11) in the Spanish EBA (fourth division). Melgarejo cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones. He scored only 3 points. Sant Cugat (#12) was defeated 72-63 on the road by the higher-ranked Roser (#7) in the Group C-1. It was Sant Cugat's 11th consecutive loss in a row. Melgarejo's team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. Melgarejo's total stats this season are: 8.7ppg, 3.5rpg, 1.3apg and 1.3spg.

   #5. Franger Pirela (187-F-2002, currently plays in Spain) led Baskonia B to an easy victory against the 15th-ranked Pas Pielagos (5-20) crushing them 119-76 in the Spanish EBA (fourth division) last Saturday. He scored 16 points and added 4 passes in 25 minutes. Grupo Eleyco Baskonia B team (20-7) is placed second in Group A-A. It was his team's fourth consecutive victory in a row. There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season. This year Pirela's total stats are: 9.1ppg, 3.3rpg, 2.4apg and 1.2spg in 27 games.

   #6. Wilmer Peraza (194-C-1990, currently plays in Spain) was not able to secure a victory for Azulejos in their game against Andratx in the Spanish EBA (fourth division). Peraza was the second best scorer with 9 points. He also added 8 rebounds in 24 minutes. His team lost 57-68. This year Peraza's total stats are: 6.6ppg and 4.8rpg in 16 games.