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

- May 22, 2022

POSTED BY: Eurobasket News

Traditionally, every week we bring you a list of the top performances of Venezuelans who are currently playing abroad.

Gregory Vargas

#1. This week's number one is an experienced former international point guard Gregory Vargas (181-1986, agency: Pro Sports, currently plays in Israel). He could not help Hapoel Haifa (13-14) in their last game. Despite Vargas' very good performance the sixth-placed Hapoel Haifa (13-14) lost 89-93 on the road to the higher-ranked (#3) Bnei Hasharon in the Places 1-6 group. He was the top scorer with 22 points. Vargas also added 4 rebounds and dished 8 assists in 36 minutes on the court. It was Hapoel Haifa's fifth consecutive loss in a row. Vargas has relatively good stats this year: 10.4ppg, 4.4rpg, 6.3apg, 1.6spg, 2FGP: 43.2%, 3FGP: 35.5% and FT: 71.0% in 30 games he played so far. Former Protectores de Miranda BBC starter played for the Venezuelan senior national team year ago.

#2. Second place goes to former U17 international center Sergio Mijares (1997, currently plays in Chile). He was not able to help Aleman (0-2) in their last game on Saturday. Despite Mijares' very good performance Aleman was defeated 78-73 in Talca by the lower-ranked Truenos (#4). He was the top scorer with 15 points. Mijares also added 4 rebounds and dished 3 assists. But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen. Mijares has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 18.0ppg, 5.3rpg, 3.0apg, 1.3spg, 2FGP: 47.1%, 3FGP: 36.0% and FT: 84.6%. Mijares played for the Venezuelan U17 national team in 13.

Jesus Medina

#3. The Venezuelan player who performed third best last week abroad was former U17 international swingman Jesus Medina (188-1994, currently plays in Colombia). He led Titanes to a victory over the closely-ranked Bucaros (8-4) 92-77 in the Colombian Liga WPlay on Tuesday night. Medina was MVP of the game. He scored 17 points, grabbed 9 rebounds and dished 5 assists in 33 minutes. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Titanes de Barranquilla (12-0) is placed first in the Liga WPlay. So far his team won all twelve games in the Regular Season. The Regular Season already ended. This year Medina's overall stats are: 7.3ppg, 3.8rpg, 2.7apg, 2FGP: 58.5%(31-53), 3FGP: 18.5% and FT: 73.3% in 12 games. He played for the Venezuelan U17 national team year ago.

Jhornan Zamora

#4. Swingman Jhornan Zamora (196-1989, currently plays in France) was not able to secure a victory for Saint-Quentin (7-3) in their last game. Despite his good performance Saint-Quentin was edged 83-80 in Vichy by the lower-ranked (#8) JA Vichy. Zamora recorded 12 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals in 26 minutes. This year Zamora has relatively solid stats: 12.1ppg, 3.9rpg, 2.5apg and 1.7spg in 34 games. He has a dual citizenship: Spanish and Venezuelan. Zamora used to play for the Venezuelan national team back in 22.

Jose Ascanio

#5. Former international forward Jose Ascanio (204-1996, currently plays in Argentina) couldn't help Quimsa (30-8) in their game against Boca (7-0) in the Argentinian La Liga. He scored 7 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. The league leader Quimsa was edged 79-77 in Buenos Aires by the leading Boca. Ascanio's total stats this season are: 5.0ppg and 2.8rpg. He used to play for the Venezuelan national team years ago.

Heissler Guillent

   #6. Point guard Heissler Guillent (186-1986, currently plays in Colombia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Jesus Medina and both played together in the last Colombian Liga WPlay game. Guillent contributed to an easy victory against the closely-ranked Bucaros (8-4) 92-77. He scored 15 points in only a mere 13 minutes. Guillent has reliable stats this year: 12.7ppg, 3.6rpg, 6.3apg and 1.4spg in 12 games. He is a former international player as he played for the Venezuelan senior team year 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 league leader Puerto Varas (9-1) 75-60 in the Chilean LNB in Monday night's game. Merida recorded a double-double by scoring 14 points and getting 10 rebounds. He also added 3 assists. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Club Deportes Castrois placed in the LNB. Merida's total stats this season are: 9.2ppg, 5.0rpg, 1.9apg and 1.3spg.

   #2. Maolin Colina (190-SG-1990, currently plays in Colombia) contributed to Bucaros' victory against the league outsider Tigrillos (1-11) 87-74 in the Colombian Liga WPlay last Thursday. Colina scored 6 points, had 6 rebounds and dished 3 assists. Bucaros de Bucaramanga (8-4) is placed second in the Liga WPlay. The Regular Season already ended. Colina's total stats this season are: 7.9ppg and 2.9rpg.

   #3. Dario Castro (206-C-1991, currently plays in Colombia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Maolin Colina. But that was another game of his team in Colombian Liga WPlay which we would like to mention. Castro managed to help Bucaros de Bucaramanga in a victory against the league outsider Tigrillos (1-11) crushing them 84-59. He recorded only 4 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in 23 minutes. Bucaros de Bucaramanga (8-4) is placed second in the Liga WPlay. This year Castro's total stats are: 1.3ppg and 2.7rpg in 12 games he played so far.

   #4. Experienced Jesus Martinez (206-F/C-1986, currently plays in Colombia) led Cafeteros to a victory over one of league's weakest teams Storm (4-8) 95-77 in the Colombian Liga WPlay in Sunday night's game. He was the best player in that game. Martinez scored 23 points, grabbed 6 boards, handed out 3 passes and blocked 2 shots. Cafeteros de Armenia (7-5) is placed third in the Liga WPlay. Martinez averaged so far 11.2ppg, 8.9rpg and 1.6bpg.

   #5. Fernando Lucena (185-PG-1986, currently plays in Colombia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Jesus Martinez. However that was another game of his team in Colombian Liga WPlay which brought him to that list. Lucena contributed to Cafeteros' victory against one of league's weakest teams Storm (4-8) 117-106. He recorded 16 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists in 27 minutes. Cafeteros de Armenia (7-5) is placed third in the Liga WPlay. This year Lucena's total stats are: 8.3ppg, 1.9rpg and 1.1apg in 14 games. He has a dual citizenship: Venezuelan and Colombian.

   #6. Hector Diaz (192-SG-1992, currently plays in Colombia) is a teammate of previously mentioned Jesus Martinez and both played together in the last Colombian Liga WPlay game. Diaz contributed to an easy victory against one of league's weakest teams Storm 95-77. He scored 10 points, grabbed 8 rebounds and dished 5 assists. Diaz's total stats this season are: 7.9ppg, 3.6rpg, 1.7apg and 1.1spg. He is another player who holds two passports: Venezuelan and Colombian.

   #7. Joseph Campos (175-PG-1996, college: West LA, currently plays in Chile) could not help Stadio Italiano (0-4) in their last game. Despite Campos' good performance Stadio Italiano lost 73-84 on the road to the much higher-ranked (#6) Arabe de Valparaiso. He had a double-double by scoring 14 points and getting 11 rebounds in 21 minutes. Campos' stats this year are: 10.5ppg, 9.0rpg and 1.5bpg in two games.

   #8. Franger Pirela (187-F-2002, currently plays in Spain) contributed to an easy victory against the leader Gandia 68-53 in the Spanish EBA (fourth division) last Saturday. He scored only 2 points, had 6 rebounds and dished 3 assists. Pirela's total stats this season are: 9.7ppg, 3.3rpg, 2.5apg and 1.3spg.