EuroBasket Pro Cougars Weekly Update

- February 18, 2019

POSTED BY: Eurobasket News

EuroBasket Pro Cougars Weekly Update

W.Nebraska CC logo Courtesy of Sports I.T. Solutions / Eurobasket.com

We bring you last week's top former Cougars players who are currently playing in pro basketball.

   #1. Experienced Joao Paulo Batista (6'9''-C/F-81, played in 2002-03, plays pro in Brazil) was the major contributor in a 2-point Mogi das Cruzes/Helbor's victory against one of league's weakest teams CR Vasco Da Gama Rio de Janeiro (5-14) 90-88 in the Brazilian NBB in Wednesday night's game. He scored 17 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 34 minutes. Mogi das Cruzes/Helbor (12-6) is placed fourth in the NBB. Batista has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages 17.5ppg, 9.1rpg and 2.2apg in 21 games he played so far.

   #2. Willie Mangum IV (6'1''-G-93, played in 2012-13, plays in Brazil) led Campo Mourao to a victory against the fifth-ranked Blumenau (0-2) 79-74 in the Brazilian Liga Ouro (second division) last Friday. Mangum IV scored 21 points and grabbed 6 rebounds; quite an impressive performance considering it's only his second season in pro basketball. Campo Mourao (2-0) is placed first in the Liga Ouro. But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen. It's Mangum IV's first year with the team. Mangum IV has relatively good stats this season 11.5ppg, 3.5rpg and 1.5apg.

   #3. Deividas Busma (7'0''-C-87, graduated '11, currently in France), who plays in the French NM1 (third division) could not help Stade Rochelais Basket (11-12) in their last game. Despite Busma's very good performance the tenth-placed Stade Rochelais Basket (11-12) lost 83-90 on the road to the much higher-ranked (#3) JSA Bordeaux in the Group B. He was the second best scorer with 16 points. Busma also added 6 rebounds in 29 minutes. There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical. It's Busma's first season with the team. This year he averages 9.4ppg and 4.6rpg in nine games.

   #4. Sebastian Suarez (6'4''-G-91, played in 2011-13, plays pro in Chile) managed to help Asociacion Basquetbol Ancud to win against the leader Las Animas (24-8) 77-72 in the Chilean Liga Nacional in Saturday night's game. Suarez scored only 4 points, grabbed 5 rebounds and dished 5 assists. It was the game of the round between two top 3 ranked teams in group Conferencia Sur. Asociacion Basquetbol Ancud (0-2) is placed first in Conferencia Sur. This season Suarez has very high stats. He averages 16.8ppg, 4.1rpg and 2.6apg.

   #5. Andrew Ramirez (6'2''-G-97, played in 2015-16, plays in Spain) was not able to help Tormes in their game against Estela (13-9) in the Spanish LEB Silver (third division). Ramirez did not have that impressive stats last Saturday. He recorded only 3 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals in 22 minutes. The 12th-placed Tormes (5-17) lost 73-88 in Santander to the much higher-ranked (#4) Estela in the West group. It was Tormes' fourth consecutive loss in a row. The Regular Season already ended. It's Ramirez's first season with the team. This year Ramirez averages 6.9ppg, 3.5rpg, 2.0apg and 1.3spg in 22 games.

Other former Western Nebraska Community College players, who play in pro basketball:

Scott Bamforth (6'2''-G/F-89, played in 2009-10) plays for Banco di Srd in Italian Serie A
Francisco Cruz (6'3''-G-89, played in 2009-10) plays for Montakit Fuenlabrada in Spanish Liga Endesa
Ricards Pinne (6'5''-G-97) plays for Latvijas Universitate in Latvian LatEstBL
Miguel Gotti (6'8''-C-90) played for Panteras de Costa del Este Panama City in Panamanian LPB few monts ago
Julio Guity (6'7''-F, played in 2013-15) played for Bosna-Royal in Bosnia and Herzegovina Division I last year
Marko Kovacevic (6'11''-C-90, played in 2010-11) plays for Gravenchon in French NM2
Leon Tomic (6'7''-PF-96) plays for Sustinente in Italian Serie C

Notice: The list above includes only some of the Western Nebraska Community College alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check COMPLETE LIST.