Signed in Puerto Rico - Signed with Gigantes de Carolina
- Birthdate: 09/28/1982
- Drafted (NBA): Undrafted, 2005
- Pre-draft team: UTEP
- Country: USA/Puerto Rico
- Hand: Right
- Agent: Christian Santaella (Santaella Sports Agency)
June 7, 2010
Filiberto Rivera - 32 games, 34.5 mpg, 16.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 5.4 apg, 2.3 fpg, 1.7 spg, 0.5 bpg, 43% FG, 30% 3PT, 84% FT
Isabela Cocks is a terrible name for a girl, and not a great name for a basketball team either. The team did not have a great year, finishing third last in the regular season standings; however, due to the slightly insane structure of the current incarnation of the BSN, third last was good enough for a playoff spot. (Note to the organisers; if you have a ten team league, don't have eight playoff places. I realise it's a money spinner, but it cheapens the achievement, and really cheapens the regular seasons. Maybe top out at 4 in the future.)
The team had two high quality local players in Puerto Rican international Filiberto Rivera (a one time signing of the Cleveland Cavaliers) and Venezuelan international Rafael Perez (not to be confused with the once-awesome Cleveland Indians left hander. Nor to the corrupt police officer somehow linked to the shooting of Tupac.) Rivera was probably the team's best player, ranking fourth in the BSN in assists while also pouring in 16.3ppg; Perez formed the other half of the high scoring backcourt with his 16.8 ppg average. The team also had some big domestic help from former Virginia Tech swingman A.D. Vassallo, a man with NBA aspirations and a great talent level who averaged 18.3 ponts for the team. However, Vassallo played only the team's three playoff games, with his prior commitments in the French league preventing him from playing in the regular season.
April 16, 2010
- Filiberto Rivera
Former Cavaliers guard Filiberto Rivera is Puerto Rican, so it's perhaps no surprise that he's playing in Puerto Rico. Playing for Gallitos de Isabela, Rivera is averaging 15.1 points and 4.2 assists per game, albeit while shooting only 31% from three point range. His two American team mates there are Shaun Pruitt and Alando Tucker; Pruitt we've already covered, and Tucker we're about to. A longer breakdown of the 2010 Puerto Rican basketball season is coming shortly.