Greivis Vasquez, a Venezuelan-born NBA player with the New Orleans Hornets, scored 20 points on Monday night to help his team eke out a 75-67 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats.
Vasquez, a point guard aged 25, matched his career high that night in a performance that included 8-of-18 shooting, four rebounds, six assists, and a steal. He helped compensate for the absence of the Hornets’ two leading scorers, delivering the Bobcats their 17th straight loss of the season, a franchise record. It was the fourth straight win for the Hornets.
According to Sports Network, “With the game tied at 47 after three quarters, the Hornets opened up a six-point lead on a running jumper by Vasquez.”
Hornets coach Monty Williams called it a “tough” game, saying: “They competed out there, even though it didn’t look pretty. We still held an NBA team to 67 points. That is something you can hang your hat on.”
Vasquez began his professional career as a draft pick for the Memphis Grizzlies in 2010, his rookie year. Tonight, he will encounter his old teammates as the Hornets face the Grizzlies in Memphis.
Before joining the NBA, Vasquez was a rising star in college basketball. While at the University of Maryland, Vásquez became a stand-out player, known for his instinctive feel for the game and ability to make plays happen. In his senior year, he became the second-highest all-time scorer for the University of Maryland with 2,171 points. He also won the Bob Cousy Award, which recognizes the best collegiate point guard in the country.
Vasquez is one of only three Venezuelans ever to play in the NBA. The other two are Carl Herrera, who was chosen thirtieth in the 1990 draft pick and played for the Houston Rockets during their championship seasons in 1993-1994 and 1994-1995, and Oscar Torres, who played with the Houston Rockets in 2001-2002 and the Golden State Warriors in 2002-2003.
Press – Venezuelan Embassy to the U.S. / April 18, 2012
