Rigoberto Mendoza (basketball)
Rigoberto Mendoza (born 6 July 1992) is a Dominican professional basketball player for Maccabi Haifa of the Israeli Basketball Premier League.
No. 2 – Maccabi Haifa | |||||||||||
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Position | Guard | ||||||||||
League | Israeli Basketball Premier League | ||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||
Born | San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic | 6 July 1992||||||||||
Nationality | Dominican Republic | ||||||||||
Listed height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||
Career information | |||||||||||
Playing career | 2014–present | ||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||
2019 | Santeros de Aguada | ||||||||||
2019-2020 | Capitanes de Ciudad de México | ||||||||||
2020 | Dorados de Chihuahua | ||||||||||
2020-present | Maccabi Haifa | ||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
Medals
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Professional career
Mendoza debuted in the Dominican league, where he played for Reales de La Vega.[1] Later, he further gained experience in Spanish, Puerto Rican and Argentine basketball.[2]
He joined Capitanes de Ciudad de México of the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional for the 2017–2018 season, the first in franchise history. His impact was felt immediately as he averaged 15.7 points, as well as 2.8 assists per game.[2] In his second season he stepped forward and improved in every aspect of the game, as his team's leader at the guard position. He maintained his 15 points and raised his assist average. He also stayed close to five rebounds per game.[2] In 2018–19, Mendoza had a stellar season and helped his team achieve 27 victories. He eventually became league's Most Valuable Player, despite not leading any of the statistical sections of the LNBP.[2] In the postseason, he led his team to the second final in team history.[2]
Mendoza began the 2020-21 season with Dorados de Chihuahua, averaging 12 points and 4 assists per game. On November 17, 2020, Mendoza signed with Maccabi Haifa of the Israeli Basketball Premier League.[3]
National team
Mendoza has played for the Dominican Republic national basketball team on many occasions. At the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China, he was one of the cornerstones of the team that surprisingly beat Germany and advanced to the second round instead of the heavily favored competitor.
References
- Rigoberto Mendoza conduce el triunfo de los Reales en LNB Persio Maldonado (El Nuevo Diario), 25 June 2015. Accessed 21 February 2020. (in Spanish)
- Rigoberto Mendoza, un MVP digno de Capitanes Andrés Flores (AS México), 6 July 2019. Accessed 21 February 2020. (in Spanish)
- "Rigoberto Mendoza joins Maccabi Haifa". Sportando. November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 17, 2020.