By Javier Molero/ jmolero@eurohoops.net
Jasiel Rivero will once again wear the Valencia Basket jersey. The Cuban center, who finished his contract with Crvena zvezda and became a restricted free agent, will assist Valencia for a month.
According to an official announcement by Valencia Basket on Monday, August 31, Rivero joins Xavi Albert’s squad for the upcoming weeks:
“Valencia Basket has reached an agreement with power forward Jasiel Rivero (2.06m, Havana, 10/31/1993, 32 years old) to join our professional men’s team with a one-month contract. The Cuban international interior, a free agent after parting ways this summer with Crvena Zvezda Belgrade with whom he played last season in the EuroLeague, joined the first team training sessions on Monday, August 24 to bolster the sessions due to the absence of players called up to their national teams. Now, he signs this temporary commitment to contribute during the preseason and the start of the official season.
This will be Jasiel Rivero’s second stint with the taronja, as he played two seasons with Valencia Basket between 2021 and 2023, participating in 105 games with the taronja jersey, averaging 10.8 points, 4 rebounds, and 12.2 efficiency credits, and was named MVP of the month in the Liga Endesa twice, in October and December 2022.
Before arriving in Valencia for that first stint, Rivero began to stand out in his native Cuba before playing professional basketball in Uruguay and Argentina. His move to Europe happened with San Pablo Burgos in 2019. In the two seasons he spent with the Burgos team, he helped the Castilian team win two Basketball Champions Leagues. His performance in the 2020-21 season, in which he was named in the Second Best Quintet of both the Liga Endesa and the BCL, opened the doors to Valencia Basket.
In his second season as a taronja, the 2022-23 season, Rivero made his debut in the EuroLeague. A competition he has not left since accumulating 93 games in this tournament. After ending his time with Valencia Basket, Rivero played two seasons with Maccabi Tel Aviv, averaging 8.4 points and 3.5 rebounds for 9.8 efficiency credits with the yellow team. Last season, a foot injury allowed him to play only 9 games of the top continental competition with Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade, averaging 4.8 points and 1.7 rebounds.”
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