Maccabi Haifa signs Orlando Mendez-Valdez
He played all his career in Mexico
The Maccabi Hunter Haifa professional basketball team of the Israeli Basketball Super League announced today they have signed veteran shooting guard Orlando Mendez-Valdez for the 2016-17 season. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Mendez-Valdez, 30, is a perennial Mexican league All-Star with extensive experience, having spent his entire professional career in Mexico. During the 2015-16 season, Mendez-Valdez helped guide Pioneros de Quintana Roo to a Mexican league championship. He was named to the LNBP All-Star team after posting averages of 12.9 points while shooting 45.0 percent (122-for-271) from downtown, to go along with 2.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 24.6 minutes over 47 games played.
“When the opportunity arose to bring someone with as much prolific experience as Orlando, we knew this was a move we had to make,” said Maccabi Hunter Haifa team owner Jeff Rosen.
“Orlando is extremely versatile, who brings veteran leadership to our backcourt,” said Maccabi Hunter Haifa head coach Offer Rahimi.
Prior to Quintana Roo, Mendez-Valdez spent five seasons with Halcones UV Halapa, including winning a Mexican league title in his rookie season in 2010-11. In 187 career games played with Halcones, he tallied 13.5 points while shooting 42.0 percent from beyond the arc, 2.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 26.2 minutes per game.
The 6-foot-0 shooting guard has a decorated international resume, helping guide the Mexican national team to multiple medals. Having participated 11 FIBA competitions as a member of the Mexican national team since 2009, Mendez-Valdez’s crowning moment came in Caracas, Venezuela when Mexico entered the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship as a replacement for Panama. Over 10 games, Mendez-Valdez averaged 12.3 points (50% from 3-PT) and 2.2 assists to lift Mexico over Puerto Rico to capture gold.
A native of San Antonio, Texas, Mendez-Valdez grew up in one of the poorest neighborhoods in the state. Despite a disadvantaged upbringing, he became the first in his immediate family to graduate college, playing for Western Kentucky University from 2005-09. In 2008, he led his team to a Sweet Sixteen appearance alongside teammates Courtney Lee, Tyrone Brazelton, Ty Rogers and Boris Siakam. In 2009, he was named Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, and the Sun Belt Conference Male Athlete of the Year.
Mendez-Valdez, 30, is a perennial Mexican league All-Star with extensive experience, having spent his entire professional career in Mexico. During the 2015-16 season, Mendez-Valdez helped guide Pioneros de Quintana Roo to a Mexican league championship. He was named to the LNBP All-Star team after posting averages of 12.9 points while shooting 45.0 percent (122-for-271) from downtown, to go along with 2.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 24.6 minutes over 47 games played.
“When the opportunity arose to bring someone with as much prolific experience as Orlando, we knew this was a move we had to make,” said Maccabi Hunter Haifa team owner Jeff Rosen.
“Orlando is extremely versatile, who brings veteran leadership to our backcourt,” said Maccabi Hunter Haifa head coach Offer Rahimi.
Prior to Quintana Roo, Mendez-Valdez spent five seasons with Halcones UV Halapa, including winning a Mexican league title in his rookie season in 2010-11. In 187 career games played with Halcones, he tallied 13.5 points while shooting 42.0 percent from beyond the arc, 2.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 26.2 minutes per game.
The 6-foot-0 shooting guard has a decorated international resume, helping guide the Mexican national team to multiple medals. Having participated 11 FIBA competitions as a member of the Mexican national team since 2009, Mendez-Valdez’s crowning moment came in Caracas, Venezuela when Mexico entered the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship as a replacement for Panama. Over 10 games, Mendez-Valdez averaged 12.3 points (50% from 3-PT) and 2.2 assists to lift Mexico over Puerto Rico to capture gold.
A native of San Antonio, Texas, Mendez-Valdez grew up in one of the poorest neighborhoods in the state. Despite a disadvantaged upbringing, he became the first in his immediate family to graduate college, playing for Western Kentucky University from 2005-09. In 2008, he led his team to a Sweet Sixteen appearance alongside teammates Courtney Lee, Tyrone Brazelton, Ty Rogers and Boris Siakam. In 2009, he was named Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, and the Sun Belt Conference Male Athlete of the Year.
O. Cauchi
@paxer89
You must be registered to post a comment