Filiberto Rivera
Encyclopedia
Filiberto Rivera (born September 28, 1982) is a Puerto Rican
professional basketball
player. Rivera has played in the NCAA, NJCAA and the National Superior Basketball League (BSN) with Coamo Marathon Runners
and Carolina Giants. He is currently under contract with Bnei HaSharon
of the Israeli Premier League. Rivera has played internationally in Germany and Italy. He has been a member of the Puerto Rican National Team since 2006.
since 1999. Rivera won Rookie of the Year in 2000 for National Superior Basketball League of Puerto Rico
.
Rivera had a notable college career where he was named First Team NJCAA All-American, Junior College Player of the Year (2002–03), and First Team All-WAC his junior and senior seasons. Ranks third on University of Texas El Paso all-time lists in career assists (381)and free throw percentage (.815). Finished collegiate career at Texas-El Paso after playing first two seasons at Southeastern Community College
in West Burlington, Iowa.
During his senior year (2004–05); Rivera averaged 13.5 points while leading the WAC and ranking seventh nationally in assists (7.2 apg). Also paced the conference in free throw shooting (.853) and ranked sixth in steals (1.3 spg). Season total of 229 assists set a school record. Dished out 10 or more assists five times and posted two double-doubles. Recorded a school single-game record 18 assists versus zero turnovers vs. Louisiana Tech. Tallied 23 points and six assists at Nevada
. Posted 19 points and 12 assists vs. Fresno State. Scored 21 points and grabbed a career-high seven steals at San Jose State. Registered a career-high 32 points vs. Boise State in the WAC Tournament
title game. Earned WAC Tournament MVP honors.
During his junior year (2003–04); Rivera averaged 11.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists (third in the WAC) and 1.7 steals (fourth). Scored in double figures in 21 games. Recorded season-high 22 points at San Jose State. Tallied 14 points and eight assists vs. Rutgers. Named to the WAC All-Tournament team after averaging 9.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists in three games. Registered 14 points, six assists, and a career-high nine rebounds vs. Nevada in the WAC Tournament title game. Scored 12 points and grabbed six assists vs. Maryland
in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
During his sophomore year (2002–03); At Southeastern CC, Rivera averaged 16.2 points and 6.7 assists. Helped lead Southeastern to a 37-1 record and a NJCAA Tournament championship. Averaged 17.4 points during the NJCAA Tournament on his way to MVP honors. Led team with 18 points in the title game vs. San Jacinto
(Tex.). Set season-high with 37 points vs. Iowa Western. Named a First Team NJCAA All-American and Junior College Player of the Year.
During his freshman year (2001–02); Rivera averaged 11.9 points and a team-high 5.1 assists. Ranked third on the team in scoring and led the squad in average steals. Helped team to a 25-10 overall record.
and Cleveland Cavaliers
.
During the summer of 2006, Rivera represented Puerto Rico in the Basketball World Championship 2006 and 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games
where Puerto Rico won the Gold Medal.
During the 2006-2007 season, Rivera played with Artland Dragons
of the German Bundesliga. The Dragons were regarded as a "Cinderella team" entering the playoffs, winning the first round against Alba Berlin. Rivera led the team in the league's semifinal, scoring sixteen points, five rebounds and three assists in a victory over the Koeln the fifth and last game of the series. Rivera had an average of 15.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.0 prior to the finals.
During Summer of 2007, he was invited to participate with the Chicago Bulls
during the Pepsi Pro Summer League, but did not play due to injury.
He started the 2007/08 season in Italy with Eldo Basket Napoli left on December 12, and joined AEK Athens BC
Has a child that he does not take care of but the child is well taken care of.
On 2006 Rivera participated in the BSN, where he led the team to the league's championship. On January 29, 2008, the Carolina Giants announced that they began negotiations with Rivera. On January 31, 2008 the team officially announced Rivera's signing.
Prior to 2010-2011 season Rivera has signed with Israeli club Bnei HaSharon
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. Rivera has played in the NCAA, NJCAA and the National Superior Basketball League (BSN) with Coamo Marathon Runners
Coamo Marathon Runners
The Maratonistas de Coamo are a BSN basketball team based in Coamo, Puerto Rico. Their home court is the Edwin "Puruco" Nolasco Coliseum.Formerly the Cardenales de Río Piedras, the Maratonistas were relocated in 1985.-1940s-1985: Cardenales de Río Piedras:...
and Carolina Giants. He is currently under contract with Bnei HaSharon
Bnei HaSharon
Bnei HaSharon/Herzliya is a professional basketball club based in Herzliya, in central Israel. The club currently plays in Ligat HaAl, the top division of Israeli basketball.The club was created by the merge of Maccabi Ra'anana and Bnei Herzliya in 2002...
of the Israeli Premier League. Rivera has played internationally in Germany and Italy. He has been a member of the Puerto Rican National Team since 2006.
Amateur career
Rivera has played in the National Superior Basketball League of Puerto RicoNational Superior Basketball League of Puerto Rico
The Baloncesto Superior Nacional or BSN is the main Puerto Rican men's basketball league. It currently has 10 teams, but has had many teams in several cities of the island. The league was established in 1929. It has produced players that have distinguished themselves in the NBA, European Leagues,...
since 1999. Rivera won Rookie of the Year in 2000 for National Superior Basketball League of Puerto Rico
National Superior Basketball League of Puerto Rico
The Baloncesto Superior Nacional or BSN is the main Puerto Rican men's basketball league. It currently has 10 teams, but has had many teams in several cities of the island. The league was established in 1929. It has produced players that have distinguished themselves in the NBA, European Leagues,...
.
Rivera had a notable college career where he was named First Team NJCAA All-American, Junior College Player of the Year (2002–03), and First Team All-WAC his junior and senior seasons. Ranks third on University of Texas El Paso all-time lists in career assists (381)and free throw percentage (.815). Finished collegiate career at Texas-El Paso after playing first two seasons at Southeastern Community College
Southeastern Community College
Southeastern Community College is a community college located outside of Whiteville, North Carolina.- External links :*...
in West Burlington, Iowa.
During his senior year (2004–05); Rivera averaged 13.5 points while leading the WAC and ranking seventh nationally in assists (7.2 apg). Also paced the conference in free throw shooting (.853) and ranked sixth in steals (1.3 spg). Season total of 229 assists set a school record. Dished out 10 or more assists five times and posted two double-doubles. Recorded a school single-game record 18 assists versus zero turnovers vs. Louisiana Tech. Tallied 23 points and six assists at Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. Posted 19 points and 12 assists vs. Fresno State. Scored 21 points and grabbed a career-high seven steals at San Jose State. Registered a career-high 32 points vs. Boise State in the WAC Tournament
WAC Men's Basketball Tournament
The Western Athletic Conference has held a postseason tournament to crown a men's basketball champion every year since 1984. The event has alternated between being hosted at campus sites and neutral sites throughout its history...
title game. Earned WAC Tournament MVP honors.
During his junior year (2003–04); Rivera averaged 11.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists (third in the WAC) and 1.7 steals (fourth). Scored in double figures in 21 games. Recorded season-high 22 points at San Jose State. Tallied 14 points and eight assists vs. Rutgers. Named to the WAC All-Tournament team after averaging 9.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists in three games. Registered 14 points, six assists, and a career-high nine rebounds vs. Nevada in the WAC Tournament title game. Scored 12 points and grabbed six assists vs. Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
During his sophomore year (2002–03); At Southeastern CC, Rivera averaged 16.2 points and 6.7 assists. Helped lead Southeastern to a 37-1 record and a NJCAA Tournament championship. Averaged 17.4 points during the NJCAA Tournament on his way to MVP honors. Led team with 18 points in the title game vs. San Jacinto
San Jacinto College
San Jacinto College is a community college in the Greater Houston area in the U.S. state of Texas. Established in 1961, San Jacinto College originally consisted of the areas of Channelview ISD, Deer Park ISD, Galena Park ISD, La Porte ISD, and Pasadena ISD. The College now also serves Sheldon ISD,...
(Tex.). Set season-high with 37 points vs. Iowa Western. Named a First Team NJCAA All-American and Junior College Player of the Year.
During his freshman year (2001–02); Rivera averaged 11.9 points and a team-high 5.1 assists. Ranked third on the team in scoring and led the squad in average steals. Helped team to a 25-10 overall record.
NBA and Europe
During the summer of 2005, Filiberto participated in the Summer Pro League with the Dallas MavericksDallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011...
and Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
.
During the summer of 2006, Rivera represented Puerto Rico in the Basketball World Championship 2006 and 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games
2006 Central American and Caribbean Games
The 20th edition of the Central American and Caribbean Games was held in the city of Cartagena, Colombia. The tournament began on July 15 and ended on July 30.-Host City:*Main**Cartagena de Indias*Other host cities...
where Puerto Rico won the Gold Medal.
During the 2006-2007 season, Rivera played with Artland Dragons
Artland Dragons
Artland Dragons is a basketball club based in Quakenbrück, Germany that plays in the Basketball Bundesliga. Their home arena is Artland Arena, which has room for 3000 spectators.-History:...
of the German Bundesliga. The Dragons were regarded as a "Cinderella team" entering the playoffs, winning the first round against Alba Berlin. Rivera led the team in the league's semifinal, scoring sixteen points, five rebounds and three assists in a victory over the Koeln the fifth and last game of the series. Rivera had an average of 15.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.0 prior to the finals.
During Summer of 2007, he was invited to participate with the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
during the Pepsi Pro Summer League, but did not play due to injury.
He started the 2007/08 season in Italy with Eldo Basket Napoli left on December 12, and joined AEK Athens BC
AEK Athens BC
AEK BC , the Athletic Union of Constantinople, is a Greek professional sports basketball club based in Athens, Greece. The club was established in Athens in 1924 by Greek refugees from Constantinople in the wake of the Greco-Turkish War ....
Has a child that he does not take care of but the child is well taken care of.
On 2006 Rivera participated in the BSN, where he led the team to the league's championship. On January 29, 2008, the Carolina Giants announced that they began negotiations with Rivera. On January 31, 2008 the team officially announced Rivera's signing.
Prior to 2010-2011 season Rivera has signed with Israeli club Bnei HaSharon
Bnei HaSharon
Bnei HaSharon/Herzliya is a professional basketball club based in Herzliya, in central Israel. The club currently plays in Ligat HaAl, the top division of Israeli basketball.The club was created by the merge of Maccabi Ra'anana and Bnei Herzliya in 2002...