In this article we analyze the ACB debutants from Primera FEB competitions led by two American shooting guards
Paul Jorgensen and Alex Barcello have been two of the most prominent scoring shooting guards of the last decade of what was previously called LEB Oro, now Primera FEB, and have been facing off for several years. Last season saw their most direct and notable clash as the offensive leaders of Monbus Obradoiro and Leyma Coruña, who lived a fierce battle between countrymen that ended with victory for both clubs, as they were the two teams that achieved promotion.
Thanks to that triumph, the two American guards have achieved their goal of debuting in the Liga Endesa and will continue to face direct confrontations in the fight for survival in the best local league in Europe. Both have had a good performance in the first two matchdays and everything suggests they will fight for the title of most outstanding player among the debutants who came directly from Primera FEB.
Paul Jorgensen scored 13 points against Barcelona and 9 against Surne Bilbao, posting a spectacular 5-of-8 from three-point range. Alex Barcello distributed 4 assists and added 6 points against MoraBanc Andorra, then shone against Real Madrid with 13 points in 16 minutes.
The performance of players in ACB rosters debuting in the league after playing last season in Primera FEB has been as follows:
1- Alex Barcello (Monbus Obradoiro) - 9.5 points, 2 assists and 7 rating in 18:28
2- Paul Jorgensen (Leyma Coruña) - 11 points, 62.5% from three-point range and 6 rating in 18:44
3- Raúl Lobaco (Recoletas Salud San Pablo Burgos) – 3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 5.5 rating in 17:19
4- Diogo Brito (Monbus Obradoiro) – 2 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 rating in 15:22
5- Josep Peris (Río Breogán) – 2.5 points and -1.5 rating in 8:42
6- Manex Ansorregui (Surne Bilbao) – 1 game with -1 rating in 3:21
7- Dan Duscak (Surne Bilbao) - called up both matchdays but has not debuted
8- Alonso Faure (Monbus Obradoiro) – called up both matchdays but has not debuted
9- Isaac Vázquez (Fiatc Girona) – not yet called up for any game
We clarify that we do not include academy players and that we have included Lobaco, since his debut was only 19 seconds with Tecnyconta Zaragoza in the 17/18 season.
Caio Pacheco would be the best, but he is not a debutant
The player with the greatest impact among those recently arrived from Primera FEB is undoubtedly the point guard for Leyma Coruña. The Portuguese-Brazilian has averaged an impressive 12 points, 3 assists and 15 rating, and was key in the first victory against Surne Bilbao by taking control of the Coruña offense after Alonzo Verge's elimination in overtime.
But Pacheco already debuted with UCAM Murcia in the 20/21 season. The Brazil international played three games with an average of 14:42 minutes, so he no longer falls into the purely debutant category.
Two other players in a similar situation are Alex Galán and Didac Cuevas. The interior for Monbus Obradoiro and former Leyma Coruña player also played 6 games with Surne Bilbao in 21/22. He is having a good impact on defense and intangibles, but his statistical performance has not been outstanding. The electric point guard for Carles Marco's team has had great statistics with 7 points, 5 assists and 10.5 rating, but he is less of a debutant having already played 14 games with Casademont Zaragoza in 23/24.
Paul Jorgensen, from NCAA debutant to LEB Oro star
The New York native arrived in Spain to debut with Chocolates Trapa Palencia in the 19/20 season after finishing his college career at Butler. In the season interrupted by the pandemic, he averaged just 7.8 points. It was the only time he has fallen below double figures in Spain's second basketball division.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/CvRooPLSXzk
In 21/22 he played 19 games with Alimerka Oviedo after spending time in the Portuguese league and averaged 13.20. In 22/23 he was one of the key players for Movistar Estudiantes with 12.25, before going on to score heavily in the Italian A2 (18.25). In 24/25 he returns to Madrid to lead Fuenlabrada with 13.18 and comes close to achieving promotion. His team is the most notable after San Pablo Burgos' historic season, but loses in the final against the surprising Betis despite Jorgensen scoring 26 points in a spectacular duel against Vitor Benite.
Leyma Coruña signs a sure bet by acquiring the Italian-American for the 25/26 season and Jorgensen responded with 12.42 points and all his character and leadership. And his role in the historic comeback against Movistar Estudiantes remains etched in memory.
Alex Barcello, a natural playmaker who has improved other aspects to reach the ACB
The Phoenix native arrived at LEB Oro after debuting in professional basketball in the Belgian and Greek leagues, as well as in the BCL. His impact with Gipuzkoa in the 23/24 season was at the highest level, finishing as the leading scorer with 19.6, to which 3.1 assists had to be added. That performance earned him a good contract in Germany where he averaged 11.2 points and 3.1 assists with MLP Academics Heidelberg.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLlx0JUgafc
Monbus Obradoiro, at a moment of investing heavily in signings to attempt promotion in the 24/25 season, brings him back to Primera FEB and Barcello does not disappoint. The talented American averages 14.5 points and 2.8 assists. But he falls short of promotion after losing in the playoffs against Palencia and both club and player realize that is not the way forward.
The 25/26 project is led by Epi, the best coach for achieving promotion to the Liga Endesa. Barcello's minutes and individual offensive prominence give way to team play. The former Brigham Young player continues to lead the Obradoiro offense, but sees his minutes decrease slightly, scoring a bit less (13.1) while his assists increase (2.9). Most notably, there is an improvement on defense, with his numbers rising in steals and rebounds, as well as contributing to the team defensively. Direct promotion is achieved brilliantly, surpassing Paul Jorgensen's Leyma Coruña in the regular season.
Physicality, similarities and a mirror to look into
The main reason Jorgensen and Barcello had not yet debuted in the ACB is physical, as both have plenty of talent. The two have the same official height at 1.88m and, although they can play some minutes at point guard, they are quite pure shooting guards, which leaves them at a size below the average for their position on the court.
They coincide in their one-on-one talent, their ability to create their own shots and are both long-range and mid-range sharpshooters. Barcello is also a great passer, something that is not among Jorgensen's characteristics, who has better legs and more ability to score after contact.
The mirror, or one of them, they should look into could be Justin Jaworski, a player of similar physical characteristics and traits, who has started this season as one of the stars of Casademont Zaragoza and is the seventh leading scorer in the ACB with 18.5 average after two matchdays. The Pennsylvania player made his professional debut in LEB Oro with Gipuzkoa in the season before Barcello with 19.3 points. After shining in Germany and Italy, he signed with Surne Bilbao, where he reached 12.5 in his Liga Endesa debut and has already earned his status as a star.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIXl4uiL6fg
Paul Jorgensen and Alex Barcello are one hundred percent aligned in the objectives of their current clubs. Just as last season everything was focused on reaching the ACB, this season survival is the number one objective for both Monbus Obradoiro and Leyma Coruña as well as for the players. And it would be great news for Galician basketball if everyone achieved those objectives while maintaining those partnerships.