The shooting guard, born in Cuba’s central Sancti Spiritus province, led his team’s 73-71 victory over the defending champion Quimsa, which meant a place in Thursday’s semifinals against La Union.

Mencia received a rating of 25 credits at the end of the game, after scoring 15 points, distributed in four two-point baskets and seven free throws, as well as five assists and an equal number of rebounds.

On Wednesday, two other Cuban basketball players hired by national federations abroad played minutes in European competitions, according to the sports daily Jit. Forward Jasiel Rivero was again in the starting five of the Spanish team Valencia Basket and scored 11 points, but he could not prevent the team’s first defeat in the Eurocup by 70-71 against the Montenegrin Buducnost Voli Podgorica.

Another Cuban player, Karel Guzman, scored eight points with his team U Banca Transilvania Cluj Napoca’s 90-79 against Craiova in the Romanian National League.

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