Garly Sojo

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Sojo and the second or maternal family name is Tilvez.

Garly Sojo
Personal information
Born(1999-09-23)23 September 1999
Caracas, Venezuela
Died22 December 2023(2023-12-22) (aged 24)
Caracas, Venezuela
Listed height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight216 lb (98 kg)
Career information
NBA draft2021: undrafted
Playing career2019–2023
PositionPoint guard
Number6, 9, 26
Career history
2019–2020Cocodrilos de Caracas
2020–2021Broncos de Caracas
2021Mexico City Capitanes
2022Quimsa
2022Broncos de Caracas
2022Mexico City Capitanes
2023Defensor Sporting
2023Broncos de Caracas
2023Gladiadores de Anzoátegui
Career highlights and awards

Garly Enrique Sojo Tilvez (23 September 1999 – 22 December 2023) was a Venezuelan professional basketball player. Standing at 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m), he played the point guard position. He was a promising player in Venezuelan basketball, as he won the LPB Most Valuable Player award in 2022. Sojo played for the Venezuela national team, among others at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Personal life

Garly Enrique Sojo Tilvez was born in Caracas on 23 September 1999. He grew up in the Caricuao district of Caracas.[1]

Sojo died at his home in Caracas on 22 December 2023, at the age of 24,[2] from complications following an epileptic seizure.[3]

Professional career

Sojo played for Cocodrilos de Caracas of the Liga Profesional de Baloncesto (LPB) in 2019 under the command of coach Nelson “Kako” Solórzano.[4][1] There, he participated in the LPB Cup and in addition, he played for the club's team in the Liga Especial de Desarrollo (Special Development League) (LED 1). In 13 games for the club's U21 team, he posted numbers of 17.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 block per game, finishing as 2019 LPB Cup's "Rookie of the year".[4] The coaching staff was led by the Argentine Fernando Duró.[1]

On 3 February 2020, at Cocodrilos Sports Park, Sojo stated that he would be absent for a few weeks to carry out procedures in Colombia due to a latent opportunity in the United States at the end of June.[4]

On 11 November 2021, Sojo signed with the Mexico City Capitanes of the NBA G League.[5][better source needed]

On 1 March 2022, Sojo signed with Argentine club Quimsa.[6]

Playing for the Broncos de Caracas, Sojo won the SPB Most Valuable Player award in the 2022 season.[7] In December 2023, Sojo played for the Gladiadores de Anzoátegui in the Basketball Champions League Americas.[8]

National team

Sojo played for Venezuela's U21 National Team at the FIBA South America Under-21 Championship in Tunja, Colombia, in August 2019. In five games he averaged 17.6 points, 2.6 steals and 2.4 assists.[4]

Sojo was also part of his country's 3 × 3 team that participated in the 2019 World Beach Games in Doha, Qatar.[1] Sojo played for the Venezuelan national basketball team at the 2020 FIBA Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments – Kaunas. He represented his country at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, where he averaged 12.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game while shooting 44.9% from the field in five games.[9]

Player profile

Sojo played both the guard and forward positions.[1]

In early 2020, Sojo stated that his strengths were defense, steals and rebounds.[1] He further mentioned that he needed to improve his strength as well as his long-distance shot.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Garly Sojo: la nueva cara del baloncesto es de Caricuao El Nacional, 23 January 2020. Accessed 18 October 2021.(in Spanish)
  2. ^ "Venezuela's young star Garly Sojo passes away". FIBA. 22 December 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  3. ^ Murió Garly Sojo a los 24 años, jugador de la selección venezolana de baloncesto (in Spanish)
  4. ^ a b c d e Garly Sojo: «El grupo está con hambre de lograr el título» Líder en deportes, 29 February 2020. Accessed 19 October 2021.(in Spanish)
  5. ^ CAPITANES [@CapitanesCDMX] (11 November 2021). "¡Muy felices de anunciar la incorporación de dos jóvenes llenos de talento! Playing card joker • MOISÉS ANDRIASSI Earth globe americas • México Basketball• SG Playing card joker • GARLY SOJO Earth globe americas • Venezuela Basketball• SF ¡Bienvenidos a Capitanes, Moisés y Garly!" (Tweet). Retrieved 11 November 2021 – via Twitter.
  6. ^ "Garly Sojo jugará en Quimsa, en la LNB de Argentina". AS.com (in Spanish). 1 March 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  7. ^ Mejias, Luis (29 October 2022). "Garly Sojo MVP de la Superliga". Full Vinotinto (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  8. ^ "Gladiadores de Anzoátegui at the Basketball Champions League Americas 2024". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  9. ^ "Garly SOJO at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 26 December 2023.