Wilfredo Ruiz

Wilfredo "Fefo" Ruiz
Ruiz (#14 in white with the ball), playing with the Argentine League club Estudiantes BB.
Personal information
Born(1962-06-01)June 1, 1962
Montevideo, Uruguay
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
Playing career1976–2002
PositionShooting guard / Small forward
Career history
1976–1979Atlético Welcome
1980–1982Atlético Aguada
1982Atlético Peñarol
1982Club Atlético Bohemios
1983–1985Club Neptuno
1985–1987Estudiantes de Bahía Blanca
1987Nacional
1987–1989Olimpo de Bahía Blanca
1989Monte Líbano
1989Mérida
1990Atlético Welcome
1990Club Neptuno
1991Atlético Peñarol
1992–1997Atlético Welcome
1997Nacional
1998Club Neptuno
2001Club Ferro Carril de Salto
2002Club Universitario de Salto
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's Basketball
Representing  Uruguay
FIBA AmeriCup
Silver medal – second place 1984 Brazil
FIBA South American Championship
Gold medal – first place 1981 Uruguay
Bronze medal – third place 1983 Brazil
Silver medal – second place 1985 Colombia

Wilfredo Eduardo "Fefo" Ruiz Bruno (born June 1, 1962) is a retired Uruguayan professional basketball player.[1] At a height of 1.93 m (6'4") tall, and a weight of 84 kg (185 lbs.), he played at the shooting guard and small forward positions. He holds the all-time career record for the most total points scored in the Uruguayan Federal Championship (CFB). He also holds the all-time career record for the highest points per game scoring average in the history of the Argentine National League (LNB).

Professional career

During his club basketball career, Ruiz played in Uruguay, Argentina, and Brazil. In 1979, when he played with Atlético Welcome, Ruiz had a 70 point game in the Uruguayan Second Division. On 12 November 1983, while playing with Club Neptuno, he set the Uruguayan Federal Championship (Uruguayan First Division)'s all-time single game scoring record, when he scored 84 points in a league game against Colón.[2][3]

In that same Uruguayan Federal Championship 1983 season, he also had a 70 point game against Bohemios, on 7 November 1983, and a 72 point game against Hebraica Macabi. His scoring average during the Uruguayan Federal Championship 1984 season was 50.8 points per game. He finished his career in Uruguay as the Uruguayan Federal Championship (CFB)'s all-time leader in career points scored, having scored a total of 18,512 points in the league.[4]

As a member of Estudiantes de Bahía Blanca, of the top-tier level Argentine National League (LNB), he was the league's best scorer, during its first three years of existence (1985–1987). He averaged 32.9 points per in the Argentine LNB League's 1985 season, 31.5 points per game in the Argentine LNB League's 1986 season, and 30.4 points per game in the Argentine LNB League's 1987 season. The most points he ever scored in a single game, in the top-tier level Argentine League, was 60 points, in a game during the 1985 season.[5] He is the all-time leader in scoring average, in the history of the Argentine National League, with a career scoring average of 28.8 points per game.[6]

National team career

In the FIBA World Cup of 1982, while playing with the senior men's Uruguayan national team, Ruiz averaged 23.4 points per game. At the FIBA Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, in 1984, Ruiz was one of the leaders of the Uruguayan national team, along with Carlos Peinado and Horacio “Tato” López. The team finished the tournament in sixth place, and Ruiz averaged 19.5 points per game during the tournament.

References

  1. ^ Fefo Ruiz: "Lo mejor en aquel momento fue el grupo humano que teníamos" (in Spanish).
  2. ^ Las 40 de "Fefo" Ruiz: "Tato López fue el mejor basquetbolista de América Latina" (in Spanish).
  3. ^ Un año más de los 84 puntos del “Fefo” Ruiz (in Spanish).
  4. ^ Emotivo homenaje a Wilfredo “Fefo” Ruiz en Welcome (in Spanish).
  5. ^ Fefo Ruiz: "En Argentina nunca entendieron que lo mejor era dejarme solo".
  6. ^ Una vuelta por el pasado: A 35 años de los 84 del “Fefo”.