Benoit Mbala selected the top Cameroonian playing abroad in last week's games

Here is the weekly review of the top performing Cameroonian players, who play currently abroad.

Benoit Mbala

   #1. This week's number one is an international forward Benoit Mbala (200-95, currently plays in France). Mbala could not help Limoges CSP Elite (8-7) in their last game on Friday. Despite his very good performance Limoges CSP Elite was edged 80-77 on the road by the much lower-ranked Chalons-Reims (#13). Mbala was the second best scorer with 15 points. He also added 7 rebounds. This season Mbala averages: 4.2ppg, 2.7rpg, 2FGP: 53.7%, 3FGP: 25.0% and FT: 47.2%. He is currently a member of the Cameroonian senior national team.

D.J. Strawberry

   #2. Second place goes to an experienced former international shooting guard D.J. Strawberry (196-85, college: Maryland, currently plays in France). Strawberry was not able to help Entente Orleans 45 in their last game. Despite his very good performance Entente Orleans 45 was badly defeated 90-71 in Dijon by the leading JDA Dijon. Strawberry was the second best scorer with 20 points in 31 minutes. Strawberry has relatively good stats this year: 13.0ppg, 2.2rpg, 3.4apg, 1.4spg, 2FGP: 46.8%, 3FGP: 39.4% and FT: 73.3% in 18 games he played so far. He has a dual citizenship: Cameroonian and American. Strawberry played for the Cameroonian national team in 2018.

Williams Narace

   #3. The Cameroonian player who performed third best last week abroad was an international forward Williams Narace (201-97, currently plays in France). He led Sluc Nancy to a victory over the league outsider Poitiers (2-19) 86-67 in the French ProB (second division) on Saturday night. Narace was MVP of the game. He scored 18 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. Sluc Nancy Basket Pro (15-6) is placed third in the ProB. It's Narace's fourth season with the team. This year Narace has relatively solid stats: 10.8ppg, 6.8rpg, 1.7apg, 1.5spg, 2FGP: 53.6%, 3FGP: 28.6% and FT: 56.0%. He is also a member of the Cameroonian senior national team.

Junior MBida

   #4. Center Junior MBida (206-90, currently plays in France) was not able to secure a victory for Provence Basket (9-12) in their last game. Despite MBida's very good performance Provence Basket was crushed 105-84 in Bischwiller by the lower-ranked (#13) Gries/Oberhoffen. He was the top scorer with 19 points. MBida also added 2 blocks in 30 minutes. They ended the series of three consecutive victories. MBida has reliable stats this year: 11.1ppg and 4.6rpg in 21 games. He used to play for the Cameroonian national team back in 2015.

Japhet Kadji

   #5. International forward Japhet Kadji (201-95, college: NC A&T, currently plays in Spain) couldn't help Boet (4-15) in their game against Vic (19-1) in the Spanish EBA (fourth division). Kadji recorded 7 points. The 13th-placed Boet (4-15) was crushed 83-52 on the opponent's court by the leading Vic in the Group C-A. It was Boet's seventh consecutive loss in a row. Kadji's stats this season are: 14.3ppg, 8.3rpg and 2.3apg. He plays currently for the Cameroonian national team.

Gaston Essengue

   #6. Center Gaston Essengue (203-83, college: UNLV, currently plays in Argentina) was the main contributor in an Obera TC's victory against the sixth-ranked Olimpico (11-17) 80-73 in the Argentinian La Liga Argentina (second division) in Sunday night's game. Essengue was the best player in that game. He scored 24 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. Obera Tennis Club (20-9) is placed first in Conferencia Noreste. Essengue averaged so far 14.3ppg, 6.6rpg and 1.5apg. He is a former international player as he played for the Cameroonian senior team five years ago.

Alexis Wangmene

   #7. Former international center Alexis Wangmene (205-89, agency: Promotex, college: Texas, currently plays in Belgium) managed to help Hubo Limburg United in a victory against the closely-ranked Leuven Bears (8-9) 84-74 in the Belgian Euromillions League last Saturday. Wangmene recorded 5 points and blocked 2 blocks in 11 minutes. Hubo Limburg United (10-7) is placed fourth in the Euromillions League. This year Wangmene's overall stats are: 1.8ppg and 1.8rpg in four games. He used to play for the Cameroonian national team five years ago.

Harding NaNa

   #8. Forward Harding NaNa (203-81, college: Delaware, currently plays in Switzerland) couldn't help Swiss Central in their last game on Saturday. Despite NaNa's very good performance Swiss Central was defeated 106-92 at home by the lower-ranked Boncourt (#6). He recorded a double-double by scoring 21 points and getting 10 rebounds. NaNa has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 17.9ppg, 7.1rpg and 2.9apg. NaNa used to play for the Cameroonian national team back in 2015.

Gedeon Pitard

   #9. International point guard Gedeon Pitard (186-89, currently plays in France) contributed to a Olympique Antibes' victory against the eighth-ranked Souffelweyersheim (11-10) 68-61 in the French ProB (second division) last Friday. He scored only 2 points and added 4 assists. Sharks Antibes (13-7) is placed fourth in the ProB. It was his team's sixth consecutive victory in a row. Pitard's total stats this season are: 5.5ppg, 2.1rpg, 2.6apg and 1.3spg. He is also in the roster of the Cameroonian national team.

Samir Gbetkom Bikantchou

   #10. Guard Samir Gbetkom Bikantchou (190-98, currently plays in France) faced previously mentioned Junior MBida in the French ProB last game. Gbetkom Bikantchou helped Gries/Oberhoffen win their game against the closely-ranked Provence Basket (9-12) crushing them 105-84. He scored 11 points and added 4 assists in a mere 15 minutes. This year Gbetkom Bikantchou's total stats are: 7.0ppg, 2.6rpg and 1.6apg in 21 games. He is an international player who is currently on the senior Cameroonian National Team roster.

   #11. Former international forward Michel Ipouck (200-86, currently plays in France) couldn't help SOPCC in their game against C'Chartres in the French NM1 (third division). Ipouck scored 6 points and added 3 passes. His team was defeated 97-92. Ipouck has averaged so far 4.8ppg, 4.2rpg, 1.8apg and 1.2spg. Despite he played previously for the French U20 national team, Ipouck is currently in the Cameroonian national team roster.

   #12. International power forward Franck Yangue (205-90, agency: Inception Sports, currently plays in France) couldn't help Caen in their game against Lourdes-Tarbes in the French NM1 (third division). He scored 6 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 15 minutes. His team was badly defeated by 20 points 81-61. Yangue has averaged so far 3.5ppg, 4.0rpg and 1.1bpg in eight games. He is also in the roster of the Cameroonian national team.

   #13. Former international point guard Aldo Curti (180-87, currently plays in France) couldn't help Tours in their game against La Rochelle in the French NM1 (third division). Curti cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones. He scored only 3 points in 16 minutes. His team lost 74-88. Curti has averaged so far 6.2ppg, 1.7rpg and 3.2apg in 20 games. He used to play for the Cameroonian national team five years ago.

   #14. Former international forward Arsene Towa (191-81, currently plays in Finland) couldn't help HNMKY (10-5) in their last game on Wednesday. Despite Towa's good performance HNMKY (#3) was crushed 111-68 in a derby game by the lower-ranked ToPo Juniorit (#4) in the Division A. He recorded a double-double by scoring 13 points and getting 10 rebounds. Towa also added 3 assists and 5 steals. This season Towa has very high stats. He averages: 15.1ppg, 9.0rpg, 2.1apg and 2.3spg. Towa used to play for the Cameroonian national team back in 2011.


The list of other players, who all have Cameroonian passport but never been selected to any of Cameroonian national teams:

   #1. Joel Embiid (213-C-94, college: Kansas, currently plays in NBA) led Philadelphia 76ers to a victory over the Atlanta Hawks (19-44) 129-112 in the NBA in Monday night's game. He was MVP of the game. Embiid had a double-double by scoring 49 points and getting 14 rebounds. He also added 3 assists and 3 steals in 36 minutes. The Philadelphia 76ers have a solid 37-24 record this season. It's Embiid's sixth year with the team. Embiid has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 23.3ppg, 11.8rpg, 3.1apg and 1.4bpg in 43 games he played so far.

   #2. Pascal Siakam (206-F-94, college: N.Mexico St., currently plays in NBA) could not help the Toronto Raptors (42-18) in their last game on Friday. Despite Siakam's very good performance the Toronto Raptors (42-18) were edged 99-96 on the road by the Charlotte Hornets. He was the top scorer with 24 points. Siakam also added 9 rebounds and dished 4 assists. It's Siakam's fourth season with the team. This year he has very high stats. Siakam averages: 23.5ppg, 7.5rpg and 3.5apg.

   #3. JP Tokoto (198-F-93, college: UNC, currently plays in Israel) was the main contributor in an Ironi Nes-Ziona's victory against one of league's weakest teams Hapoel Tel-Aviv (7-13) 95-90 in the Israeli Winner League on Sunday night. He was MVP of the game. Tokoto had a double-double by scoring 22 points and getting 12 rebounds. He also added 6 assists in 36 minutes. Ironi Hai Motors Nes-Ziona (9-11) is placed sixth in the Winner League. It was his team's first victory after four consecutive loses. There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical. Tokoto has very impressive stats this year: 19.0ppg, 9.7rpg, 4.3apg and 2.7spg in three games. He has a dual citizenship: Cameroonian and American.

   #4. Paul Biligha (200-C/F-90, agency: Players Group, currently plays in Euroleague) was not able to help Armani Milano in their game against Zalgiris (11-15) in the Euroleague. Biligha cannot count Friday's game as one of the best ones. He scored only 2 points in 12 minutes. Armani Milano lost 97-105 in Kaunas to the higher-ranked (#10) Zalgiris. It was Armani Milano's fourth consecutive loss in a row. It's Biligha's first season with the team. This year Biligha's overall stats are: 2.9ppg and 2.3rpg in 13 games. He is another player who holds two passports: Cameroonian and Italian.

   #5. Experienced Christian Koloko (213-C-0, currently plays college basketball in the States) was not able to secure a victory for the Arizona (9-7) in their game against the University of California at Los Angeles (12-5) in the NCAA. He scored 8 points and blocked 2 shots in 18 minutes. The Arizona lost 64-69 at home to the University of California at. There are only two games left until the end of the NCAA Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial. It's Koloko's first season with the team. This year Koloko's total stats are: 1.9ppg and 2.3rpg in 25 games.

   #6. Ralph Temgoua (194-G-87, college: St.Lawrence, currently plays in France) couldn't help SO Maritime Boulogne in their game against Vitre in the French NM1 (third division). Temgoua cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones. He scored only 2 points in 23 minutes. His team lost 64-75. Temgoua's stats this year are: 12.4ppg, 2.5rpg, 2.8apg and 1.1spg in 25 games. He has both Cameroonian and French nationalities.

   #7. Johan Bitjaa Kody (207-C-93, agency: Interperformances, currently plays in Spain) couldn't help UBU Tizona in their game against Real Murcia in the Spanish LEB Silver (third division). Bitjaa Kody recorded 9 points. His team was defeated 86-73. Bitjaa Kody averaged so far 10.3ppg, 6.3rpg and 1.1apg.

   #8. Stephane Ayangma (198-F, currently studies in the States) couldn't help the CCSU in their game against the St. Francis College (NY) in the NCAA. He scored only 4 points in 12 minutes. His team lost 79-85. This year Ayangma's total stats are: 4.8ppg and 4.3rpg in 28 games.

   #9. Aristide Boya (216-F/C-99, is currently at the American university) managed to help Bradley University to win against the Illinois State University 74-71 in the NCAA on Wednesday night. He scored only 2 points. Boya's total stats this season are: 3.3ppg, 3.5rpg and 1.4bpg.

   #10. Jean-Dieudonniz Biog (205-C-95, currently plays in France) couldn't help Andrezieux in their game against Kaysersberg in the French NM1 (third division). Biog scored only 4 points. His team was defeated 96-88. Biog has averaged so far 3.2ppg and 4.0rpg. He also holds two passports: Cameroonian and French.