POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
Here is the weekly review of the top performing Cameroonian players, who play currently abroad.
#1. This week's number one is an experienced former international center
Gaston Essengue (203-1983, college:
UNLV, currently plays in Mexico). Essengue led
Venados to a victory against the league outsider Caballeros de Culiacan (7-27)
97-84 in the Mexican CIBACOPA last Saturday.
He scored 17 points, grabbed 7 rebounds and dished 3 assists; quite an impressive performance considering it's only Essengue's first season in pro basketball. Venados de Mazatlan (12-22) is placed second from the bottom (#7) in the CIBACOPA.
It was Venados' third consecutive victory in a row.
There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical.
This season Essengue averages: 9.1ppg, 3.6rpg, 1.1apg, 2FGP: 59.2%(74-125), 3FGP: 33.3% and FT: 86.1%.
He played for the Cameroonian senior national team year ago.
#2. Second place goes to former international point guard
Gedeon Pitard (186-1989, currently plays in France). Pitard contributed to a 1-point
Olympique Antibes' victory against the ninth-ranked ASA (16-18)
88-87 in the French ProB (second division) on Saturday night.
He scored 10 points, had 6 boards, passed 3 assists and added 3 steals in 21 minutes.
Sharks Antibes (11-3) is placed third in the ProB.
This year Pitard's overall stats are: 5.5ppg, 2.2rpg, 3.1apg, 2FGP: 51.6%, 3FGP: 34.8% and FT: 66.7% in 36 games he played so far.
He has a dual citizenship: Cameroonian and French.
Despite Pitard played previously for the French U18 national team, he played also for the Cameroonian national team in 22.
#3. The Cameroonian player who performed third best last week abroad was former international power forward
Philippe Bayehe (203-1999, currently plays in Italy). Bayehe could not help
Cantu (23-7) to beat Scafati (25-5).
He recorded 8 points and grabbed 4 rebounds.
The second-placed Cantu (23-7) was defeated
89-79 on the road by the leading Scafati in the Group Green.
Bayehe's total stats this season are: 8.5ppg, 5.6rpg, 2FGP: 57.6%(110-191), 3FGP: 44.4% and FT: 73.2%.
He is another player who holds two passports: Cameroonian and Italian.
Bayehe played for the Cameroonian national team year ago.
#4. Guard
Samir Gbetkom Bikantchou (191-1998, currently plays in France) led
JA Vichy to a victory over the closely-ranked ADA Blois (20-14) crushing them
77-47 in the French ProB (second division) last Wednesday.
He was MVP of the game. Gbetkom Bikantchou scored 20 points in 20 minutes.
Jean D'Arc Vichy Clermont Metropole (17-17) is placed eighth in the ProB.
They ended the series of four consecutive loses.
Gbetkom Bikantchou has relatively good stats this year: 11.9ppg, 2.5rpg, 2.5apg and 1.2spg in 38 games.
He used to play for the Cameroonian national team
back in 22.
#5. Former international forward
Benoit Mbala (200-1995, currently plays in Spain) contributed to
Caceres' victory against the third-ranked Lleida (21-12)
79-73 in the Spanish LEB Gold (second division) on Sunday night.
Mbala recorded 11 points and grabbed 6 rebounds.
Caceres Patrimonio de la Humanidad (19-16) is placed eighth in the LEB Gold.
This season Mbala has relatively solid stats: 13.2ppg and 5.6rpg.
He used to play for the Cameroonian national team
years ago.
The list of other players, who all have Cameroonian passport but never been selected to any of Cameroonian national teams: #1. Paul Biligha (200-C-1990, agency:
Players Group, currently plays in Italy) managed to help AX Armani Exchange Milano in a victory against the closely-ranked Sassari (17-13)
87-69 in the Italian Serie A in Wednesday night's game.
He scored only 4 points in 11 minutes.
AX Armani Exchange Milanois placed second in the Serie A.
This year Biligha averages: 3.1ppg and 1.6rpg in 34 games he played so far.
He has a dual citizenship: Cameroonian and Italian.
#2. Joel Fokou (202-PF-2000, currently plays in Italy). Fokou could not help
Omegna (22-8) to beat Cremona (8-22). He cannot count it as his best performance.
Fokou scored only 2 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 19 minutes.
Omegna (#3) was badly defeated
82-64 on the road by the much lower-ranked (#16) Cremona in the Group A.
This year Fokou's total stats are: 6.0ppg and 5.4rpg in seven games.
He is another player who holds two passports: Cameroonian and Italian.
Other top Cameroonian players, who play abroad:Paul Eboua (203-F/C-2000) plays for
Brescia in Italian Serie A
Landry Nnoko (208-C-1994) plays for
Burgos in Spanish Liga Endesa
Williams Narace (201-SF-1997) plays for
Le Mans in French Betclic ELITE ProA
Pascal Siakam (206-F-1994) plays for
Toronto Raptors in the NBA
Joel Embiid (213-C-1994) plays for
Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA
Nicolas Batum (203-SF-1988) plays for
Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA
JP Tokoto (200-F-1993) plays for
Hapoel Tel-Aviv in Israeli Winner League
D.J. Strawberry (196-SG-85) plays for
Zamalek in Egyptian Superleague
Kenny Kadji (211-F-1988) plays for
Gravelines-Dunkerque in French Betclic ELITE ProA
Junior MBida (206-C-1990) plays for
Entente Orleans 45 in French Betclic ELITE ProA
Jeremy Nzeulie (188-SG-1991) plays for
Entente Orleans 45 in French Betclic ELITE ProA
Notice:
The list above includes only some of the Cameroonian playing currently abroad. Go to Cameroonian Abroad Page to see completed list.
