Christian Eyenga selected the top Congolese playing abroad in last week's games

CHRISTIAN EYENGA

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

Christian Eyenga

   #1. This week's number one is an international small forward Christian Eyenga (201-89, currently plays in Basketball Champions League). Eyenga could not help Baloncesto Fuenlabrada (4-10) in their last game on Wednesday. Despite his good performance the eighth-placed Baloncesto Fuenlabrada (4-10) was defeated 85-78 on the road by the higher-ranked Lietkabelis (#5) in the group C of Basketball Champions League. Eyenga scored 10 points and added 5 passes. The Regular Season already ended in the Basketball Champions League. This season Eyenga averages: 8.2ppg, 3.2rpg, 1.7apg, 1.2bpg, 2FGP: 50.8%, 3FGP: 22.9% and FT: 64.3%. He is currently a member of the DR Congolese senior national team.

Omari Gudul

   #2. Second place goes to an international forward Omari Gudul (206-94, agency: Two Points, college: Angelo St., currently plays in France). He led ADA Blois to a victory against the closely-ranked Saint Chamond (11-7) 91-79 in the French ProB (second division) in Friday night's game. Gudul scored 11 points, had 8 rebounds and made 3 blocks. ADA Blois Basket 41 (9-8) is placed eighth in the ProB. It's Gudul's first season with the team. He has relatively good stats this year: 12.6ppg, 6.5rpg, 2FGP: 58.3%(91-156), 3FGP: 25.0% and FT: 77.4%. Gudul is in the roster of the DR Congolese senior national team.

Jonathan Malu

   #3. The DR Congolese player who performed third best last week abroad was an international power forward Jonathan Malu (200-93, currently plays in Germany). He was not able to help one of league's weakest teams Artland Dragons in their game against Nuernberg (10-10) in the German ProA (second division), despite his good performance last Saturday. Malu recorded 10 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in only 13 minutes. But Artland Dragons lost 66-79 on the opponent's court to the higher-ranked (#9) Nuernberg. This year Malu's overall stats are: 4.5ppg, 2.2rpg, 2FGP: 56.4%(31-55) and FT: 59.4% in 18 games he played so far. He has a dual citizenship: DR Congolese and German. Despite Malu played previously for the German U20 national team, he is currently a member of the DR Congolese senior national team.

Jonathan Kasibabu

   #4. Forward Jonathan Kasibabu (203-96, currently plays college basketball in the States) was not able to secure a victory for the one of league's weakest teams Fairfield (2-5) in their game against the Monmouth University (1-4) in the NCAA. He scored only 4 points, grabbed 7 rebounds and made 3 blocks. his team was defeated 61-49 in West Long Branch by the Monmouth University. Kasibabu is one of the most experienced players in a team as it's his fourth year in Fairfield's roster. This season Kasibabu has relatively solid stats: 10.6ppg, 7.6rpg and 1.4apg. He is also DR Congolese national team player.

Gullit Mukendi

   #5. International center Gullit Mukendi (203-96, currently plays in Spain) couldn't help Azuqueca (11-10) in their game against Albacete (9-12) in the Spanish LEB Silver (third division), despite his good performance last Saturday. Mukendi scored 10 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 25 minutes. But Azuqueca (#6) lost 74-78 at home to the lower-ranked (#7) Albacete in the East group. His team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And that game will be critical. This year Mukendi's total stats are: 4.9ppg and 2.7rpg in 20 games. He plays currently for the DR Congolese national team.

Carl Ona-Embo

   #6. Point guard Carl Ona-Embo (185-89, currently plays in Germany) couldn't help Lions (12-10) in their game against Hamburg (15-6) in the German ProA (second division). Despite his good performance last Saturday He was the second best scorer with 11 points. Ona-Embo also added 5 rebounds. Ona-Embo has averaged so far 9.2ppg, 2.0rpg and 2.3apg. Worth to mention Ona-Embo played also at Eurobasket Summer League, which helped him get the job in pro basketball. Despite he played previously for the French U20 national team, Ona-Embo is also an international player who is currently on the senior DR Congolese National Team roster.


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

   #1. Experienced Charles Kahudi (199-SF-86, currently plays in France) contributed to an ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket's victory against the 13th-ranked Boulazac Basket (8-12) 78-73 in the French Jeep ELITE in Friday night's game. He scored 8 points and added 3 passes in 29 minutes. ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket (15-5) is placed first in the Jeep ELITE. It's Kahudi's fourth season with the team. This year Kahudi averages: 9.1ppg and 3.9rpg in 15 games he played so far. He has a dual citizenship: DR Congolese and French.

   #2. Yannick Nzosa (213-C-3, currently plays in Adidas Next Generation Tournament) led his Italian team Stellazzurra to a victory over the closely-ranked DBA Copenhagen (0-4) 77-70 in the ANGT last Saturday. Nzosa was MVP of the game. He recorded a double-double by scoring 19 points and getting 11 rebounds. Nzosa also added 3 blocks and 3 steals. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Stellazzurra Roma U18 team (2-2) is placed second in the ANGT. The Regular Season already ended in the ANGT. This season Nzosa averages: 9.1ppg and 3.9rpg.

   #3. Eric Katenda (206-F-92, college: N.Texas, currently plays in Iceland) was the major contributor in Njardvik's victory against the seventh-ranked Grindavik (8-10) crushing them 94-65 in the Icelandic Dominos League on Thursday night. He had a double-double by scoring 17 points and getting 15 rebounds. Katenda also added 7 blocks in 26 minutes; quite an impressive performance considering it's only his third season in pro basketball. UMFN Njardvik (15-3) is placed first in the Dominos League. There are only four games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical. Katenda has relatively good stats this year: 11.5ppg, 11.0rpg and 4.5bpg in two games. He is another player who holds two passports: DR Congolese and French.

   #4. Junior Etou (203-F-94, college: Tulsa, currently plays in Turkey). Etou could not help Sakarya BSB (5-12) to beat Gaziantep (10-7). He scored 9 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in 30 minutes. But Sakarya BSB was crushed 83-58 on the road by the much higher-ranked (#5) Gaziantep. It's Etou's first season with the team. Etou has relatively good stats this year: 10.8ppg, 7.7rpg and 1.5apg in 17 games.

   #5. Kevin Tumba (206-C/F-91, currently plays in Basketball Champions League) managed to help Universidad Catolica de Murcia CB to win against the closely-ranked Banvit (9-5) 86-71 in the Basketball Champions League on Tuesday night. He scored only 4 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. Universidad Catolica de Murcia CB (13-1) is placed ninth in group A. It was his team's sixth consecutive victory in a row. There are only two games left until the end of the Basketball Champions League Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial. Tumba's overall stats this season are: 3.9ppg and 3.8rpg. He has both DR Congolese and Belgian nationalities.

   #6. Bismack Biyombo (206-C-92, currently plays in NBA) was not able to help the Charlotte Hornets in their game against the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA. Biyombo scored 7 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in only 14 minutes. His team were edged 117-115 in the NBA. This year Biyombo's overall stats are: 4.5ppg, 4.9rpg and 1.1bpg in 30 games.

   #7. Guy Muya (193-PG-83, currently plays in Belgium) contributed to an easy victory against the closely-ranked Kangoeroes crushing them 92-65 in the Belgian Euromillions League last Friday. He recorded 7 points and added 3 passes. Muya's overall stats this season are: 4.1ppg, 2.3rpg and 1.2apg. He also holds two passports: DR Congolese and Belgian.

   #8. Cedric Kuakumensah (204-F-93, college: Brown, currently plays in France) contributed to Souffelweyersheim's victory against the sixth-ranked Sorgues BC 80-68 in the French NM1 (third division) on Saturday night. Kuakumensah scored 10 points and added 3 assists in 26 minutes. Kuakumensah has relatively good stats this year: 10.3ppg, 6.9rpg and 2.0apg in 23 games. He is a naturalized American. Strangely Kuakumensah has never played in DR Congo.

   #9. Cedric Belemene-Dzabatou (198-F-96, currently plays in NCAA2) contributed to an easy victory against the Florida Institute of Technology 81-63 in the NCAA2 on Saturday night. Belemene-Dzabatou recorded 12 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks. Belemene-Dzabatou's total stats this season are: 9.6ppg and 8.7rpg.

   #10. Joel Ntambwe (206-F-98, currently plays college basketball in the States), who plays in the NCAA was not able to secure a victory for the one of league's weakest teams UNLV (4-1) in their last game. Despite his good performance his team were badly defeated 83-65 in Fresno by the State University. Ntambwe scored 11 points in 24 minutes. This year Ntambwe has relatively solid stats: 12.3ppg and 5.7rpg in 23 games.