Here is the weekly review of the top performing DR Congolese players, who play currently abroad.
#1. This week's number one is former international power forward
Ruphin Kayembe (201-92, currently plays in France). He led
ALM Evreux to a victory over the tenth-ranked Denain Voltaire (11-11)
84-80 in the French ProB (second division) last Friday.
Kayembe was MVP of the game. He recorded a double-double by scoring 20 points and getting 10 rebounds.
ALM Evreux Basket (8-14) is placed 15th in the ProB.
It was his team's first victory after four consecutive loses.
Kayembe has relatively good stats this season: 13.4ppg, 5.8rpg, 1.6apg, 2FGP: 62.7%(104-166) and FT: 69.2%.
He has a dual citizenship: DR Congolese and Belgian.
Kayembe played for the DR Congolese senior national team two years ago.
#2. Second place goes to former international forward
Omari Gudul (206-94, agency:
Octagon Europe, college:
Angelo St., currently plays in Romania). He contributed to an easy victory against the third-ranked Voluntari (3-2) crushing them
95-66 in the Romanian Liga Nationala in Monday night's game.
Gudul recorded 19 points and grabbed 9 rebounds.
It was the game of the round between two top 3 ranked teams in group Grupa Galbena. SCM CSU Craiova (6-6) is placed first.
It's Gudul's first season with the team.
This year he has relatively solid stats: 14.4ppg, 6.6rpg, 1.1spg, 2FGP: 61.5%(99-161) and FT: 76.0%.
Gudul played for the DR Congolese national team in 2018.
#3. The DR Congolese player who performed third best last week abroad was former international forward
Chadrack Lufile (206-90, agency:
Interperformances, college:
Wichita St., currently plays in Argentina). He contributed to a
Estudiantes Concordia's surprising victory against the eighth-ranked Regatas Corrientes (13-11)
73-69 in the Argentinian La Liga on Friday night.
Lufile scored 11 points and grabbed 7 rebounds.
Estudiantes Concordia (7-19) is placed second from the bottom (#19) in the La Liga.
This season Lufile averages: 8.2ppg, 5.5rpg, 2FGP: 44.0%, 3FGP: 36.0% and FT: 52.4%.
He is another player who holds two passports: DR Congolese and Canadian.
Lufile played for the DR Congolese national team three years ago.
#4. Forward
Eric Kibi (198-90, college:
Abil.Christian, currently plays in Argentina) could not help
Tiro Federal (7-23) in their last game. Despite his very good performance the seventh-placed Tiro Federal (7-23) lost
80-94 on the road to the higher-ranked (#4) Union SF in the Conferencia Noroeste.
Kibi had a double-double by scoring 23 points and getting 15 rebounds in 31 minutes.
Kibi has reliable stats this year: 14.3ppg and 9.8rpg in 15 games he played so far.
He has both DR Congolese and Canadian nationalities.
Kibi is also DR Congolese national team player.
#5. Former international guard
Myck Kabongo (190-92, college:
Texas, currently plays in Denmark) was not able to help
Svendborg (11-12) in their last game. Despite his very good performance Svendborg (#5) lost in an overtime
86-93 in Horsens to the higher-ranked (#3) Horsens IC in the Pro A group.
Kabongo had a double-double by scoring 15 points and getting 10 rebounds. He also added 6 assists in 38 minutes.
It was Svendborg's fourth consecutive loss in a row.
There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical.
Kabongo's stats this year are: 12.5ppg, 3.8rpg, 2.8apg and 1.4spg in 16 games.
Similarly like Kibi and Lufile above he also holds two passports: DR Congolese and Canadian.
Kabongo used to play for the DR Congolese national team
three years ago.
#6. Guard
Emmanuel Mudiay (196-96, currently plays in NBA) managed to help Utah Jazz in a victory against the New York Knicks (20-44)
112-104 in the NBA in Wednesday night's game.
He recorded only 2 points in 4 minutes on the court.
The Utah Jazz has a solid 40-24 record this season.
It was his team's fifth consecutive victory in a row.
Mudiay averaged so far 7.3ppg, 2.4rpg and 2.2apg in 48 games.
He is a former international player as he played for the DR Congolese senior team three years ago.
#7. An experienced former international forward
Djo Loo Yele (203-82, currently plays in Norway) helped
Asker Aliens win their game against the league leader Kongsberg (26-1)
84-67 in the Norwegian BLNO on Sunday night.
He had a double-double by scoring 14 points and getting 15 rebounds in 32 minutes.
Asker Aliens BC (8-19) is placed eighth in the BLNO.
Loo Yele is one of the most experienced players in a team as it's his eighth year in Asker Aliens' roster.
Loo Yele has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 17.6ppg, 10.6rpg, 1.6apg, 1.6bpg and 1.2spg in 21 games.
Loo Yele used to play for the DR Congolese national team
two years ago.
#8. Power forward
Evariste Shonganya (204-92, currently plays in Spain) helped
UBU Tizona edge the ninth-ranked CBA Gran Canaria 2nd team (11-14)
89-88 in the Spanish LEB Silver (third division) in Sunday night's game.
He scored 9 points and grabbed 9 rebounds.
UBU Tizona Burgos (16-9) is placed first in East group.
Shonganya's overall stats this season are: 6.5ppg, 4.9rpg and 1.3apg.
He plays currently for the DR Congolese national team.
#9. Former international guard
Mathieu Kamba (196-95, agency:
Dynamics Global Management, college:
Cent Arkansas, currently plays in Spain) was not able to secure a victory for
Leyma Basquet (16-8) in their game against Oviedo CB (8-16) in the Spanish LEB Gold (second division).
Kamba scored 6 points in 26 minutes.
Leyma Basquet was badly defeated
88-70 on the opponent's court by the much lower-ranked (#16) Oviedo_CB.
Kamba averaged so far 10.5ppg, 2.8rpg and 1.3apg in 24 games.
He used to play for the DR Congolese national team
two years ago.
#10. Point guard
Carl Ona-Embo (188-89, currently plays in France) couldn't help
Poitiers (2-20) in their game against JA Vichy (10-12) in the French ProB (second division).
He recorded 6 points.
The bottom-ranked Poitiers was crushed
94-60 at home by the higher-ranked JA Vichy (#12).
It was Poitiers' fifth consecutive loss in a row.
Ona-Embo's overall stats this season are: 7.3ppg, 1.8rpg and 2.9apg.
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 a former international player as two years ago he still played for the DR Congolese senior national team.
#11. Former U18 international power forward
Christian Musoko (203-96, college:
S.Utah, currently plays in Spain) helped
Valls Nutrion win their game against the fifth-ranked Castelldefels
74-63 in the Spanish EBA (fourth division) on Sunday night.
He scored 7 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in 16 minutes.
This year Musoko's overall stats are: 6.2ppg and 8.4rpg in five games.
He used to play for the DR Congolese U18 national team
eight years ago.
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 (198-SF-86, currently plays in Euroleague). He could not help
ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket (10-18) to beat Real Madrid (22-6).
Kahudi recorded 8 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 22 minutes.
ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket lost
78-87 on the road to the second-ranked Real Madrid.
It's Kahudi's fifth season with the team.
This year he averages: 7.0ppg and 2.9rpg in 23 games he played so far.
Kahudi has a dual citizenship: DR Congolese and French.
#2. Bismack Biyombo (206-C-92, currently plays in NBA) was not able to help the
Charlotte Hornets (22-42) in their last game. Despite his good performance the Charlotte Hornets (22-42) lost
138-143 in Atlanta to the Hawks.
Biyombo scored 10 points, had 6 rebounds and made 2 blocks in 34 minutes.
This year Biyombo has relatively solid stats: 7.5ppg and 5.9rpg in 52 games.
#3. Viny Okouo (215-C-97, currently plays in Lithuania) was not able to secure a victory for
Nevezis (6-18) in their game against Rytas (17-7) in the Lithuanian LKL, despite his very good performance last Saturday.
He was the second best scorer with 15 points. Okouo also added 6 rebounds in 22 minutes.
But Nevezis was crushed
96-75 in Vilnius by the second-ranked Rytas.
It was Nevezis' fifth consecutive loss in a row.
Okouo has reliable stats this year: 10.4ppg, 7.6rpg and 1.3apg in 23 games.
#4. Oscar Tshiebwe (206-PF-99, currently plays college basketball in the States) led
WVU to a victory against the Baylor University (14-2)
76-64 in the NCAA last Saturday.
He recorded a double-double by scoring 16 points and getting 12 rebounds.
The West Virginia University has 7-9 conference record this season.
The Regular Season already ended in the NCAA.
Tshiebwe's stats this year are: 11.2ppg and 9.3rpg.
#5. Junior Etou (203-F-94, college:
Tulsa, currently plays in Germany) couldn't help
s Oliver Baskets (16-6) in their game against Brose Baskets (12-9) in the German BBL.
He recorded only 4 points and grabbed 4 rebounds.
s Oliver Baskets was badly defeated
95-77 in Bamberg by the lower-ranked Brose Baskets (#7).
Etou's overall stats this season are: 8.0ppg and 4.1rpg.
#6. David Efambe (201-F-1, currently plays in Spain) led
Barbera to a victory over the tenth-ranked Olivar
76-67 in the Spanish EBA (fourth division) last Saturday.
He was the best player in that game. Efambe had a double-double by scoring 18 points and getting 15 rebounds in 29 minutes.
This year Efambe's overall stats are: 7.1ppg and 6.1rpg in 15 games.
#7. Charles Nkaloulou (200-F-94, agency:
Promo Sport ID, currently plays in France) couldn't help
Aix-Maurienne in their game against Quimper UJAP in the French ProB (second division). Despite his good performance on Friday night He recorded 12 points and grabbed 5 rebounds.
Nkaloulou's stats this season are: 11.8ppg and 4.8rpg.
#8. Cedric Belemene-Dzabatou (199-F-96, agency:
Interperformances, college:
Tampa, currently plays in Spain) couldn't help
Azuqueca in their game against CB Guadalajara in the Spanish EBA (fourth division). Despite his good performance last Sunday Belemene-Dzabatou recorded a double-double by scoring 11 points and getting 10 rebounds. He also added and 4 steals.
Belemene-Dzabatou's overall stats this season are: 8.1ppg, 8.1rpg and 1.7spg.
#9. Brice Massamba (208-F/C-88, college:
UNLV, currently plays in Sweden) managed to help BC Lulea to win against the league outsider Djurgarden crushing them
110-73 in the Swedish Basketligan on Monday night.
Massamba scored only 2 points.
This season Massamba averages just 2.0ppg.
He is another player who holds two passports: DR Congolese and Swedish.
#10. Eric Katenda (206-F-92, college:
N.Texas, currently plays in Iceland) contributed to
Njardvik's victory against the closely-ranked Haukar
87-76 in the Icelandic Dominos League in Thursday night's game.
Katenda scored 6 points in 16 minutes.
This year Katenda's overall stats are: 2.3ppg and 2.0rpg in three games.
He has both DR Congolese and French nationalities.
