Henry Pwono selected the top Congolese playing abroad in last week's games

Traditionally, every week we bring you a list of the top performances of Congolese who are currently playing abroad.

Henry Pwono

   #1. This week's number one is an international forward Henry Pwono (198-91, college: ECU, currently plays in Luxembourg). He was the major contributor in Sparta's victory against the tenth-ranked Telstar (2-5) 111-102 in the Luxembourg LBBL on Friday night. Pwono scored 24 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. BBC Sparta Bertrange (6-1) is placed second in the LBBL. It was his team's sixth consecutive victory in a row. But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. It's Pwono's first year with the team. He has individually a very good season with high stats. Pwono averages: 19.7ppg, 8.3rpg, 3.5apg, 2.0spg, 2FGP: 54.0%, 3FGP: 42.3% and FT: 68.0%. He is a naturalized American. Pwono is currently a member of the DR Congolese senior national team. Strangely he has never played in DR Congo.

Jordan Sakho

   #2. Second place goes to an international center Jordan Sakho (207-97, agency: BeoBasket, currently plays in Spain). He could not help Breogan (3-4) to beat Zaragoza (3-4). Sakho recorded only 4 points and blocked 4 blocks. Breogan was defeated 79-75 on the road by the lower-ranked Zaragoza (#13). It was Breogan's third consecutive loss in a row. But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. Sakho's overall stats this season are: 3.4ppg, 2.7rpg, 2FGP: 57.1%(12-21). He is in the roster of the DR Congolese senior national team.

Shekinah Munanga

   #3. The DR Congolese player who performed third best last week abroad was an international swingman Shekinah Munanga (201-97, currently plays in France). Munanga contributed to an easy victory against the 13th-ranked Olympique Antibes (1-1) 90-71 in the French ProB (second division) on Friday night. He scored 8 points and blocked 2 shots in 19 minutes. ALM Evreux Basket (2-3) is placed fourth in the ProB. But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. It's Munanga's first year with the team. This season Munanga's overall stats are: 7.5ppg, 3.0rpg, 1.5apg, 2FGP: 54.5% and FT: 75.0% in two games he played so far. He played for the DR Congolese national team one years ago.

Mathieu Kamba

   #4. Guard Mathieu Kamba (196-95, college: Cent Arkansas, currently plays in Spain) was not able to help Oviedo in their game against Castello (3-1) in the Spanish LEB Gold (second division). Kamba recorded 5 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 30 minutes. Oviedo lost 70-85 at home to the higher-ranked (#3) Castello. They ended the series of three consecutive victories. But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. It's Kamba's first year with the team. He has relatively good stats this season: 12.0ppg, 4.0rpg and 1.5apg in four games. Kamba has a dual citizenship: DR Congolese and Canadian. He is also DR Congolese national team player.

Jonathan Kasibabu

   #5. Former international forward Jonathan Kasibabu (203-96, college: Fairfield, currently plays in France) managed to help Hermine Nantes Atlantique to win against one of league's weakest teams Saint Vallier (0-2) 69-62 in the French ProB (second division) on Saturday night. Kasibabu scored only one point and grabbed 4 rebounds. Hermine Nantes Atlantique (2-0) is placed second in the ProB. But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. It's Kasibabu's first year with the team. His total stats this season are: 6.0ppg, 5.0rpg and 1.5apg. Kasibabu used to play for the DR Congolese national team three years ago.

Carl Ona-Embo

   #6. Point guard Carl Ona-Embo (188-89, currently plays in France) contributed to Caen's victory against the 13th-ranked Besancon (1-4) 66-59 in the French NM1 (third division) on Friday night. Ona-Embo scored only 3 points in 15 minutes. in Group B. Caen Basket Calvados (4-2) is placed seventh. But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. It's Ona-Embo's first year with the team. This season he averages just 1.5ppg in two games. Worth to mention he played also at Eurobasket Summer League, which helped him get the job in pro basketball. Ona-Embo is a former international player as he played for the DR Congolese senior team three years ago.

Gullit Mukendi

   #7. Former international center Gullit Mukendi (203-96, agency: Promo Sport ID, currently plays in Spain) led Jairis to a victory over the second-ranked UCAM Murcia 2nd team (3-1) 90-78 in the Spanish EBA (fourth division) in Sunday night's game. He was MVP of the game. Mukendi scored 27 points (!!!) and grabbed 8 rebounds. It was the game of the round between two top 3 ranked teams in Group E-C. Hozono Global Jairis (4-0) is placed first. So far his team won all four games in the Regular Season. But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. It's Mukendi's first year with the team. This season he has relatively solid stats: 11.5ppg and 7.8rpg. Mukendi used to play for the DR Congolese national team three 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. Nicola Akele (203-F-95, college: URI, currently plays in Italy) led Treviso to a victory over the closely-ranked Trento (0-4) 79-75 in the Italian Serie A in Sunday night's game. He was MVP of the game. Akele scored 14 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in 26 minutes. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Nutribullet Treviso Basketis placed in the Serie A. This year Akele averages: 8.0ppg and 5.8rpg in five games he played so far. He has a dual citizenship: DR Congolese and Italian.

   #2. Junior Etou (201-F-94, college: Tulsa, currently plays in Israel) contributed to a Hapoel Beer Sheva's victory against the closely-ranked Hapoel Eilat (1-2) 99-93 in the Israeli Winner League last Sunday. Etou scored 19 points, had 5 rebounds and dished 3 assists. Hapoel Altshuler Shaham Beer Sheva (2-1) is placed sixth in the Winner League. But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen. Etou has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 15.7ppg, 4.3rpg and 2.0apg.

   #3. Experienced Charles Kahudi (196-F-86, currently plays in Euroleague). Kahudi could not help ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket (3-2) to beat Milano (5-0). He scored 6 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 24 minutes. ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket was edged 73-72 on the road by the leading Milano. But the season just started, so everything may happen. It's Kahudi's seventh year with the team. This season Kahudi averages: 5.4ppg and 3.2rpg in five games. He is another player who holds two passports: DR Congolese and French.

   #4. Christian Lutete (196-G-96, college: UMass Lowell, currently plays in Finland) was the main contributor in Kobrat's victory against the closely-ranked Kouvot (4-2) crushing them 107-82 in the Finnish Korisliiga in Saturday night's game. Lutete was MVP of the game. He scored 30 points (!!!) and grabbed 4 rebounds; quite an impressive performance considering it's only Lutete's second season in pro basketball. Lapuan Korikobrat (3-3) is placed sixth in the Korisliiga. But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. It's Lutete's first year with the team. This season he has very high stats. Lutete averages: 21.5ppg, 3.5rpg, 1.7apg and 1.3spg. He is a naturalized American. Strangely Lutete has never played in DR Congo.

   #5. Yannick Manzila (206-F-3, currently plays in Basketball Champions League) managed to help Unicaja Malaga in a victory against the closely-ranked Lavrio (1-1) 86-70 in the Basketball Champions League last Wednesday. He scored only 2 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 20 minutes. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Unicaja Malaga (2-0) is placed first in the Basketball Champions League. There are only four games left until the end of the Basketball Champions League Regular Season. So now every game will be critical. This year Manzila averages: 1.5ppg and 2.5rpg in two games.

   #6. Wen Boss Mukubu (198-SF-83, college: UAB, currently plays in BNXT-League) helped his Belgian team Kangoeroes edge the closely-ranked Belfius Mons-Hainaut 88-86 in the BNXT League in Saturday night's game. Mukubu recorded only 3 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists in 33 minutes. This year his overall stats are: 8.4ppg, 3.6rpg and 3.0apg in five games. Mukubu has both DR Congolese and Belgian nationalities.

   #7. Eric Katenda (206-C-92, college: N.Texas, currently plays in Switzerland) was not able to help Boncourt (2-2) in their last game on Sunday. Despite Katenda's very good performance Boncourt was defeated 99-91 in Luzern by the lower-ranked Swiss Central (#6). He scored 15 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. Katenda's total stats this season are: 8.5ppg and 4.5rpg. He also holds two passports: DR Congolese and French.

   #8. Live Kivuvu (201-C-3, currently plays in United Kingdom) was not able to secure a victory for Rockets in their game against Hoods in the British NBL D1 (second division). He cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones. Kivuvu recorded only 2 points in 6 minutes on the court. His team was edged 81-78. This year his total stats are: 5.8ppg and 4.0rpg in four games. Kivuvu has dual citizenship: DR Congolese and British.

   #9. Joel Kanyinda (203-PF-1, currently plays in Spain) couldn't help Palma in their game against Coruna in the Spanish LEB Gold (second division). He cannot count Sunday's game as one of the best ones. Kanyinda recorded only 2 points. His team was defeated 76-70. Kanyinda's total stats this season are: 3.3ppg and 3.3rpg.

   #10. Jerry Kuba (188-G-0, currently plays in Switzerland) couldn't help Sion in their game against Morges-Saint-Prex in the Swiss NLB (second division). He scored only 4 points in 28 minutes. His team was crushed by 33 points 84-51. This year Kuba's total stats are: 4.3ppg, 2.3rpg and 2.3apg in three games.