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

We bring you last week's top performances from Congolese who are playing abroad and who all have had prior experience of national team duties at youth or senior level.

Christian Eyenga

   #1. This week's number one is an experienced former international small forward Christian Eyenga (198-89, currently plays in Spain). Eyenga contributed to an easy victory against the closely-ranked Zaragoza (8-11) crushing them 77-55 in the Spanish Liga Endesa in Monday night's game. He scored 10 points. Urbas Fuenlabrada Madrid (7-10) is placed 13th in the Liga Endesa. It's Eyenga's fifth season with the team. This year Eyenga averages: 4.1ppg, 2.0rpg, 2FGP: 44.1%, 3FGP: 40.9% and FT: 66.7%. He played for the DR Congolese senior national team two years ago.

Shekinah Munanga

   #2. Second place goes to former international swingman Shekinah Munanga (201-97, currently plays in France). He led ALM Evreux to a victory against the 16th-ranked ASA (6-11) 91-81 in the French ProB (second division) in Friday night's game. Munanga scored 12 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 22 minutes. ALM Evreux Basket (2-2) is placed third in the ProB. It's Munanga's first season with the team. This year his overall stats are: 8.7ppg, 4.9rpg, 2FGP: 58.3%(42-72), 3FGP: 37.5% and FT: 63.3% in 16 games he played so far. Munanga played for the DR Congolese national team in 2020.

Myck Kabongo

   #3. The DR Congolese player who performed third best last week abroad was an international guard Myck Kabongo (190-92, college: Texas, currently plays in Qatar). He could not help Al Rayyan (1-3) in their last game on Saturday. Despite Kabongo's very good performance Al Rayyan was badly defeated 99-79 in a derby game by the leading Al Ahli. He recorded a double-double by scoring 16 points and making the same number of passes. Kabongo also added 9 rebounds. Kabongo has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 21.5ppg, 6.5rpg, 9.5apg, 1.5spg, 2FGP: 70.6%(12-17) and FT: 76.5%. Kabongo has a dual citizenship: DR Congolese and Canadian. He is also a member of the DR Congolese senior national team.

Chadrack Lufile

   #4. Forward Chadrack Lufile (206-90, agency: BIG, college: Wichita St., currently plays in Romania) led Miercurea Ciuc to a victory over the eighth-ranked Constanta (2-2) 85-73 in the Romanian Liga Nationala on Monday night. Lufile was MVP of the game. He recorded 17 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in 33 minutes. CSM VSKC Miercurea Ciuc (0-2) is placed 13th in the Liga Nationala. Lufile's team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And that game will be critical. Lufile has relatively good stats this year: 10.6ppg, 5.3rpg and 1.1apg in 12 games. He is another player who holds two passports: DR Congolese and Canadian. Lufile is also DR Congolese national team player.

Eric Kibi

   #5. International forward Eric Kibi (198-90, college: ACU, currently plays in Chile) was the main contributor in Tinguiririca's victory against the fifth-ranked Temuco (2-8) 83-80 in the Chilean Liga Nacional last Saturday. He was the best player in that game. Kibi had a double-double by scoring 21 points and getting 18 rebounds. He also added 3 assists in 36 minutes. CD Tinguiririca San Fernando (2-4) is placed ninth in the Liga Nacional. But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen. Kibi has very impressive stats this year: 16.8ppg, 14.7rpg and 1.2apg in six games. Similarly like Lufile and Kabongo above he has both DR Congolese and Canadian nationalities. Kibi plays currently for the DR Congolese national team.

Jordan Sakho

   #6. Center Jordan Sakho (207-97, agency: BeoBasket, currently plays in Spain) was not able to help Breogan in their game against Real Betis (4-13) in the Spanish Liga Endesa. He cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones. Sakho scored only 2 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. Breogan was edged 84-81 on the road by the one of league's weakest teams Real Betis (#17). Sakho's total stats this season are: 3.5ppg and 3.2rpg. He is an international player who is currently on the senior DR Congolese National Team roster.

Jonathan Kasibabu

   #7. Former international forward Jonathan Kasibabu (203-96, college: Fairfield, currently plays in France) was not able to secure a victory for Nantes (3-2) in their last game. Despite Kasibabu's good performance Nantes was crushed 86-63 in Antibes by the lower-ranked (#4) Olympique. He was the second best scorer with 13 points. Kasibabu also added 8 rebounds in 20 minutes. They ended the series of three consecutive victories. This year Kasibabu's total stats are: 8.0ppg, 5.6rpg and 1.2apg in 16 games. He used to play for the DR Congolese national team four years ago.

Djo Loo Yele

   #8. Forward Djo Loo Yele (203-82, currently plays in Norway) contributed to an easy victory against the closely-ranked Fyllingen BBK (12-8) crushing them 110-88 in the Norwegian BLNO last Saturday. He scored 14 points in 21 minutes. Kongsberg Miners (14-6) is placed third in the BLNO. There are only four games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial. Loo Yele has averaged so far 6.8ppg and 3.7rpg in six games. He used to play for the DR Congolese national team back in 2018.

Henry Pwono

   #9. International forward Henry Pwono (198-91, college: ECU, currently plays in Luxembourg) was the major contributor in a 1-point Musel Pikes' victory against the closely-ranked Sparta (12-6) 96-95 in the Luxembourg LBBL on Wednesday night. Pwono recorded 24 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and made 3 blocks (made all of his nine free throws !!!). It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. BC Musel Pikes (15-4) is placed second in the LBBL. It was his team's sixth consecutive victory in a row. There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be important. This season Pwono has very high stats. He averages: 21.2ppg, 11.7rpg, 4.8apg and 1.7bpg. Pwono is a naturalized American. He is also in the roster of the DR Congolese national team. Strangely Pwono has never played in DR Congo.

Patrick Mwamba

   #10. Forward Patrick Mwamba (196-99, currently plays college basketball in the States) couldn't help the UT Arlington (5-6) in their game against the Appalachian State University (9-3) in the NCAA. He recorded 8 points. The UT Arlington was defeated 70-61 in Boone by the Appalachian State University. Mwamba is one of the most experienced players in a team as it's his fourth year in UT Arlington's roster. This season Mwamba has relatively solid stats: 10.3ppg, 4.6rpg, 2.1apg and 1.3spg. He is an international player who is currently on the senior DR Congolese National Team roster.

   #11. International guard Mathieu Kamba (196-95, college: Cent Arkansas, currently plays in Spain) couldn't help Oviedo in their game against Juaristi ISB in the Spanish LEB Gold (second division). Kamba recorded only 4 points in 31 minutes. His team lost 80-88. He has reliable stats this year: 13.5ppg, 4.7rpg, 1.1apg and 1.1spg in 18 games. Kamba plays currently for the DR Congolese national team.

   #12. International swingman Ron Mvouika (196-91, college: St.John's, currently plays in Germany) couldn't help Rhein Stars (3-13) in their last game on Saturday. Despite his very good performance the 11th-placed Rhein Stars was defeated 88-81 in Sandersdorf by the higher-ranked Sixers (#6) in the North group. Mvouika was the second best scorer with 23 points. He also added 4 boards, handed out 3 passes and blocked 2 shots. Mvouika averaged so far 14.8ppg, 4.0rpg, 2.5apg and 1.3spg. He is also in the roster of the DR Congolese national team.

   #13. Former international point guard Carl Ona-Embo (188-89, currently plays in France) contributed to an easy victory against the 14th-ranked GET Vosges 82-67 in the French NM1 (third division) last Tuesday. He recorded 12 points and added 3 passes. Ona-Embo has averaged so far 4.9ppg, 2.3rpg and 2.4apg. 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 currently in the DR Congolese national team roster.

   #14. International center Herve Kabasele (208-96, currently plays in Spain) is a teammate of previously mentioned Mathieu Kamba and both played together in the last Spanish LEB Gold game. Kabasele couldn't help Oviedo in their game against Juaristi ISB. He cannot count Wednesday's game as one of the best ones. Kabasele recorded only 2 points in 16 minutes. His team lost 80-88. He has averaged so far 7.4ppg and 4.7rpg in 15 games. Kabasele plays currently for the DR Congolese national team.

   #15. Former international center Gullit Mukendi (203-96, agency: Promo Sport ID, currently plays in Spain) contributed to Jairis' victory against the leader Paterna 66-62 in the Spanish EBA (fourth division) in Saturday night's game. He recorded 13 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 30 minutes. Mukendi's stats this year are: 11.2ppg, 6.1rpg and 1.3apg in 15 games. He used to play for the DR Congolese national team four 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 (196-F-86, currently plays in Euroleague) could not help ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket (9-15) in their last game. Despite his good performance ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket lost 76-85 on the road to the higher-ranked (#11) Fenerbahce. Kahudi was the second best scorer with 14 points. He also added 6 rebounds in 32 minutes. It was ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket's fourth consecutive loss in a row. It's Kahudi's seventh season with the team. This year Kahudi averages: 5.3ppg and 2.9rpg in 22 games he played so far. He has a dual citizenship: DR Congolese and French.

   #2. Jonathan Kuminga (198-F-2, agency: Verus Management, currently plays in NBA) led Golden State Warriors to a victory against the Sacramento Kings (20-35) 126-114 in the NBA last Thursday. Kuminga recorded 18 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. The Golden State Warriors have a very solid 41-13 record this season. It was his team's ninth consecutive victory in a row. It's Kuminga's first year with the team. He has relatively good stats this season: 7.4ppg and 2.7rpg.

   #3. Nicola Akele (203-F-95, college: URI, currently plays in Basketball Champions League) was not able to help Treviso in their game against Dacka (1-1) in the Basketball Champions League. Akele scored 9 points in 19 minutes. But the fourth-placed Treviso (0-1) lost 76-88 in Istanbul to the second-ranked Dacka in the group J of Basketball Champions League. It was Treviso's first loss after three consecutive victories. There are only four games left until the end of the Basketball Champions League Top 16. So now every game will be critical. This year Akele averages: 9.2ppg, 4.3rpg and 1.5apg in 11 games. He is another player who holds two passports: DR Congolese and Italian.

   #4. Christian Lutete (196-G-96, college: UMass Lowell, currently plays in Finland) was not able to secure a victory for Kobrat (7-15) in their game against Nokia (9-10) in the Finnish Korisliiga, despite his very good performance last Wednesday. Lutete was the top scorer with 21 points. He also added 3 steals in 27 minutes; quite an impressive performance considering it's only Lutete's second season in pro basketball. But Kobrat lost 91-95 on the opponent's court to the higher-ranked (#8) Nokia. It was Kobrat's seventh consecutive loss in a row. The Regular Season already ended. It's Lutete's first year with the team. He has individually a very good season with high stats. Lutete averages: 23.3ppg, 4.8rpg and 1.6apg in 22 games. He is a naturalized American. Strangely Lutete has never played in DR Congo.

   #5. Oscar Tshiebwe (206-PF-99, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to Kentucky's surprising victory against the Vanderbilt University (4-6) 77-70 in the NCAA on Wednesday night. He recorded a double-double by scoring 11 points and getting 17 rebounds. Tshiebwe also added 3 assists and 4 steals. The University of Kentucky has a very solid 8-2 conference record this season. It's Tshiebwe's first year with the team. This year he has very high stats. Tshiebwe averages: 15.8ppg, 15.1rpg, 1.4bpg and 1.9spg.

   #6. Viny Okouo (214-C-97, currently plays in Spain) couldn't help Obradoiro in their game against Barca in the Spanish Liga Endesa. He scored 6 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. His team was badly defeated by 16 points 83-67. Okouo's total stats this season are: 5.3ppg and 3.4rpg.

   #7. Yannick Nzosa Manzila (206-F-3, currently plays in Basketball Champions League) managed to help Unicaja Malaga to win against the closely-ranked Oostende 75-59 in the Basketball Champions League last Wednesday. Nzosa Manzila scored only 2 points. Nzosa Manzila has averaged so far 1.8ppg and 1.6rpg.

   #8. Isaac Mushila (196-F, currently studies in the States) couldn't help the TAMUCC in their game against the University of New Orleans in the NCAA, despite his very good performance on Thursday night. He had a double-double by scoring 14 points and getting 15 rebounds in 36 minutes. But his team lost 70-79. This year Mushila has relatively solid stats: 15.0ppg, 9.6rpg, 1.3apg and 1.1spg in 22 games.

   #9. Bismack Biyombo (206-PF-92, currently plays in NBA) contributed to an easy victory against the Washington Wizards 95-80 in the NBA in Saturday night's game. He scored only one point and grabbed 6 rebounds. This season Biyombo has relatively solid stats: 8.9ppg and 6.9rpg.

   #10. Eliel Nsoseme (203-F-97, is currently at the American university) contributed to a Georgia St.'s victory against the University of South Alabama 69-62 in the NCAA in Saturday night's game. He recorded 10 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in 23 minutes. Nsoseme has averaged so far 9.8ppg, 10.3rpg and 1.6bpg in eight games.