Shekinah Munanga 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.

Shekinah Munanga

   #1. This week's number one is former international swingman Shekinah Munanga (201-1997, currently plays in France). He was the major contributor in an ALM Evreux's victory against the 14th-ranked Boulazac Basket (9-13) 77-69 in the French ProB (second division) on Tuesday night. Munanga recorded 18 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks in 28 minutes on the court. ALM Evreux Basket (3-3) is placed second in the ProB. This year Munanga averages: 9.5ppg, 5.4rpg, 2FGP: 60.3%(70-116), 3FGP: 30.9% and FT: 62.8% in 23 games he played so far. He played for the DR Congolese senior national team year ago.

Eric Kibi

   #2. Second place goes to former international forward Eric Kibi (198-1990, college: ACU, currently plays in Chile). He could not help Tinguiririca (3-8) in their last game. Despite Kibi's very good performance Tinguiririca was badly defeated 89-70 at home by the second-ranked Universidad Catolica. He had a double-double by scoring 21 points and getting 13 rebounds. Kibi also added and 3 steals in 38 minutes. It was Tinguiririca's fourth consecutive loss in a row. Kibi has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 18.6ppg, 14.1rpg, 1.3apg, 1.2spg, 2FGP: 43.0%, 3FGP: 14.3% and FT: 49.1% in nine games. Kibi has a dual citizenship: DR Congolese and Canadian. He played for the DR Congolese national team in 21.

Chadrack Lufile

   #3. The DR Congolese player who performed third best last week abroad was former international forward Chadrack Lufile (206-1990, agency: BIG, college: Wichita St., currently plays in Basketball Africa League). Lufile was not able to help DUC Dakar in their game against Fer.Beira (1-3) in the Basketball Africa League. He scored 9 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. But the sixth-placed DUC Dakar (1-3) was defeated 98-92 on the road by the higher-ranked Fer.Beira (#5) in the group A of Basketball Africa League. Lufile's team will play only one more game in the Basketball Africa League Regular Season. And that game will be critical. Lufile's overall stats this season are: 3.3ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.3apg, 2FGP: 28.6% and FT: 55.6%. He is another player who holds two passports: DR Congolese and Canadian. Lufile played for the DR Congolese national team year ago.

Jordan Sakho

   #4. Center Jordan Sakho (207-1997, agency: BeoBasket, currently plays in Spain) was not able to secure a victory for Breogan (11-10) in their game against Bilbao (10-11) in the Spanish Liga Endesa. He cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones. Sakho scored only 2 points in 10 minutes. Breogan lost 86-94 on their home court in Lugo to the lower-ranked (#11) Bilbao. This year Sakho's overall stats are: 3.9ppg and 3.2rpg in 21 games. He used to play for the DR Congolese national team back in 22.

Pitchou Kambuyi

   #5. An experienced former international center Pitchou Kambuyi (208-1988, currently plays in Basketball Africa League) led his Rwandan team REG to a 3-point victory over the league leader US Monastir (4-1) 77-74 in the D2 last Monday. Kambuyi was MVP of the game. He recorded a double-double by scoring 16 points and getting 10 rebounds. Kambuyi also added 3 blocks. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Rwanda Energy Group (3-1) is placed second in the D2. His team will play only one more game in the D2 Regular Season. Kambuyi's total stats this season are: 3.9ppg and 3.2rpg. He used to play for the DR Congolese national team years ago.

Mathieu Kamba

   #6. Guard Mathieu Kamba (196-1995, college: Cent Arkansas, currently plays in Spain) contributed to an easy victory against the closely-ranked Caceres (12-12) crushing them 99-75 in the Spanish LEB Gold (second division) last Friday. He scored 9 points and added 3 assists in 24 minutes. Unicaja Banco Oviedo (12-10) is placed ninth in the LEB Gold. Kamba has relatively good stats this year: 12.3ppg, 4.3rpg and 1.1apg in 23 games. He is a former international player as he played for the DR Congolese senior team year ago.

Malela Mutuale

   #7. Former international point guard Malela Mutuale (188-1991, agency: Interperformances, currently plays in France) couldn't help Entente Orleans 45 (3-2) in their game against Metropolitans (17-6) in the French Betclic ELITE ProA. Mutuale cannot count Friday's game as one of the best ones. He recorded only 2 points in 23 minutes. Entente Orleans 45 was edged 79-78 in Levallois by the leading Metropolitans. This year Mutuale's total stats are: 5.4ppg, 2.9rpg and 3.0apg in 22 games. He used to play for the DR Congolese national team years ago.

Jonathan Kasibabu

   #8. Forward Jonathan Kasibabu (203-1996, college: Fairfield, currently plays in France) couldn't help Nantes (5-4) in their game against Quimper UJAP (10-12) in the French ProB (second division). Kasibabu recorded 7 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks. Nantes was defeated 72-63 on their home court in Nantes by the much lower-ranked Quimper UJAP (#12). Kasibabu has averaged so far 8.6ppg and 5.5rpg. He used to play for the DR Congolese national team back in 22.

Djo Loo Yele

   #9. Former international forward Djo Loo Yele (203-1982, currently plays in Norway) contributed to an easy victory against the closely-ranked Tromso (13-14) 105-87 in the Norwegian BLNO on Sunday night. Loo Yele recorded 6 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals in only 11 minutes. Kongsberg Miners (17-7) is placed fourth in the BLNO. It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row. Loo Yele has averaged so far 7.3ppg, 3.6rpg and 1.3apg in nine games. He used to play for the DR Congolese national team years ago.

Carl Ona-Embo

   #10. Point guard Carl Ona-Embo (188-1989, currently plays in France) couldn't help Caen (3-6) in their game against Rueil (4-5) in the French NM1 (third division). He recorded 5 points. Caen (#9) was edged 79-76 on the opponent's court by the higher-ranked Rueil (#7) in the Group A. Ona-Embo has averaged so far 5.0ppg, 2.3rpg and 2.3apg. Worth to mention Ona-Embo played also at Eurobasket Summer League, which helped him get the job in pro basketball. He is a former international player as years ago he still played for the DR Congolese senior national team.

   #11. Former international swingman Ron Mvouika (196-1991, college: St.John's, currently plays in Germany) contributed to an easy victory against the sixth-ranked TKS 49ers 74-59 in the German ProB (third division) on Saturday night. Mvouika recorded 8 points in 27 minutes. This year Mvouika has relatively solid stats: 11.4ppg, 3.3rpg, 2.6apg and 1.1spg in seven games. He used to play for the DR Congolese national team years ago.

   #12. Former international center Gullit Mukendi (203-1996, agency: Promo Sport ID, currently plays in Spain) led Jairis to an easy victory against the eighth-ranked Torrent 89-74 in the Spanish EBA (fourth division) in Saturday night's game. Mukendi scored 15 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. Mukendi has reliable stats this season: 11.6ppg, 5.9rpg and 1.1apg. He used to play for the DR Congolese national team back in 18.


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

   #1. Jonathan Kuminga (198-F-2002, agency: Verus Management, currently plays in NBA) led Golden State Warriors to a victory over the Los Angeles Clippers (35-35) 112-97 in the NBA in Tuesday night's game. He was MVP of the game. Kuminga recorded 21 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists in 26 minutes. The Golden State Warriors have a solid 48-22 record this season. It was his team's fifth consecutive victory in a row. Kuminga has relatively good stats this year: 9.4ppg and 3.3rpg in 57 games he played so far.

   #2. Junior Etou (201-F-1994, college: Tulsa, currently plays in Israel) was the main contributor in a Hapoel Beer Sheva's surprising victory against the third-ranked Maccabi Tel-Aviv (11-7) 74-71 in the Israeli Winner League last Sunday. He was MVP of the game. Etou scored 24 points, grabbed 4 rebounds and made 2 blocks; quite an impressive performance considering it's only his first season in pro basketball. Hapoel Altshuler Shaham Beer Sheva (7-11) is placed tenth in the Winner League. It was Hapoel's first victory after three consecutive loses. There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical. Etou has relatively good stats this season: 14.4ppg, 5.5rpg and 1.4apg.

   #3. Christian Lutete (196-G-1996, college: UMass Lowell, currently plays in Finland) contributed to an overtime Kobrat's victory against the sixth-ranked Korihait (6-21) 98-93 in the Finnish Korisliiga in Wednesday night's game. Lutete was MVP of the game. He recorded 25 points and grabbed 8 rebounds; not bad, considering it's only Lutete's first season in pro basketball. Lapuan Korikobrat (11-16) is placed second in Places 7-12 group. It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row. Lutete has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 23.1ppg, 4.7rpg and 1.7apg. Lutete is a naturalized American. Strangely he has never played in DR Congo.

   #4. Nicola Akele (203-F-1995, college: URI, currently plays in Basketball Champions League). Akele could not help Treviso (0-4) to beat Manresa (3-1). He recorded 6 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in 25 minutes. The fourth-placed Treviso (0-4) lost 88-103 at home to the second-ranked Manresa in the group J of Basketball Champions League. So far Treviso lost all four games in the Top 16. There are only two games left until the end of the Basketball Champions League Top 16. So now every game is very crucial. This year Akele's overall stats are: 8.1ppg, 4.6rpg and 1.5apg in 14 games. He has a dual citizenship: DR Congolese and Italian.

   #5. Oscar Tshiebwe (206-PF-1999, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to Kentucky's victory against the Vanderbilt University (7-11) 77-71 in the NCAA on Friday night. Tshiebwe recorded a double-double by scoring 12 points and getting 14 rebounds. He also added 5 blocks. The University of Kentucky has a very good 14-4 conference record this season. Tshiebwe's team will play only one more game in the NCAA Regular Season. And now that game is quite important. This season Tshiebwe has very high stats. He averages: 17.0ppg, 15.1rpg, 1.6bpg and 1.8spg.

   #6. Bismack Biyombo (206-PF-1992, currently plays in NBA) was not able to help the Phoenix Suns in their game against the Toronto Raptors in the NBA. Biyombo recorded only 4 points and blocked 2 shots in 10 minutes. His team lost 112-117 in the NBA. This year Biyombo's overall stats are: 6.5ppg and 5.2rpg in 24 games.

   #7. David Efambe (201-F-2001, currently plays in Argentina) managed to help La Union Formosa to win against the closely-ranked Regatas 66-61 in the Argentinian La Liga last Wednesday. He scored only 4 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. Efambe's overall stats this season are: 1.8ppg and 3.4rpg.

   #8. Eliel Nsoseme (203-F-1997, currently studies in the States) contributed to a Georgia St.'s victory against the University Louisiana at Lafayette 80-71 in the NCAA last Monday. He had a double-double by scoring 12 points and getting 13 rebounds. Nsoseme also added 2 blocks in 34 minutes. This year Nsoseme's overall stats are: 9.4ppg, 9.8rpg and 1.5bpg in 17 games.

   #9. Florent Thamba (208-F-1999, is currently at the American university), who plays in the NCAA was not able to secure a victory for the Baylor (14-4) in their last game on Thursday. Despite his good performance the Baylor was defeated 72-67 on the road by the The University of Oklahoma. Thamba recorded 10 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks. Thamba's overall stats this season are: 6.2ppg and 5.6rpg.

   #10. Isaac Mushila (196-F, currently plays college basketball in the States) helped TAMUCC win their game against the Nicholls State University 71-64 in the NCAA on Friday night. Mushila had a double-double by scoring 12 points and getting 10 rebounds in 23 minutes. Mushila has relatively good stats this year: 13.3ppg, 9.4rpg, 1.2apg and 1.2spg in 33 games.