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.
#1. This week's number one is former international center
Herve Kabasele (208-1996, currently plays in Spain). Kabasele could not help
Oviedo (17-14) in their last game. Despite his good performance Oviedo lost
69-74 on the road to the much lower-ranked (#15) Palma.
Kabasele was the second best scorer with 14 points. He also added 8 rebounds in 22 minutes on the court.
There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical.
This year Kabasele averages: 7.2ppg, 5.1rpg, 2FGP: 52.9% and FT: 64.4% in 23 games he played so far.
He played for the DR Congolese senior national team year ago.
#2. Second place goes to former international center
Jordan Sakho (207-1997, agency:
BeoBasket, currently plays in Spain). Sakho managed to help Leche Rio Breogan Lugo to win against the closely-ranked Gran Canaria (15-14)
86-84 in the Spanish Liga Endesa on Sunday night.
He scored 5 points.
Leche Rio Breogan Lugo (14-14) is placed 11th in the Liga Endesa.
They ended the series of three consecutive loses.
There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial.
Sakho's overall stats this season are: 4.6ppg, 3.3rpg, 2FGP: 58.5%(55-94) and FT: 54.1%.
He played for the DR Congolese national team in 22.
#3. The DR Congolese player who performed third best last week abroad was former international forward
Henry Pwono (198-1991, college:
ECU, currently plays in Australia). Pwono was not able to help
Ipswich Force in their game against Cairns Marlins (1-0) in the Australian State League (second division). Despite his very good performance last Saturday He was the top scorer with 22 points. Pwono also added 7 rebounds.
But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen.
Pwono has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 18.0ppg, 7.5rpg, 2.5apg, 3.0spg, 2FGP: 52.6%, 3FGP: 25.0% and FT: 90.9%.
Pwono is a naturalized American.
He played for the DR Congolese national team year ago.
Strangely Pwono has never played in DR Congo.
#4. Forward
Eric Kibi (198-1990, college:
ACU, currently plays in Chile) was not able to secure a victory for
Tinguiririca (5-19) in their game against Castro (2-6) in the Chilean LNB, despite his very good performance on Wednesday night.
He had a double-double by scoring 19 points and getting 14 rebounds. Kibi also added 3 assists in 40 minutes; quite an impressive performance considering it's only his first season in pro basketball. But Tinguiririca was crushed
105-74 at home by the higher-ranked (#5) Castro.
It was Tinguiririca's sixth consecutive loss in a row.
The Regular Season already ended.
Kibi has very impressive stats this year: 19.4ppg, 14.7rpg, 1.3apg and 1.3spg in 20 games.
He has a dual citizenship: DR Congolese and Canadian.
Kibi used to play for the DR Congolese national team
back in 21.
#5. Former international point guard
Malela Mutuale (188-1991, agency:
Interperformances, currently plays in France) couldn't help
Entente Orleans 45 (7-2) in their game against SIG Strasbourg (18-12) in the French Betclic ELITE ProA.
He recorded 7 points.
Entente Orleans 45 was crushed
104-71 in Strasbourg by the lower-ranked SIG Strasbourg (#5).
There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season.
Mutuale's overall stats this season are: 4.9ppg, 2.5rpg and 2.6apg.
He used to play for the DR Congolese national team
years ago.
#6. Swingman
Shekinah Munanga (201-1997, currently plays in France) contributed to an
ALM Evreux's victory against the ninth-ranked Aix-Maurienne (14-17)
74-70 in the French ProB (second division) in Friday night's game.
He recorded only 2 points in 22 minutes.
ALM Evreux Basket (19-12) is placed third in the ProB.
It was his team's 11th consecutive victory in a row.
There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season.
This year Munanga's overall stats are: 9.7ppg, 5.6rpg and 1.2apg in 31 games.
He is a former international player as he played for the DR Congolese senior team year ago.
#7. Former international forward
Jonathan Kasibabu (203-1996, college:
Fairfield, currently plays in France) couldn't help
Nantes (9-5) in their game against Tours (13-17) in the French ProB (second division).
Kasibabu recorded only 4 points and grabbed 5 rebounds.
Nantes was edged
87-86 on the opponent's court by the much lower-ranked Tours (#12).
There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season.
Kasibabu's total stats this season are: 7.9ppg and 5.3rpg.
He used to play for the DR Congolese national team
years ago.
#8. An experienced point guard
Carl Ona-Embo (188-1989, currently plays in France) led
Caen to a surprising victory over the third-ranked Lyon (15-7) crushing them
97-63 in the French NM1 (third division) on Sunday night.
He was MVP of the game. Ona-Embo scored 22 points, had 6 rebounds and dished 6 assists in a mere 19 minutes.
Caen Basket Calvados (7-11) is placed ninth in Group A.
This year Ona-Embo's total stats are: 6.4ppg, 2.2rpg and 2.7apg in 33 games.
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.
#9. Former international swingman
Ron Mvouika (196-1991, college:
St.John's, currently plays in Germany) couldn't help
Rhein Stars (9-17) in their game against Dragons Rhoendorf (10-15) in the German ProB (third division).
He recorded only 4 points in 14 minutes.
The 11th-placed Rhein Stars (9-17) lost
65-78 in Rhoendorf to the higher-ranked (#10) Dragons in the North group.
Mvouika's team will play only one more game in the Relegation Round.
Mvouika has relatively good stats this year: 10.3ppg, 3.3rpg, 1.9apg and 1.1spg in 15 games.
He used to play for the DR Congolese national team
years ago.
#10. Center
Gullit Mukendi (203-1996, agency:
Promo Sport ID, currently plays in Spain) led
Jairis to an easy victory against the eighth-ranked Torrent (1-13) crushing them
93-62 in the Spanish EBA (fourth division) last Saturday.
Mukendi recorded 15 points (made all of his five free throws).
Hozono Global Jairis (24-6) is placed second in Group Eclasif.
It was his team's tenth consecutive victory in a row.
The Regular Season already ended.
This season Mukendi has relatively solid stats: 11.6ppg and 5.3rpg.
He is a former international player as years ago he still played for the DR Congolese senior national team.
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-1986, currently plays in France) managed to help ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket in a victory against the seventh-ranked Le Mans (16-13)
86-74 in the French Betclic ELITE ProA in Sunday night's game.
He recorded only 4 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists in 18 minutes.
ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket (11-3) is placed first in the Betclic ELITE ProA.
There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical.
This year Kahudi averages: 7.0ppg and 3.0rpg in 22 games he played so far.
He has a dual citizenship: DR Congolese and French.
#2. Jonathan Kuminga (198-F-2002, agency:
Verus Management, currently plays in NBA) contributed to a 1-point
Golden State Warriors' victory against the Memphis Grizzlies (56-26)
117-116 in the NBA last Sunday.
Kuminga recorded 6 points and grabbed 6 rebounds.
The Golden State Warriors have a solid 54-29 record this season.
It was his team's fifth consecutive victory in a row.
Kuminga has relatively good stats this season: 9.2ppg and 3.2rpg.
#3. Kevin Tumba (206-C/F-1991, agency:
Network Sports International, currently plays in Greece) contributed to
Ionikos' victory against the league outsider Iraklis (6-16)
74-62 in the Greek A1 on Wednesday night.
He scored 7 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 16 minutes.
Hellenic Coin Ionikos Basketball (6-16) is placed second from the bottom (#12) in the A1.
There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial.
This year Tumba averages: 4.3ppg and 4.7rpg in three games.
He is another player who holds two passports: DR Congolese and Belgian.
#4. Nicola Akele (203-F-1995, college:
URI, currently plays in Italy). Akele could not help
Treviso to beat Virtus BO.
He scored only 4 points.
His team was crushed
113-76 at home by the lower-ranked Virtus BO (#3).
This season Akele averages: 5.8ppg and 4.2rpg.
He has both DR Congolese and Italian nationalities.
#5. Brandon Kuba (201-F-1998, currently plays in Switzerland) led
Geneve to a victory against the closely-ranked Swiss Central (13-14)
72-61 in the Swiss SBL in Tuesday night's game.
Kuba scored 14 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 34 minutes.
Lions de Geneve (14-13) is placed fourth in the SBL.
This year Kuba's overall stats are: 6.9ppg and 2.8rpg in 23 games.
He also holds two passports: DR Congolese and Swiss.
#6. Yannick Nzosa Manzila (206-F-2003, currently plays in Spain) was not able to help
Unicaja in their game against Baskonia in the Spanish Liga Endesa. Nzosa Manzila cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones.
He scored only 2 points in 10 minutes.
His team was edged
73-72.
This year Nzosa Manzila's overall stats are: 1.8ppg and 2.2rpg in 24 games.
#7. Bismack Biyombo (206-PF-1992, currently plays in NBA) contributed to a
Phoenix Suns' victory against the New Orleans Pelicans
115-109 in the NBA on Thursday night.
He scored only 2 points.
Biyombo's overall stats this season are: 5.4ppg and 4.4rpg.
#8. L'Hassane Niangane (208-C-1994, college:
Gardner-Webb, currently plays in France) was not able to secure a victory for
Orchesien BC in their game against La Rochelle in the French NM1 (third division).
He scored 5 points and added 3 passes.
His team was defeated
84-74.
Niangane has averaged so far 2.5ppg and 2.0rpg.
He has dual citizenship: DR Congolese and French.
#9. Divin Zayadiaku (197-G-2000, currently plays in Switzerland) helped
Vevey Riviera win their game against the sixth-ranked Villars crushing them
95-52 in the Swiss NLB (second division) last Sunday.
Zayadiaku scored only 4 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 21 minutes.
Zayadiaku has averaged so far 2.5ppg and 2.3rpg in 23 games.
#10. Gracin Bakumanya (211-C-1997, agency:
Duran International, currently plays in Spain) couldn't help
Zamora in their game against Valencia Basket 2nd team in the Spanish LEB Silver (third division). He cannot count Sunday's game as one of the best ones.
Bakumanya recorded only 2 points and grabbed 8 rebounds.
His team was defeated
91-76.
Bakumanya has averaged so far 6.5ppg and 5.3rpg.
