Jonathan Malu selected the top Congolese playing abroad in last week's games

JONATHAN MALU

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

Jonathan Malu

   #1. This week's number one is an international power forward Jonathan Malu (200-93, currently plays in Germany). He could not help Artland Dragons (10-13) in their last game on Saturday. Despite Malu's good performance Artland Dragons was defeated 77-73 on the road by the lower-ranked Schalke (#14). He was the second best scorer with 14 points. Malu also added 7 rebounds. This season Malu averages: 5.0ppg, 2.5rpg, 2FGP: 56.9%(37-65) and FT: 56.8%. He has a dual citizenship: DR Congolese and German. Despite Malu played previously for the German U20 national team, he is currently a member of the DR Congolese senior national team.

Jonathan Kasibabu

   #2. Second place goes to an international forward Jonathan Kasibabu (203-96, currently plays college basketball in the States), who plays in the NCAA. Kasibabu was not able to help the Fairfield (2-5) in their last game. Despite his very good performance his team lost 68-72 at home to the Canisius College. Kasibabu scored 16 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 32 minutes. There are only three games left until the end of the NCAA Regular Season. So now every game will be critical. It's Kasibabu's fourth season with the team. He has relatively good stats this year: 10.5ppg, 7.5rpg, 1.4apg, 2FGP: 61.1%(99-162), 3FGP: 26.9% and FT: 67.7% in 27 games he played so far. Kasibabu is in the roster of the DR Congolese senior national team.

Mathieu Kamba

   #3. The DR Congolese player who performed third best last week abroad was an international guard Mathieu Kamba (196-95, agency: Dynamics Global Management, college: Cent.Arkansas, currently plays in Spain). He was the major contributor in Araberri's surprising victory against the seventh-ranked Real Canoe (10-8) 75-64 in the Spanish LEB Gold (second division) last Friday. Kamba recorded 15 points; quite an impressive performance considering it's only his third season in pro basketball. Saenz Horeca Araberri (7-15) is placed 15th in the LEB Gold. They ended the series of three consecutive loses. It's Kamba's first year with the team. This season Kamba has relatively solid stats: 13.1ppg, 3.5rpg, 1.6apg, 1.9spg, 2FGP: 57.8%(96-166), 3FGP: 32.0% and FT: 65.8%. He is another player who holds two passports: Canadian and DR Congolese. Kamba is also a member of the DR Congolese senior national team.

Shekinah Munanga

   #4. Swingman Shekinah Munanga (201-97, currently plays in France) managed to help Etoile Angers Basket to win against the eighth-ranked Vitre (12-11) 80-75 in the French NM1 (third division) last Friday. He scored only 4 points. Etoile Angers Basket (13-10) is placed fourth in Group B. There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial. It's Munanga's first season with the team. Munanga's overall stats this year are: 4.8ppg and 3.9rpg. He is also DR Congolese national team player.

Gullit Mukendi

   #5. International center Gullit Mukendi (203-96, currently plays in Spain) was not able to secure a victory for Azuqueca (11-11) in their game against L'Hospitalet (8-14) in the Spanish LEB Silver (third division). Mukendi cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones. He recorded only 3 points and blocked 4 shots in 17 minutes. The sixth-placed Azuqueca (11-11) was crushed 80-59 on the opponent's court by the lower-ranked (#10) L'Hospitalet in the East group. The Regular Season already ended. This year Mukendi's overall stats are: 4.8ppg and 2.6rpg in 21 games. He plays currently for the DR Congolese national team.

Patrick Mwamba

   #6. Forward Patrick Mwamba (196-99, currently studies in the States) couldn't help the Texas Arlington (4-2) in their game against the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (4-1) in the NCAA. Mwamba cannot count Thursday's game as one of the best ones. He recorded only one point. his team was defeated 56-52 on their home court in Arlington by the University of Arkansas at. Mwamba's total stats this season are: 2.9ppg and 2.7rpg. He is a former U18 international player as he played for the DR Congolese team three years ago.

Carl Ona-Embo

   #7. International point guard Carl Ona-Embo (185-89, currently plays in Germany) couldn't help Lions (12-11) in their game against Chemnitz (3-13) in the German ProA (second division). He scored 8 points, grabbed 5 rebounds and dished 3 assists in 25 minutes. Lions was badly defeated 100-82 on the opponent's court by the lower-ranked (#11) Chemnitz. This year Ona-Embo's total stats are: 9.1ppg, 2.3rpg and 2.4apg in 11 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.


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

   #1. Experienced Guy Muya (193-PG-83, currently plays in Belgium) contributed to an easy victory against one of league's weakest teams Leuven Bears (3-11) crushing them 87-67 in the Belgian Euromillions League in Sunday night's game. He scored 10 points in 21 minutes. Basic-Fit Brussels (12-3) is placed first in the Euromillions League. It was his team's ninth consecutive victory in a row. It's Muya's fourth season with the team. This year Muya averages: 4.5ppg, 2.3rpg and 1.1apg in 15 games he played so far. He has a dual citizenship: DR Congolese and Belgian.

   #2. Cedric Kuakumensah (204-F-93, college: Brown, currently plays in France) contributed to a 3-point Souffelweyersheim's victory against the 13th-ranked ALS Basket (6-17) 73-70 in the French NM1 (third division) last Friday. Kuakumensah scored 8 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. BC Souffelweyersheim (22-2) is placed second in Group A. There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical. It's Kuakumensah's first season with the team. He has relatively good stats this year: 10.2ppg, 7.0rpg and 2.0apg. Kuakumensah is a naturalized American. Strangely he has never played in DR Congo.

   #3. Joel Ntambwe (206-F-98, currently plays college basketball in the States) led UNLV to a victory against the San Jose State University (0-5) 71-64 in the NCAA on Saturday night. Ntambwe scored 20 points in 25 minutes. The University of Nevada - Las Vegas have 4-1 conference record this season. Ntambwe has relatively good stats this year: 12.3ppg and 5.4rpg in 25 games.

   #4. Bismack Biyombo (206-C-92, currently plays in NBA). Biyombo could not help the Charlotte Hornets (27-30) to beat the Indiana Pacers (38-20). He did not have that impressive stats last Monday. Biyombo scored only 3 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 11 minutes. The Charlotte Hornets (27-30) lost 90-99 on the road to the Indiana Pacers. This year Biyombo's overall stats are: 4.4ppg, 4.9rpg and 1.1bpg in 31 games.

   #5. Nicola Akele (203-F-95, college: Rhode Island, currently plays in Italy) contributed to a Roseto Sharks' victory against the 14th-ranked Termoforgia JE (7-15) 106-93 in the Italian Serie A2 (second division) on Wednesday night. He recorded a double-double by scoring 13 points and getting the same number of rebounds. Akele also added 3 assists. Roseto Sharks (10-12) is placed seventh in East group. It was his team's fourth consecutive victory in a row. Akele has relatively good stats this season: 13.2ppg, 7.2rpg, 1.6apg and 1.3spg. He is another player who holds two passports: DR Congolese and Italian. Despite Akele's DR Congolese nationality, he previously played for the Italian U20 national team and is probably not eligible to play for the DR Congolese team.

   #6. Kevin Zabo (188-G-95, college: Kent St., currently plays in Spain) was the major contributor in Albacete's victory against the fourth-ranked Villarrobledo 80-74 in the Spanish LEB Silver (third division) on Saturday night. He recorded 16 points and added 6 passes in 26 minutes. Zabo has reliable stats this year: 15.0ppg, 2.3rpg, 2.7apg and 1.3spg in three games. He has both DR Congolese and Canadian nationalities. Despite Zabo's DR Congolese passport, he previously played for the Canadian U17 national team and probably cannot be called to the DR Congolese team.

   #7. Florent Thamba (208-F-99, currently studies in the States) was not able to help the Baylor in their game against the Texas Tech University in the NCAA. Thamba scored 5 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. His team was crushed by 25 points 86-61. His overall stats this season are: 2.2ppg and 2.5rpg.

   #8. Cedric Belemene-Dzabatou (198-F-96, currently plays in NCAA2) helped University of Tampa win their game against the Rollins College 95-88 in the NCAA2 last Wednesday. Belemene-Dzabatou scored 7 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 31 minutes. This year his overall stats are: 9.6ppg, 8.6rpg and 1.1bpg in 23 games.

   #9. Panagiotis Mayindombe (191-G-88, currently plays in United Kingdom) was not able to secure a victory for Bristol Acadamy Flyers in their game against Leicester Riders in the British BBL. Mayindombe cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones. He recorded only 3 points. His team was defeated 90-83. Mayindombe's overall stats this season are: 2.0ppg, 1.7rpg and 1.2apg. He also holds two passports: DR Congolese and Greek.

   #10. Lotola Otshumbe (195-F-84, currently plays in Germany) couldn't help Dragons Rhoendorf in their game against OrangeAcademy in the German ProB (third division). Otshumbe scored only 4 points in 13 minutes. His team was badly defeated by 16 points 89-73. This year his overall stats are: 1.6ppg and 1.2rpg in 11 games. Otshumbe has dual citizenship: DR Congolese and German.