Here is the weekly review of the top performing DR Congolese players, who play currently abroad.
#1. This week's number one is former international forward
Omari Gudul (206-94, agency:
Octagon Europe, college:
Angelo St., currently plays in Romania). Gudul led
Craiova to a victory over the fifth-ranked Galati (0-2)
85-67 in the Romanian Liga Nationala last Friday.
He was MVP of the game. Gudul recorded a double-double by scoring 16 points and getting 11 rebounds. He also added 2 blocks.
SCM CSU Craiova (2-0) is placed first in Grupa Galbena group.
It's Gudul's first season with the team.
Gudul has relatively good stats this year: 13.0ppg, 5.8rpg, 2FGP: 60.8%(76-125), 3FGP: 33.3% and FT: 73.2%.
He played for the DR Congolese senior national team two years ago.
#2. Second place goes to an international center
Jordan Sakho (209-97, agency:
BeoBasket, currently plays in Basketball Champions League). He could not help
La ICL Manresa (7-6) to beat Oostende (7-6).
Sakho recorded 6 points.
La ICL Manresa was defeated
85-72 on the road by the lower-ranked Oostende (#4).
It was La ICL Manresa's third consecutive loss in a row.
His team will play only one more game in the Basketball Champions League Regular Season. And that game will be critical.
Sakho has been at the team for four years.
This season Sakho averages: 5.2ppg, 4.2rpg, 2FGP: 58.1%(18-31) and FT: 64.0%.
He is in the roster of the DR Congolese senior national team.
#3. The DR Congolese player who performed third best last week abroad was an international forward
Eric Kibi (198-90, college:
Abil.Christian, currently plays in Argentina). Kibi was the main contributor in a
Tiro Federal's victory against the second-ranked Obera TC (15-6)
80-74 in the Argentinian La Liga Argentina (second division) last Tuesday.
He was the best player in that game. Kibi scored 29 points (!!!) and grabbed 8 rebounds in 27 minutes.
BHY Tiro Federal y Deportivo Morteros (5-18) is placed seventh in Conferencia Noroeste.
This year Kibi has relatively solid stats: 12.4ppg, 8.4rpg, 2FGP: 44.7%, 3FGP: 33.3% and FT: 57.9% in eight games he played so far.
He has a dual citizenship: DR Congolese and Canadian.
Kibi is also a member of the DR Congolese senior national team.
#4. Forward
Chadrack Lufile (206-90, agency:
Interperformances, college:
Wichita St., currently plays in Argentina) was not able to help
Estudiantes Concordia in their game against Obras (8-9) in the Argentinian La Liga.
He scored 6 points, had 11 rebounds and dished 4 assists.
Estudiantes Concordia was crushed
103-75 in Buenos Aires by the much higher-ranked Obras (#11).
It was Estudiantes Concordia's fifth consecutive loss in a row.
Lufile's overall stats this season are: 8.5ppg, 4.7rpg and 1.2apg.
He is another player who holds two passports: DR Congolese and Canadian.
Lufile used to play for the DR Congolese national team
back in 2017.
#5. Former international guard
Mathieu Kamba (196-95, agency:
Dynamics Global Management, college:
Cent Arkansas, currently plays in Spain) was the major contributor in a
Leyma Basquet's victory against the 11th-ranked Almansa (9-11) crushing them
93-62 in the Spanish LEB Gold (second division) in Sunday night's game.
He scored 17 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 29 minutes; quite an impressive performance considering it's only Kamba's second season in pro basketball. Leyma Basquet Coruna (14-6) is placed fourth in the LEB Gold.
Kamba has reliable stats this year: 10.9ppg, 3.0rpg and 1.2apg in 20 games.
Similarly like Lufile and Kibi above he has both DR Congolese and Canadian nationalities.
Kamba used to play for the DR Congolese national team
two years ago.
#6. Power forward
Ruphin Kayembe (201-92, currently plays in France) managed to help ALM Evreux Basket in a 2-point victory against the closely-ranked Aix-Maurienne (8-9)
75-73 in the French ProB (second division) last Friday.
He scored only 3 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 17 minutes.
ALM Evreux Basket (7-10) is placed 14th in the ProB.
Kayembe's stats this year are: 13.4ppg, 5.8rpg and 1.8apg in 16 games.
He is a former international player as he played for the DR Congolese senior team two years ago.
#7. Former international center
Gullit Mukendi (203-96, agency:
Promo Sport ID, currently plays in Spain) was not able to secure a victory for
Villarrobledo (7-13) in their last game on Saturday. Despite his good performance the tenth-placed Villarrobledo (7-13) was crushed
94-55 in Mahon by the higher-ranked Menorca (#4) in the West group.
Mukendi was the top scorer with 12 points. He also added 8 rebounds.
There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial.
Mukendi's overall stats this season are: 8.1ppg and 2.8rpg.
He used to play for the DR Congolese national team
two years ago.
#8. An experienced forward
Djo Loo Yele (203-82, currently plays in Norway) couldn't help
Asker Aliens (4-15) in their game against Gimle BBK (10-10) in the Norwegian BLNO, despite his very good performance on Saturday night.
Loo Yele recorded 16 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in 24 minutes.
But Asker Aliens lost
73-83 at home to the higher-ranked (#5) Gimle BBK.
Loo Yele is one of the most experienced players in a team as it's his eighth year in Asker Aliens' roster.
He has individually a very good season with high stats. Loo Yele averages: 17.0ppg, 10.2rpg, 1.6apg, 1.8bpg and 1.2spg in 13 games.
He used to play for the DR Congolese national team
back in 2018.
#9. International power forward
Evariste Shonganya (204-92, currently plays in Spain) couldn't help
UBU Tizona (13-7) in their game against Marbella (9-11) in the Spanish LEB Silver (third division). Despite his good performance in Saturday night's game Shonganya scored 10 points and grabbed 5 rebounds.
There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be important.
Shonganya's overall stats this season are: 6.0ppg, 4.0rpg and 1.6apg.
He is also in the roster of the DR Congolese national team.
#10. Point guard
Carl Ona-Embo (188-89, currently plays in France) contributed to
Poitiers' victory against the 13th-ranked Gries/Oberhoffen (7-10)
97-88 in the French ProB (second division) last Friday.
He scored 5 points and added 5 assists in 17 minutes.
Union Poitiers Basket 86 (2-15) is located at the very bottom in the ProB.
But the situation may improve as they ended a series of twelve consecutive loses.
This year Ona-Embo's overall stats are: 8.8ppg, 1.9rpg and 2.9apg in 16 games.
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 two years ago he still played for the DR Congolese senior national team.
#11. Former international swingman
Shekinah Munanga (201-97, currently plays in France) couldn't help
GET Vosges in their game against SOPCC in the French NM1 (third division), despite his good performance in Friday night's game.
He was the second best scorer with 11 points. Munanga also added 4 rebounds and 4 blocks in 29 minutes.
But his team lost
76-80.
Munanga averaged so far 11.6ppg, 7.6rpg, 1.9apg and 1.3bpg in 20 games.
He used to play for the DR Congolese national team
two years ago.
#12. Former U18 international power forward
Christian Musoko (203-96, college:
S.Utah, currently plays in Spain) contributed to a 3-point
Valls Nutrion's victory against the fourth-ranked Sant Adria
81-78 in the Spanish EBA (fourth division) last Saturday.
Musoko scored only 3 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in 22 minutes. It was his first game for Valls Nutrion this season.
Musoko used to play for the DR Congolese U18 national team
back in 2012.
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) managed to help Vanoli Basket Cremona in a 2-point victory against the 12th-ranked Grissin Bon RE (9-11)
95-93 in the Italian Serie A in Sunday night's game.
He scored only 4 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 17 minutes.
Vanoli Basket Cremona (0-3) is placed fourth in the Serie A.
This year Akele averages: 7.3ppg and 4.1rpg in 19 games he played so far.
He has a dual citizenship: DR Congolese and Italian.
#2. Viny Okouo (215-C-97, currently plays in Lithuania) could not help
Nevezis (6-15) in their last game. Despite Okouo's good performance Nevezis was badly defeated
85-69 on the road by the second-ranked Lietkabelis.
He was the second best scorer with 11 points. Okouo also added 9 rebounds, 3 assists and made 2 blocks in 25 minutes.
This year Okouo has relatively solid stats: 10.5ppg, 7.9rpg and 1.5apg in 20 games.
#3. Junior Etou (203-F-94, college:
Tulsa, currently plays in Germany) was not able to help one of league's weakest teams
s Oliver Baskets in their game against Bayern Muenchen (16-1) in the German BBL.
He scored only 4 points.
s Oliver Baskets was defeated
71-60 in Muenchen by the leading Bayern.
Etou's overall stats this season are: 9.5ppg and 4.2rpg.
#4. Kevin Tumba (206-C/F-91, currently plays in Spain) was not able to secure a victory for
UCAM Murcia (6-14) in their game against Zaragoza (15-5) in the Spanish Liga Endesa. He cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones.
Tumba scored only 2 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 11 minutes.
UCAM Murcia lost
70-80 on the opponent's court to the second-ranked Zaragoza.
This year Tumba's overall stats are: 2.2ppg and 3.3rpg in 19 games.
He is another player who holds two passports: DR Congolese and Belgian.
#5. Oscar Tshiebwe (206-PF-99, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to
WVU's surprising victory against the University of Kansas State (1-5)
66-57 in the NCAA in Saturday night's game.
Tshiebwe scored 8 points and grabbed 8 rebounds.
The West Virginia University has a solid 4-2 conference record this season.
Tshiebwe's stats this year are: 11.2ppg, 9.0rpg and 1.3bpg.
#6. Charles Nkaloulou (200-F-94, agency:
Promo Sport ID, currently plays in France) couldn't help
Aix-Maurienne (8-9) in their last game on Friday. Despite Nkaloulou's good performance Aix-Maurienne was edged
75-73 at home by the lower-ranked ALM Evreux (#14).
He scored 12 points.
Nkaloulou averaged so far 11.9ppg and 5.0rpg.
#7. Cedric Belemene-Dzabatou (199-F-96, agency:
Interperformances, college:
Tampa, currently plays in Spain) led
Azuqueca to a victory against the 13th-ranked Movistar Estudiantes Madrid B
87-81 in the Spanish EBA (fourth division) in Saturday night's game.
He scored 11 points, had 7 rebounds and made 2 blocks in 25 minutes.
This year Belemene-Dzabatou's overall stats are: 8.3ppg, 7.7rpg and 1.5spg in 17 games.
#8. Bitumba Baruti (201-G, currently studies in the States) couldn't help the
ECU in their game against the Temple University in the NCAA. Baruti cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones.
He scored only 2 points and grabbed 4 rebounds.
His team was defeated
76-64.
Baruti's total stats this season are: 4.2ppg and 3.7rpg.
#9. Joel Kabimba (203-F, is currently at the American university) couldn't help the
Stetson in their game against the University of North Florida in the NCAA. Kabimba cannot count Thursday's game as one of the best ones.
He scored only 3 points.
His team was defeated
78-65.
Kabimba's total stats this season are: 4.2ppg and 3.0rpg.
#10. Experienced
Lotola Otshumbe (195-F-84, currently plays in Germany) contributed to an easy victory against the sixth-ranked Hertener Loewen
105-90 in the German Regionalliga (fourth division) on Saturday night.
He scored only 2 points in 3 minutes on the court.
This year Otshumbe's total stats are: 1.7ppg and 1.3rpg in 17 games.
He has both DR Congolese and German nationalities.
