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 an international guard
Myck Kabongo (190-92, college:
Texas, currently plays in Qatar). Kabongo could not help
Al Rayyan (1-3) in their last game. Despite his very good performance Al Rayyan lost
73-83 in a derby game to the higher-ranked (#3) Al Gharafa.
Kabongo had a double-double by scoring 34 points and getting 12 rebounds. He also added 6 assists in 40 minutes on the court.
It was Al Rayyan's third consecutive loss in a row.
Kabongo has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 21.5ppg, 6.5rpg, 9.5apg, 1.5spg, 2FGP: 70.6%(12-17) and FT: 76.5% in two games he played so far.
Kabongo has a dual citizenship: DR Congolese and Canadian.
He is currently a member of the DR Congolese senior national team.
#2. Second place goes to an international guard
Mathieu Kamba (196-95, college:
Cent Arkansas, currently plays in Spain). He led
Oviedo to an easy victory against the closely-ranked Coruna (6-3) crushing them
83-61 in the Spanish LEB Gold (second division) last Sunday.
Kamba scored 13 points, had 6 rebounds and dished 3 assists in 32 minutes.
Unicaja Banco Oviedo (7-2) is placed second in the LEB Gold.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
Kamba has relatively good stats this year: 13.3ppg, 3.8rpg, 1.4apg, 2FGP: 47.5%, 3FGP: 39.0% and FT: 66.7% in nine games.
He is another player who holds two passports: DR Congolese and Canadian.
Kamba 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
Chadrack Lufile (206-90, agency:
BIG, college:
Wichita St., currently plays in Romania). He led
Miercurea Ciuc to a victory against the second-ranked CS Dinamo Bucuresti (2-0)
84-74 in the Romanian Liga Nationala on Saturday night.
Lufile scored 16 points and grabbed 8 rebounds.
CSM VSKC Miercurea Ciuc (0-2) is placed 14th in the Liga Nationala.
There are only four games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical.
This season Lufile has relatively solid stats: 14.7ppg, 7.3rpg, 2FGP: 55.2%(16-29), 3FGP: 33.3% and FT: 75.0%.
Similarly like Kamba and Kabongo above he has both DR Congolese and Canadian nationalities.
Lufile is also a member of the DR Congolese senior national team.
#4. Small forward
Christian Eyenga (198-89, currently plays in Spain) was not able to help
Fuenlabrada in their game against Unicaja (5-6) in the Spanish Liga Endesa. He cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones.
Eyenga scored only 2 points in 18 minutes.
Fuenlabrada lost
86-90 on the road to the higher-ranked (#11) Unicaja.
It was Fuenlabrada's fourth consecutive loss in a row.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
It's Eyenga's fifth year with the team.
This season his overall stats are: 4.8ppg and 2.3rpg in nine games.
Eyenga used to play for the DR Congolese national team
last year.
#5. International swingman
Shekinah Munanga (201-97, currently plays in France) was not able to secure a victory for
ALM Evreux (3-5) in their game against Aix-Maurienne (4-3) in the French ProB (second division). He cannot count Friday's game as one of the best ones.
Munanga recorded only 2 points in 18 minutes.
ALM Evreux lost
85-98 in Aix-les-Bains to the lower-ranked (#8) Aix-Maurienne.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
This year Munanga's total stats are: 8.4ppg, 5.6rpg and 1.1apg in seven games.
He used to play for the DR Congolese national team
last year.
#6. 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 managed to help Unicaja Banco Oviedo in a victory against the closely-ranked Coruna (6-3) crushing them
83-61.
He scored only 4 points in 13 minutes.
Kabasele has averaged so far 8.0ppg and 5.2rpg in six games.
He is an international player who is currently on the senior DR Congolese National Team roster.
#7. Former international forward
Jonathan Kasibabu (203-96, college:
Fairfield, currently plays in France) couldn't help
Nantes (6-2) in their game against Tours (5-2) in the French ProB (second division).
Kasibabu recorded only 4 points in 14 minutes.
Nantes lost
84-92 at home to the second-ranked Tours.
They ended the series of four consecutive victories.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
Kasibabu has averaged so far 7.4ppg, 5.0rpg and 1.3apg in seven games.
He used to play for the DR Congolese national team
three years ago.
#8. Forward
Patrick Mwamba (196-99, currently plays college basketball in the States) couldn't help the
UT Arlington in their game against the Abilene Christian University in the NCAA. Mwamba cannot count Tuesday's game as one of the best ones.
He scored only 2 points in 12 minutes.
The UT Arlington (#6) lost
71-80 in Abilene to the Christian University.
Mwamba has been at the team for four years.
Mwamba has averaged so far 1.5ppg, 2.0rpg and 1.5spg in two games.
He plays currently for the DR Congolese national team.
#9. Former international point guard
Carl Ona-Embo (188-89, currently plays in France) contributed to
Caen's victory against the third-ranked Mulhouse (9-4)
77-70 in the French NM1 (third division) on Friday night.
He recorded 5 points and added 5 assists.
It was the game of the round between two top 3 ranked teams in Group B. Caen Basket Calvados (11-2) is placed first.
It was his team's eighth consecutive victory in a row.
Ona-Embo has averaged so far 5.1ppg, 2.6rpg and 2.0apg.
Worth to mention Ona-Embo played also at
Eurobasket Summer League, which helped him get the job in pro basketball. He used to play for the DR Congolese national team
three years ago.
#10. Center
Gullit Mukendi (203-96, agency:
Promo Sport ID, currently plays in Spain) contributed to
Jairis' victory against the sixth-ranked Archena (3-5)
72-66 in the Spanish EBA (fourth division) in Sunday night's game.
Mukendi recorded 12 points.
in Group E-C. Hozono Global Jairis (8-0) is placed first.
So far his team won all eight games in the Regular Season.
It's Mukendi's first season with the team.
He has reliable stats this year: 10.5ppg and 6.3rpg.
Mukendi is a former international player as three 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. Nicola Akele (203-F-95, college:
URI, currently plays in Basketball Champions League) could not help
Treviso (3-1) in their last game. Despite his very good performance the league leader Treviso was edged
81-80 on the road by the second-ranked Szombathely.
Akele was the top scorer with 22 points. He also added 4 rebounds and 3 assists in 31 minutes.
It was Treviso's first loss after three consecutive victories.
There are only two games left until the end of the Basketball Champions League Regular Season. So now every game will be critical.
Akele has relatively good stats this year: 11.0ppg, 4.3rpg and 2.3apg in seven games he played so far.
He has a dual citizenship: DR Congolese and Italian.
#2. Experienced
Wen Boss Mukubu (198-SF-83, college:
UAB, currently plays in BNXT-League) led his Belgian team
Kangoeroes to a victory against the ninth-ranked Liege Basket (2-7)
82-72 in the BNXT League last Friday.
Mukubu scored 14 points, grabbed 7 rebounds and dished 4 assists.
Kangoeroes Basket Mechelen (6-3) is placed third in the BNXT League.
It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row.
This season Mukubu averages: 9.1ppg, 3.9rpg and 2.9apg.
He is another player who holds two passports: DR Congolese and Belgian.
#3. Yannick Nzosa Manzila (206-F-3, currently plays in Spain) contributed to
Unicaja's victory against one of league's weakest teams Fuenlabrada (2-9)
90-86 in the Spanish Liga Endesa on Saturday night.
Nzosa Manzila scored 6 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in 22 minutes.
Unicaja Malaga (2-1) is placed second in the Liga Endesa.
But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen.
This year Nzosa Manzila averages: 2.7ppg and 3.3rpg in 11 games.
#4. Christian Lutete (196-G-96, college:
UMass Lowell, currently plays in Finland) led
Kobrat to a victory over the closely-ranked Seagulls (10-2)
79-67 in the Finnish Korisliiga in Wednesday night's game.
He was MVP of the game. Lutete scored 22 points, grabbed 9 rebounds and dished 4 assists; quite an impressive performance considering it's only his second season in pro basketball. Lapuan Korikobrat (6-5) is placed fifth in the Korisliiga.
Lutete has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 21.5ppg, 4.7rpg and 1.6apg.
Lutete is a naturalized American.
Strangely he has never played in DR Congo.
#5. Charles Kahudi (196-F-86, currently plays in Euroleague) was not able to help
ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket in their game against Barca (9-2) in the Euroleague.
Kahudi scored 6 points in 26 minutes.
ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket was badly defeated
80-60 in Barcelona by the second-ranked Barca.
It was ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket's third consecutive loss in a row.
But the season just started, so everything may happen.
It's Kahudi's seventh year with the team.
This season he averages: 4.6ppg and 2.8rpg in 11 games.
Kahudi has both DR Congolese and French nationalities.
#6. Oscar Tshiebwe (206-PF-99, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to an
Kentucky's surprising victory against the Mount Saint Mary's University crushing them
80-55 in the NCAA on Tuesday night.
He recorded a double-double by scoring 24 points and getting 16 rebounds. Tshiebwe also added 3 blocks.
He has relatively good stats this season: 13.4ppg, 15.8rpg and 1.6bpg.
#7. Jonathan Kuminga (198-F-2, agency:
Verus Management, currently plays in NBA) contributed to an easy victory against the Brooklyn Nets
117-99 in the NBA last Tuesday.
Kuminga scored 7 points and grabbed 6 rebounds.
Kuminga's overall stats this season are: 3.3ppg and 1.8rpg.
#8. Junior Etou (201-F-94, college:
Tulsa, currently plays in Israel) was not able to secure a victory for
Hapoel Beer Sheva (3-4) in their last game. Despite his good performance Hapoel Beer Sheva lost
61-73 in Kfar Blum to the higher-ranked (#3) Galil Elion.
Etou was the second best scorer with 10 points. He also added 9 rebounds in 29 minutes.
Etou has very impressive stats this year: 16.1ppg, 6.6rpg and 1.6apg in seven games.
#9. Isaac Mushila (196-F, currently studies in the States) contributed to an easy victory against the The University of Texas San Antonio
77-58 in the NCAA in Sunday night's game.
He recorded a double-double by scoring 21 points and getting 17 rebounds.
Mushila has relatively good stats this season: 13.0ppg and 9.2rpg.
#10. Prince Toyambi (201-C/F-0, is currently at the American university) contributed to an easy victory against the Bob Jones University crushing them
103-51 in the NCAA in Tuesday night's game.
He recorded 12 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in a mere 15 minutes.
This year Toyambi's overall stats are: 7.6ppg and 5.4rpg in five games.
