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 center
Jordan Sakho (207-97, agency:
BeoBasket, currently plays in Spain). Sakho managed to help Leche Rio Breogan to win against the closely-ranked Andorra (5-8)
83-74 in the Spanish Liga Endesa last Sunday.
He recorded only 3 points and added 3 assists.
Leche Rio Breogan (6-5) is placed tenth in the Liga Endesa.
But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen.
This year Sakho averages: 3.7ppg, 2.9rpg, 2FGP: 60.6%(20-33) and FT: 14.3%.
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). Kamba could not help
Oviedo (8-3) in their last game. Despite his good performance Oviedo lost
68-73 on the road to the one of league's weakest teams (#17) Huesca.
Kamba scored 11 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in 30 minutes.
They ended the series of three consecutive victories.
But the season just started, so everything may happen.
Kamba has relatively good stats this year: 13.0ppg, 4.5rpg, 1.4apg, 1.1spg, 2FGP: 46.2%, 3FGP: 39.1% and FT: 63.0% in 11 games he played so far.
He has a dual citizenship: 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 swingman
Shekinah Munanga (201-97, currently plays in France). He was not able to help
ALM Evreux in their game against SPO Rouen (2-7) in the French ProB (second division).
Munanga scored 7 points.
ALM Evreux was edged
80-79 in Rouen by the league outsider SPO Rouen (#18).
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
Munanga's overall stats this season are: 8.7ppg, 5.7rpg, 1.1apg, 3FGP: 37.5% and FT: 66.7%.
He played for the DR Congolese national team one years ago.
#4. Forward
Patrick Mwamba (196-99, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to an
UT Arlington's victory against the Lamar University
56-47 in the NCAA on Saturday night.
He scored 10 points and grabbed 7 rebounds.
The University of Texas at Arlington has 6-2 overall record this season.
It's Mwamba's fourth year with the team.
Mwamba's overall stats this year are: 3.5ppg, 3.3rpg and 1.3spg.
He is also DR Congolese national team player.
#5. International 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 was not able to secure a victory for
Oviedo (8-3) in their game against Huesca (2-9).
He scored only 4 points and grabbed 6 rebounds.
Oviedo was defeated
73-68 on the opponent's court by the one of league's weakest teams Huesca (#17).
Kabasele's overall stats this season are: 7.9ppg and 5.5rpg.
He plays currently for the DR Congolese national team.
#6. Forward
Henry Pwono (198-91, college:
ECU, currently plays in Luxembourg) couldn't help one of league's weakest teams
Musel Pikes (9-3) in their game against Residence (11-2) in the Luxembourg LBBL. Despite his very good performance in Saturday night's game He recorded a double-double by scoring 19 points and getting 10 rebounds. Pwono also added 3 assists. It was his first game for Musel Pikes this season.
Pwono is a naturalized American.
He is an international player who is currently on the senior DR Congolese National Team roster.
Strangely Pwono has never played in DR Congo.
#7. Former international forward
Jonathan Kasibabu (203-96, college:
Fairfield, currently plays in France) couldn't help
Nantes (8-2) in their game against Sluc Nancy (6-3) in the French ProB (second division).
He scored only 4 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 16 minutes.
Nantes lost
77-81 at home to the lower-ranked (#4) Sluc Nancy.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
This year Kasibabu's overall stats are: 7.6ppg, 5.8rpg and 1.1apg in nine games.
He used to play for the DR Congolese national team
three years ago.
#8. Forward
Chadrack Lufile (206-90, agency:
BIG, college:
Wichita St., currently plays in Romania) couldn't help
Miercurea Ciuc (0-2) in their game against Cluj Napoca (2-0) in the Romanian Liga Nationala.
Lufile scored only 4 points in 23 minutes.
Miercurea Ciuc lost
73-86 on their home court in Miercurea Ciuc to the leading Cluj Napoca.
His team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And that game will be critical.
This year Lufile has relatively solid stats: 10.5ppg and 6.0rpg in six games.
He plays currently for the DR Congolese national team.
#9. International power forward
Ruphin Kayembe (200-92, currently plays in France) contributed to an easy victory against the 11th-ranked Dax-Gamarde (5-10)
85-69 in the French NM1 (third division) in Friday night's game.
Kayembe scored 8 points.
Stade Rochelais Basket (8-7) is placed eighth in Group A.
Kayembe has reliable stats this season: 12.4ppg and 4.0rpg.
He is also in the roster of the DR Congolese national team.
#10. Point guard
Carl Ona-Embo (188-89, currently plays in France) couldn't help
Caen (12-3) in their game against STB Le Havre (7-3) in the French NM1 (third division). He cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones.
Ona-Embo scored only 3 points.
The first-placed Caen (12-3) was defeated
90-77 in Le Havre by the second-ranked STB Le Havre in the Group B.
It was Caen's first loss after nine consecutive victories.
Ona-Embo's total stats this season are: 4.9ppg, 2.4rpg and 2.1apg.
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 three years ago he still played for the DR Congolese senior national team.
#11. Former international center
Gullit Mukendi (203-96, agency:
Promo Sport ID, currently plays in Spain) led
Jairis to a victory over the second-ranked UCAM Murcia 2nd team
84-77 in the Spanish EBA (fourth division) last Saturday.
Mukendi was MVP of the game. He recorded 20 points.
Mukendi averaged so far 11.5ppg and 6.1rpg.
He used to play for the DR Congolese national team
three years ago.
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) could not help
Treviso in their last game. Despite his very good performance his team lost
63-73 at home to the lower-ranked (#4) Pesaro.
Akele was the top scorer with 16 points. He also added 5 rebounds in 31 minutes.
This year Akele averages: 8.2ppg and 5.1rpg in 11 games he played so far.
He has a dual citizenship: DR Congolese and Italian.
#2. Christian Lutete (196-G-96, college:
UMass Lowell, currently plays in Finland) was not able to help
Kobrat (6-7) in their last game on Wednesday. Despite Lutete's very good performance Kobrat was badly defeated
91-73 on the road by the leading Kauhajoki.
He was the top scorer with 26 points. Lutete also added 7 rebounds.
It's Lutete's first season with the team.
He has individually a very good year with high stats. Lutete averages: 22.9ppg, 5.0rpg and 1.6apg.
He is a naturalized American.
Strangely Lutete has never played in DR Congo.
#3. Oscar Tshiebwe (206-PF-99, currently plays college basketball in the States) led
Kentucky to a victory against the Southern University
76-64 in the NCAA on Tuesday night.
He had a double-double by scoring 23 points and getting 11 rebounds. Tshiebwe also added 4 blocks in 25 minutes.
The University of Kentucky has 9-2 overall record this season.
Tshiebwe has very impressive stats this year: 15.3ppg, 15.3rpg, 1.1apg, 1.9bpg and 1.3spg in eight games.
#4. Junior Etou (201-F-94, college:
Tulsa, currently plays in Israel) was not able to secure a victory for
Hapoel Beer Sheva (4-5) in their last game on Saturday. Despite his very good performance Hapoel Beer Sheva was defeated
71-64 in Tel-Aviv by the higher-ranked Maccabi (#3).
Etou was the second best scorer with 16 points.
This season Etou has very high stats. He averages: 15.9ppg, 5.9rpg and 1.6apg.
#5. Experienced
Charles Kahudi (196-F-86, currently plays in France) couldn't help
ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket (11-0) in their game against Monaco (8-3) in the French Betclic ELITE ProA.
Kahudi recorded 7 points in 19 minutes.
The league leader ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket was edged
84-82 on the opponent's court by the second-ranked Monaco.
It's Kahudi's seventh season with the team.
This year he averages: 7.4ppg and 1.9rpg in 10 games.
Kahudi is another player who holds two passports: DR Congolese and French.
#6. Jonathan Kuminga (198-F-2, agency:
Verus Management, currently plays in NBA) contributed to an easy victory against the Orlando Magic crushing them
126-95 in the NBA on Monday night.
He scored 9 points.
This season Kuminga averages: 3.5ppg and 1.7rpg.
#7. Isaac Mushila (196-F, currently studies in the States) contributed to
TAMUCC's victory against the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
75-69 in the NCAA in Wednesday night's game.
He had a double-double by scoring 27 points and getting 14 rebounds. Mushila also added 3 assists in 35 minutes.
He has very impressive stats this year: 16.6ppg, 9.5rpg and 1.5apg in eight games.
#8. Landry Palata (203-F, currently plays in NCAA2) couldn't help the
Bluefield State College (0-1) in their last game. Despite Palata's good performance the Bluefield State College lost
94-98 in Charlotte to the Johnson C. Smith University.
He scored 13 points, grabbed 9 rebounds and dished 4 assists in 28 minutes.
Palata has very impressive stats this year: 15.4ppg, 5.6rpg and 2.4bpg in five games.
#9. Prince Toyambi (201-C/F-0, is currently at the American university) contributed to an easy victory against the Carver Bible College crushing them
85-43 in the NCAA in Wednesday night's game.
Toyambi scored 9 points and blocked 3 shots in only 13 minutes.
This year his overall stats are: 7.3ppg and 4.8rpg in nine games.
#10. Nate Tshimanga (206-PF, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to a 3-point
Troy's victory against the Tennessee Tech University
75-72 in the NCAA on Saturday night.
Tshimanga scored 7 points in 18 minutes.
This year Tshimanga's overall stats are: 4.6ppg and 3.2rpg in 10 games.
