Jordan Sakho selected the top Congolese playing abroad in last week's games

Here is the weekly review of the top performing DR Congolese players, who play currently abroad.

Jordan Sakho

   #1. This week's number one is former international center Jordan Sakho (207-1997, agency: BeoBasket, currently plays in Spain). He contributed to Breogan's victory against the 15th-ranked Andorra (7-15) 86-79 in the Spanish Liga Endesa last Sunday. Sakho scored 9 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. Leche Rio Breogan Lugo (11-9) is placed ninth in the Liga Endesa. This season Sakho averages: 4.0ppg, 3.4rpg, 2FGP: 55.7%(34-61) and FT: 57.1%. He played for the DR Congolese senior national team year ago.

Shekinah Munanga

   #2. Second place goes to former international swingman Shekinah Munanga (201-1997, currently plays in France). He could not help ALM Evreux (3-2) in their last game on Friday. Despite Munanga's good performance ALM Evreux was defeated 85-74 on the road by the lower-ranked ADA Blois (#4). He scored 12 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. Munanga's overall stats this season are: 9.0ppg, 5.2rpg, 3FGP: 28.9%. He played for the DR Congolese national team in 22.

Malela Mutuale

   #3. The DR Congolese player who performed third best last week abroad was former international point guard Malela Mutuale (188-1991, agency: Interperformances, currently plays in France). Mutuale managed to help Entente Orleans 45 in a victory against the league outsider Provence Basket (6-15) 82-74 in the French Betclic ELITE ProA on Saturday night. He scored 5 points, had 11 rebounds and dished 3 assists in 27 minutes. Entente Orleans 45 (3-1) is placed third in the Betclic ELITE ProA. This year Mutuale's overall stats are: 5.5ppg, 2.9rpg, 3.0apg, 2FGP: 33.0%, 3FGP: 22.9% and FT: 55.2% in 21 games he played so far. He played for the DR Congolese national team year ago.

Patrick Mwamba

   #4. Forward Patrick Mwamba (196-1999, currently plays college basketball in the States), who plays in the NCAA was not able to help the UT Arlington (7-10) in their last game. Despite his very good performance the UT Arlington was edged 67-64 at home by the University Louisiana at Lafayette. Mwamba scored 19 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in 34 minutes. The Regular Season already ended in the NCAA. This year Mwamba's total stats are: 10.0ppg, 4.4rpg, 1.8apg and 1.2spg in 26 games. He used to play for the DR Congolese national team back in 21.

Jonathan Kasibabu

   #5. Former international forward Jonathan Kasibabu (203-1996, college: Fairfield, currently plays in France) was not able to secure a victory for Nantes (5-3) in their last game on Saturday. Despite Kasibabu's very good performance Nantes was crushed 82-56 in Nancy by the lower-ranked Sluc (#3). He was the top scorer with 17 points. Kasibabu also added 7 rebounds and made 3 blocks. Kasibabu has averaged so far 8.8ppg, 5.8rpg and 1.1apg. He used to play for the DR Congolese national team years ago.

Mathieu Kamba

   #6. Guard Mathieu Kamba (196-1995, college: Cent Arkansas, currently plays in Spain) led Oviedo to a victory over the 14th-ranked Almansa (9-13) crushing them 85-63 in the Spanish LEB Gold (second division) last Sunday. He was MVP of the game. Kamba recorded 15 points; quite an impressive performance considering it's only his first season in pro basketball. Unicaja Banco Oviedo (11-10) is placed tenth in the LEB Gold. They ended the series of six consecutive loses. Kamba has relatively good stats this season: 12.5ppg and 4.4rpg. He is a former international player as he played for the DR Congolese senior team year ago.

Herve Kabasele

   #7. Former international center Herve Kabasele (208-1996, currently plays in Spain) is a teammate of previously mentioned Mathieu Kamba and both played together in the last Spanish LEB Gold game. Kabasele contributed to an easy victory against the 14th-ranked Almansa (9-13) crushing them 85-63. He recorded 8 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists in 26 minutes. Kabasele has averaged so far 6.8ppg and 5.1rpg in 19 games. He used to play for the DR Congolese national team years ago.

Henry Pwono

   #8. Forward Henry Pwono (198-1991, college: ECU, currently plays in Luxembourg) couldn't help Musel Pikes (16-7) in their last game. Despite Pwono's very good performance Musel Pikes lost 75-79 on the opponent's court to the lower-ranked (#9) Contern. He had a double-double by scoring 17 points and getting 11 rebounds. Pwono also added 5 assists (went 5 for 5 at the free throw line) in 40 minutes; not bad, considering it's only his first season in pro basketball. It was Musel Pikes' third consecutive loss in a row. The Regular Season already ended. Pwono has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 20.8ppg, 11.0rpg, 4.3apg and 1.4bpg in eight games. Pwono is a naturalized American. He used to play for the DR Congolese national team back in 22. Strangely Pwono has never played in DR Congo.

Chadrack Lufile

   #9. Former international forward Chadrack Lufile (206-1990, agency: BIG, college: Wichita St., currently plays in Basketball Africa League) couldn't help DUC Dakar (0-1) in their game against SLAC (1-0) in the Basketball Africa League. He recorded only 4 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 16 minutes. It was his first game for DUC Dakar this season. The fifth-placed DUC Dakar (0-1) lost 70-85 on their home court in Dakar to the second-ranked SLAC in the group A of Basketball Africa League. There are only four games left until the end of the Basketball Africa League Regular Season. So now every game will be critical. Lufile used to play for the DR Congolese national team years ago.

Pitchou Kambuyi

   #10. An experienced center Pitchou Kambuyi (208-1988, currently plays in Basketball Africa League) contributed to REG's victory against the fourth-ranked AS Sale (0-1) 91-87 in the Basketball Africa League in Sunday night's game. He recorded 5 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. It was his first game for REG this season. His team is placed first in group A. There are only four games left until the end of the Basketball Africa League Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial. Kambuyi is a former international player as years ago he still played for the DR Congolese senior national team.

   #11. Former international swingman Ron Mvouika (196-1991, college: St.John's, currently plays in Germany) couldn't help Rhein Stars in their game against Dragons Rhoendorf in the German ProB (third division). He scored 9 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. His team was defeated 97-90. This season Mvouika has relatively solid stats: 12.0ppg, 3.7rpg, 2.7apg and 1.3spg. He used to play for the DR Congolese national team years ago.

   #12. Former international center Gullit Mukendi (203-1996, agency: Promo Sport ID, currently plays in Spain) contributed to Jairis' victory against the sixth-ranked Esportiu 79-75 in the Spanish EBA (fourth division) in Saturday night's game. Mukendi scored 12 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. Mukendi has reliable stats this season: 11.4ppg, 5.8rpg and 1.1apg. He used to play for the DR Congolese national team back in 18.


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

   #1. Jonathan Kuminga (198-F-2002, agency: Verus Management, currently plays in NBA) could not help the Golden State Warriors (43-22) in their last game. Despite his very good performance the Golden State Warriors (43-22) lost 116-124 on the road to the Los Angeles Lakers. Kuminga recorded 18 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 29 minutes. It was Golden State Warriors' fifth consecutive loss in a row. Kuminga has relatively good stats this year: 8.8ppg and 3.0rpg in 52 games he played so far.

   #2. Oscar Tshiebwe (206-PF-1999, currently plays college basketball in the States) led Kentucky to a victory against the University of Florida (9-9) 71-63 in the NCAA on Saturday night. Tshiebwe had a double-double by scoring 27 points and getting 15 rebounds. He also added 2 blocks and 3 steals in 36 minutes. The University of Kentucky has a very good 14-4 conference record this season. The Regular Season already ended in the NCAA. Tshiebwe has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 17.3ppg, 15.3rpg, 1.5bpg and 1.9spg in 31 games.

   #3. Experienced Wen Boss Mukubu (198-SF-1983, college: UAB, currently plays in BNXT-League) contributed to Kangoeroes' victory against the league leader Leiden (0-1) 98-93 in the BNXT League in Friday night's game. Mukubu scored 7 points, had 5 boards, passed 3 assists and added 3 steals. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Kangoeroes Basket Mechelen (1-0) is placed second in the BNXT League. Mukubu's overall stats this season are: 9.9ppg, 5.7rpg, 3.2apg and 2.0spg. He has a dual citizenship: DR Congolese and Belgian.

   #4. Nicola Akele (203-F-1995, college: URI, currently plays in Basketball Champions League) was not able to help Treviso in their game against Manresa (2-1) in the Basketball Champions League. Akele recorded 6 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in 25 minutes. The fourth-placed Treviso (0-3) lost 88-103 at home to the second-ranked Manresa in the group J of Basketball Champions League. So far Treviso lost all three games in the Top 16. There are only two games left until the end of the Basketball Champions League Top 16. So now every game will be critical. This year Akele's overall stats are: 8.2ppg, 4.4rpg and 1.6apg in 13 games. He is another player who holds two passports: DR Congolese and Italian.

   #5. Charles Kahudi (196-F-1986, currently plays in France) was not able to secure a victory for ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket (7-1) in their game against Metropolitans (16-6) in the French Betclic ELITE ProA. Kahudi scored only 4 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. The league leader ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket was edged 83-81 in Levallois by the leading Metropolitans. Kahudi's overall stats this season are: 7.4ppg and 2.6rpg. He has both DR Congolese and French nationalities.

   #6. Christian Lutete (196-G-1996, college: UMass Lowell, currently plays in Finland) was the major contributor in Kobrat's victory against the second-ranked Kataja crushing them 85-58 in the Finnish Korisliiga in Saturday night's game. Lutete scored 21 points in 32 minutes. Lutete has very impressive stats this year: 23.0ppg, 4.6rpg and 1.8apg in 25 games. He is a naturalized American. Strangely Lutete has never played in DR Congo.

   #7. Viny Okouo (214-C-1997, currently plays in Spain) couldn't help Obradoiro in their game against Tenerife in the Spanish Liga Endesa. Okouo scored 8 points. His team was edged 86-83. Okouo's total stats this season are: 5.0ppg and 3.2rpg.

   #8. Bismack Biyombo (206-PF-1992, currently plays in NBA) managed to help Phoenix Suns in a victory against the Portland Trail Blazers crushing them 120-90 in the NBA in Wednesday night's game. Biyombo recorded only 3 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 9 minutes on the court. Biyombo has averaged so far 7.0ppg and 5.6rpg in 21 games.

   #9. Florent Thamba (208-F-1999, currently studies in the States) contributed to Baylor's victory against the The University of Texas 68-61 in the NCAA on Monday night. Thamba scored 12 points, had 6 rebounds and made 2 blocks in 28 minutes. Thamba has averaged so far 6.1ppg and 5.5rpg in 31 games.

   #10. Eliel Nsoseme (203-F-1997, is currently at the American university) contributed to a Georgia St.'s victory against the University Louisiana at Lafayette 80-71 in the NCAA in Monday night's game. He recorded a double-double by scoring 12 points and getting 13 rebounds. Nsoseme also added 2 blocks. Nsoseme has averaged so far 9.4ppg, 9.8rpg and 1.5bpg.