Traditionally, every week we bring you a list of the top performances of Congolese who are currently playing abroad.
#1. This week's number one is an international guard
Myck Kabongo (190-92, college:
Texas, currently plays in Qatar). He could not help
Al Rayyan (1-3) in their last game. Despite Kabongo's very good performance Al Rayyan was badly defeated
111-91 in a derby game by the leading Al Ahli.
He had a double-double by scoring 42 points and making 11 passes. Kabongo also added 6 rebounds and 4 steals in 40 minutes on the court.
It was Al Rayyan's third consecutive loss in a row.
There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical.
It's Kabongo's first season with the team.
He has individually a very good year with high stats. Kabongo 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.
He has a dual citizenship: DR Congolese and Canadian.
Kabongo is currently a member of the DR Congolese senior national team.
#2. Second place goes to an international swingman
Shekinah Munanga (201-97, currently plays in France). He was not able to help
ALM Evreux (3-6) in their last game on Friday. Despite Munanga's good performance ALM Evreux was edged
82-80 on the road by the much lower-ranked ASA (#14).
He scored 12 points and grabbed 9 rebounds.
But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen.
Munanga's overall stats this year are: 8.9ppg, 6.0rpg, 1.1apg, 2FGP: 63.2%(24-38), 3FGP: 33.3% and FT: 68.8%.
He played for the DR Congolese national team in 2020.
#3. The DR Congolese player who performed third best last week abroad was former international forward
Jonathan Kasibabu (203-96, college:
Fairfield, currently plays in France). He led
Nantes to a victory against the tenth-ranked ADA Blois (4-4)
68-56 in the French ProB (second division) in Saturday night's game.
Kasibabu recorded a double-double by scoring 12 points and getting 11 rebounds.
Hermine Nantes Atlantique (7-2) is placed second in the ProB.
But the season just started, so everything may happen.
Kasibabu's overall stats this year are: 8.0ppg, 5.8rpg, 1.3apg, 2FGP: 45.0%, 3FGP: 42.9% and FT: 59.4%.
He played for the DR Congolese national team three years ago.
#4. Guard
Mathieu Kamba (196-95, college:
Cent Arkansas, currently plays in Spain) contributed to
Oviedo's victory against the ninth-ranked Acunsa GBC (5-5)
89-76 in the Spanish LEB Gold (second division) last Sunday.
Kamba recorded 12 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 27 minutes.
Unicaja Banco Oviedo (8-2) is placed second in the LEB Gold.
It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
Kamba has relatively good stats this year: 13.2ppg, 4.0rpg and 1.4apg in 10 games.
He is another player who holds two passports: DR Congolese and Canadian.
Kamba 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 contributed to
Oviedo's victory against the ninth-ranked Acunsa GBC (5-5)
89-76.
He recorded 11 points and grabbed 7 rebounds.
Kabasele's overall stats this season are: 8.4ppg and 5.4rpg.
He plays currently for the DR Congolese national team.
#6. Forward
Patrick Mwamba (196-99, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to an
UT Arlington's victory against the University of California Santa Barbara
70-62 in the NCAA last Monday.
He scored 10 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 23 minutes.
The University of Texas at Arlington has 6-2 overall record this season.
Mwamba has been at the team for four years.
This year Mwamba's overall stats are: 3.5ppg, 3.3rpg and 1.3spg in four games.
He is an international player who is currently on the senior DR Congolese National Team roster.
#7. International power forward
Ruphin Kayembe (200-92, currently plays in France) was the major contributor in a
La Rochelle's victory against the sixth-ranked Union Rennes (1-8)
74-58 in the French NM1 (third division) in Friday night's game.
Kayembe scored 14 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 22 minutes.
Stade Rochelais Basket (7-7) is placed eighth in Group A.
This year Kayembe has relatively solid stats: 13.2ppg and 4.3rpg in six games.
He is also DR Congolese national team player.
#8. Small forward
Christian Eyenga (198-89, currently plays in Spain) managed to help Urbas Fuenlabrada in a victory against the fifth-ranked Valencia (7-5)
88-87 in the Spanish Liga Endesa on Saturday night.
Eyenga scored only one point in 17 minutes.
Urbas Fuenlabrada (3-9) is placed second from the bottom (#17) in the Liga Endesa.
They ended the series of four consecutive loses.
Eyenga plays fifth season for the team.
This year his total stats are: 4.4ppg and 2.2rpg in 10 games.
Eyenga used to play for the DR Congolese national team
last year.
#9. International forward
Chadrack Lufile (206-90, agency:
BIG, college:
Wichita St., currently plays in Romania) was not able to secure a victory for
Miercurea Ciuc (0-2) in their game against Targu Jiu (0-1) in the Romanian Liga Nationala.
He recorded 9 points and grabbed 4 rebounds.
But Miercurea Ciuc was crushed
97-67 in Targu Jiu by the higher-ranked Targu Jiu (#12).
There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial.
Lufile has reliable stats this season: 11.8ppg and 6.6rpg.
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 an easy victory against the 11th-ranked SOPCC (5-9)
61-46 in the French NM1 (third division) last Friday.
He scored 5 points and added 3 passes in 17 minutes.
Caen Basket Calvados (12-2) is placed first in Group B.
It was his team's ninth consecutive victory in a row.
Ona-Embo has averaged so far 5.1ppg, 2.5rpg and 2.1apg in 10 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 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 seventh-ranked Ilicitano
64-47 in the Spanish EBA (fourth division) last Friday.
Mukendi was MVP of the game. He scored 14 points and grabbed 9 rebounds (went 6 for 6 at the free throw line) in 22 minutes.
Mukendi averaged so far 10.6ppg, 6.5rpg and 1.1apg in 10 games.
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. Christian Lutete (196-G-96, college:
UMass Lowell, currently plays in Finland) could not help
Kobrat (6-6) in their last game. Despite his very good performance Kobrat lost
84-91 at home to the higher-ranked (#5) Lahti.
Lutete was the top scorer with 36 points. He also added 6 rebounds in 37 minutes; quite an impressive performance considering it's only Lutete's second season in pro basketball. Lutete has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 22.7ppg, 4.8rpg and 1.7apg in 12 games he played so far.
Lutete is a naturalized American.
Strangely he has never played in DR Congo.
#2. Experienced
Charles Kahudi (196-F-86, currently plays in Euroleague) was not able to help
ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket in their game against Bayern Muenchen (6-7) in the Euroleague.
Kahudi recorded 8 points.
ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket was defeated
73-65 on the road by the lower-ranked Bayern Muenchen (#10).
It's Kahudi's seventh season with the team.
This year he averages: 5.7ppg and 2.6rpg.
Kahudi has a dual citizenship: DR Congolese and French.
#3. Junior Etou (201-F-94, college:
Tulsa, currently plays in Israel) led
Hapoel Beer Sheva to a victory against the tenth-ranked Hapoel Tel-Aviv (3-5)
88-82 in the Israeli Winner League in Saturday night's game.
He scored 14 points and grabbed 4 rebounds.
Hapoel Altshuler Shaham Beer Sheva (4-4) is placed sixth in the Winner League.
This season Etou has very high stats. He averages: 15.9ppg, 6.3rpg and 1.6apg.
#4. Nicola Akele (203-F-95, college:
URI, currently plays in Italy) contributed to
Treviso's victory against the closely-ranked Reggio Emilia (2-2)
86-76 in the Italian Serie A last Sunday.
Akele recorded 8 points in 25 minutes.
It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Nutribullet Treviso Basketis placed in the Serie A.
This year Akele's overall stats are: 7.4ppg and 5.1rpg in 10 games.
He is another player who holds two passports: DR Congolese and Italian.
#5. Oscar Tshiebwe (206-PF-99, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to an
Kentucky's surprising victory against the Central Michigan University crushing them
85-57 in the NCAA on Monday night.
Tshiebwe recorded a double-double by scoring 20 points and getting 16 rebounds. He also added and 3 steals.
The University of Kentucky has 8-1 overall record this season.
Tshiebwe has relatively good stats this year: 14.1ppg, 15.9rpg, 1.6bpg and 1.1spg.
#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 in Monday night's game.
He scored 9 points in only 12 minutes.
This year Kuminga's overall stats are: 3.6ppg and 1.9rpg in 14 games.
#7. Isaac Mushila (196-F, currently studies in the States) contributed to
TAMUCC's victory against the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
83-77 in the NCAA on Wednesday night.
Mushila had a double-double by scoring 28 points and getting 11 rebounds. He also added 3 assists in 30 minutes.
Mushila has very impressive stats this year: 15.1ppg, 8.9rpg and 1.3apg in seven games.
#8. Charles Nkaloulou (200-F-94, agency:
Promo Sport ID, currently plays in France) contributed to a
Sluc Nancy's victory against the eighth-ranked Saint-Quentin
83-77 in the French ProB (second division) on Friday night.
He scored 6 points and grabbed 4 rebounds.
Nkaloulou's overall stats this season are: 3.5ppg and 2.5rpg.
#9. Landry Palata (203-F, currently plays in NCAA2) was not able to secure a victory for the
Bluefield State College in their last game. Despite his very good performance his team was edged
77-75 in Raleigh by the Saint Augustine's College.
Palata recorded 17 points, 4 rebounds and 3 blocks in 33 minutes.
Palata has very impressive stats this year: 16.0ppg, 4.8rpg and 3.0bpg in four games.
#10. Viny Okouo (214-C-97, currently plays in Spain) couldn't help
Obradoiro in their game against Andorra in the Spanish Liga Endesa. Okouo cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones.
He scored only 2 points in 12 minutes.
His team lost
73-86.
This year Okouo's overall stats are: 4.4ppg and 2.8rpg in 12 games.
