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 former international center
Jordan Sakho (207-1997, agency:
BeoBasket, currently plays in Basketball Champions League). Sakho could not help one of league's weakest teams
Murcia (1-1) to beat Szombathely (1-1).
He scored 7 points and grabbed 7 rebounds.
Murcia was defeated
104-94 on the road by the second-ranked Szombathely.
There are only four games left until the end of the Basketball Champions League Regular Season. So now every game will be critical.
This season Sakho averages: 5.5ppg, 6.0rpg, 1.5bpg and FT: 62.5%.
He played for the DR Congolese senior national team year ago.
#2. Second place goes to former international guard
Christian Lutete (196-1996, college:
UMass Lowell, currently plays in France). He was not able to help
ALM Evreux (1-4) in their last game on Friday. Despite Lutete's very good performance ALM Evreux was defeated
81-75 on the opponent's court by the lower-ranked Nantes (#6).
He was the top scorer with 17 points. Lutete also added 5 rebounds. It was his first game for ALM Evreux this season.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
Lutete is a naturalized American.
He played for the DR Congolese national team in 22.
Strangely Lutete has never played in DR Congo.
#3. The DR Congolese player who performed third best last week abroad was former international swingman
Shekinah Munanga (201-1997, currently plays in France) is a teammate of previously mentioned Christian Lutete and both played together in the last French ProB game.
Munanga. He was not able to secure a victory for
ALM Evreux (1-4) in their last game. Despite Munanga's good performance ALM Evreux lost
75-81 on the opponent's court to the lower-ranked (#6) Nantes.
He recorded 11 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 27 minutes. It was his first game for ALM Evreux this season.
Munanga played for the DR Congolese national team year ago.
#4. Guard
Mathieu Kamba (196-1995, college:
Cent Arkansas, currently plays in Spain) led
Palencia to an easy victory against the league outsider Oviedo (0-3) crushing them
88-63 in the Spanish LEB Gold (second division) on Sunday night.
He scored 13 points in 20 minutes.
Zunder Palencia (3-0) is placed third in the LEB Gold.
So far his team won all three games in the Regular Season.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
This year Kamba's overall stats are: 7.0ppg and 1.3rpg in three games he played so far.
He has a dual citizenship: DR Congolese and Canadian.
Kamba used to play for the DR Congolese national team
back in 22.
#5. Former international point guard
Malela Mutuale (188-1991, agency:
Interperformances, currently plays in France) couldn't help one of league's weakest teams
Entente Orleans 45 in their game against Chalons-Reims (1-0) in the French ProB (second division).
He recorded 5 points and added 4 assists. It was his first game for Entente Orleans 45 this season.
His team was defeated
94-79 on the opponent's court by the lower-ranked Chalons-Reims (#4).
Mutuale used to play for the DR Congolese national team
years ago.
#6. An experienced small forward
Christian Eyenga (198-1989, currently plays in Spain) managed to help Urbas Fuenlabrada Madrid in a victory against the closely-ranked Real Betis (1-2)
83-77 in the Spanish Liga Endesa last Saturday.
He recorded only 2 points in 22 minutes.
It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Urbas Fuenlabrada Madrid (2-1) is placed second in the Liga Endesa.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
This year Eyenga's total stats are: 3.5ppg and 1.5rpg in four games.
He is a former international player as he played for the DR Congolese senior team year ago.
#7. Former international center
Herve Kabasele (208-1996, currently plays in Spain) contributed to
Valladolid's victory against one of league's weakest teams Iraurgi SB (0-3)
78-68 in the Spanish LEB Gold (second division) in Sunday night's game.
Kabasele scored only 3 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 18 minutes.
Real Valladolid Baloncesto (2-1) is placed second in the LEB Gold.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
Kabasele has averaged so far 2.3ppg, 4.3rpg and 1.3bpg in three games.
He used to play for the DR Congolese national team
years ago.
#8. Power forward
Ruphin Kayembe (200-1992, currently plays in France) couldn't help
La Rochelle (0-1) in their game against Olympique Antibes (1-0) in the French ProB (second division).
He recorded only 4 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. It was his first game for La Rochelle this season.
La Rochelle was defeated
70-65 in Antibes by the second-ranked Olympique.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
Kayembe used to play for the DR Congolese national team
back in 21.
#9. Former international point guard
Carl Ona-Embo (188-1989, currently plays in France) couldn't help
Caen (2-3) in their game against STB Le Havre (3-2) in the French NM1 (third division).
Ona-Embo recorded 7 points and added 8 passes in 32 minutes.
The eighth-placed Caen (2-3) lost
72-79 at home to the higher-ranked (#6) STB Le Havre in the Group B.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
Ona-Embo has averaged so far 7.2ppg, 3.6rpg, 5.2apg and 1.4spg in five games.
Worth to mention he played also at
Eurobasket Summer League, which helped him get the job in pro basketball. Despite he played previously for the French U20 national team, Ona-Embo is currently in the DR Congolese national team roster.
The list of other players, who all have DR Congolese passport but never been selected to any of DR Congolese national teams: #1. Experienced
Wen Boss Mukubu (198-SF-1983, college:
UAB, currently plays in BNXT-League) led his Belgian team
Kangoeroes to an easy victory against the closely-ranked Liege Basket (1-2)
81-65 in the BNXT League in Saturday night's game.
He scored 12 points, had 6 rebounds and dished 3 assists in 23 minutes.
Kangoeroes Basket Mechelen (1-2) is placed seventh in the BNXT League.
But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen.
Mukubu has relatively good stats this year: 12.0ppg, 6.7rpg, 4.3apg and 1.7spg in three games he played so far.
He has a dual citizenship: DR Congolese and Belgian.
#2. Charles Lombahe-Kahudi (196-F-1986, currently plays in Euroleague) contributed to a 1-point
ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket's victory against the league outsider Valencia (0-2)
77-76 in the Euroleague on Friday night.
Lombahe-Kahudi scored 9 points in 17 minutes. It was his first game for ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket this season.
His team is placed 13th in the Euroleague.
But the season just started, so everything may happen.
Lombahe-Kahudi is another player who holds two passports: DR Congolese and French.
#3. Nicola Akele (203-F-1995, college:
URI, currently plays in Italy) contributed to a 1-point
Brescia's victory against one of league's weakest teams Scafati (0-3)
82-81 in the Italian Serie A on Sunday night.
He scored 6 points.
Germani Brescia Leonessa (2-1) is placed second in the Serie A.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
Akele's overall stats this season are: 4.3ppg, 2.7rpg and 1.3bpg.
He has both DR Congolese and Italian nationalities.
#4. Junior Etou (201-F-1994, college:
Tulsa, currently plays in Italy). Etou could not help
Brindisi to beat Milano (3-0).
He scored 9 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 27 minutes.
But the league leader Brindisi was edged
83-82 on the road by the leading Milano.
Etou has relatively good stats this year: 10.3ppg and 5.3rpg in three games.
#5. David Efambe (201-F-2001, currently plays in Argentina) was not able to help one of league's weakest teams
La Union in their game against Instituto (5-1) in the Argentinian La Liga.
He scored 8 points.
La Union was defeated
81-76 in Cordoba by the leading Instituto.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
Efambe's overall stats this season are: 4.0ppg and 1.3rpg.
#6. Christ Bonazebi (206-C-2002, currently plays in Argentina) managed to help Gimnasia y Esgrima Comodoro Rivadavia to win against the seventh-ranked Argentino crushing them
94-59 in the Argentinian La Liga on Friday night.
Bonazebi scored only 2 points. It was his first game for Gimnasia this season.
#7. Viny Okouo (214-C-1997, currently plays in Spain) contributed to
Fuenlabrada's victory against the closely-ranked Real Betis
83-77 in the Spanish Liga Endesa last Saturday.
Okouo recorded only 2 points.
Okouo has averaged so far 2.3ppg and 1.8rpg.
#8. Kevin Tumba (206-C/F-1991, currently plays in BNXT-League) was not able to secure a victory for
Circus Brussels in their game against Spirou Charleroi in the BNXT League. He cannot count Sunday's game as one of the best ones.
Tumba scored only 2 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 13 minutes.
His team was badly defeated by 19 points
74-55.
Tumba has averaged so far 3.7ppg and 4.0rpg in three games.
He also holds two passports: DR Congolese and Belgian.
#9. Charles Nkaloulou (200-F-1994, agency:
Promo Sport ID, currently plays in France) contributed to a
Saint Vallier's victory against the 11th-ranked ASA
90-86 in the French ProB (second division) in Saturday night's game.
Nkaloulou recorded 5 points and added 4 assists. It was his first game for Saint Vallier this season.
#10. Divin Zayadiaku (197-F-2000, currently plays in Switzerland) couldn't help
Vevey Riviera in their game against Massagno in the Swiss SBL.
Zayadiaku scored only 4 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 18 minutes.
His team was crushed by 26 points
95-69.
Zayadiaku has averaged so far 2.0ppg and 2.0rpg in two games.
