Cheick Soumaoro selected the top Malian playing abroad in last week's games

CHEICK SOUMAORO

Traditionally, every week we bring you a list of the top performances of Malians who are currently playing abroad.

Cheick Soumaoro

   #1. This week's number one is an international forward Cheick Soumaoro (204-90, currently plays in France). Soumaoro contributed to Saint-Quentin's victory against the 14th-ranked GET Vosges (4-14) 87-75 in the French NM1 (third division) last Saturday. He scored 10 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. Saint-Quentin Basket-Ball (17-1) is placed second in Group A. It was his team's sixth consecutive victory in a row. This season Soumaoro averages: 7.1ppg, 4.3rpg, 2FGP: 57.1%(44-77), 3FGP: 22.2% and FT: 82.9%. He is currently a member of the Mali senior national team.

Nianta Diarra

   #2. Second place goes to an international power forward Nianta Diarra (203-93, currently plays in France). Diarra contributed to an Boulazac Basket's surprising victory against the league leader Cholet Basket (15-1) 92-77 in the French ProA in Saturday night's game. He recorded 7 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. Boulazac Basket Dordogne (8-8) is placed tenth in the ProA. They ended the series of three consecutive loses. It's Diarra's first season with the team. Diarra's overall stats this year are: 3.9ppg, 3.1rpg, 2FGP: 58.3%(21-36), 3FGP: 26.7%. He has a dual citizenship: Mali and French. Diarra is in the roster of the Mali senior national team.

Drissa Ballo

   #3. The Mali player who performed third best last week abroad was an international center Drissa Ballo (208-95, currently plays in France). He could not help ALM Evreux (6-8) to beat JA Vichy (10-4). Ballo cannot count Tuesday's game as one of the best ones. He scored only 3 points. It was his first game for ALM Evreux this season. ALM Evreux was defeated 95-91 on the road by the much higher-ranked JA Vichy (#3). It was ALM Evreux's fourth consecutive loss in a row. Ballo is also a member of the Mali senior national team.

Ibrahim Saounera

   #4. Point guard Ibrahim Saounera (179-87, currently plays in France) was not able to help Lorient (10-8) in their last game on Saturday. Despite his very good performance the seventh-placed Lorient (10-8) was defeated 87-79 in La Rochelle by the lower-ranked La Rochelle (#9) in the Group B. Saounera was the top scorer with 27 points. Saounera has relatively good stats this season: 12.1ppg, 2.3rpg, 4.0apg and 1.1spg. He is another player who holds two passports: Mali and French. Saounera is also Mali national team player.

Samba Balayera

   #5. International swingman Samba Balayera (195-96, currently plays in France) faced previously mentioned Cheick Soumaoro in the French NM1 last game. Balayera was not able to secure a victory for GET Vosges (4-14) in their last game on Saturday. Despite his good performance GET Vosges (#14) was defeated 87-75 on the opponent's court by the second-ranked Saint-Quentin in the Group A. Balayera was the top scorer with 13 points. Balayera's overall stats this season are: 6.8ppg and 1.3rpg. He has both Mali and French nationalities. Balayera plays currently for the Mali national team.

Namory Boundy

   #6. Forward Namory Boundy (202-89, currently plays in France) is a teammate of previously mentioned Samba Balayera and both played together in the last French NM1 game. Boundy couldn't help GET Vosges (4-14) in their game against Saint-Quentin (17-1). He scored 5 points in 17 minutes. GET Vosges (#14) lost 75-87 on the opponent's court to the second-ranked Saint-Quentin in the Group A. This year Boundy's overall stats are: 8.9ppg, 3.3rpg, 1.4apg and 1.3spg in 18 games he played so far. He is a former international player as he played for the Mali senior team four years ago.


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

   #1. Bandja Sy (204-F-90, agency: BeoBasket, college: N.Mexico St., currently plays in ABA League) led his Serbian team Partizan to an easy victory against the league outsider Krka (4-11) crushing them 87-55 in the ABA League in Saturday night's game. He scored 13 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 24 minutes. BC Partizan NiS Beograd (9-6) is placed fourth in the ABA League. It was his team's fourth consecutive victory in a row. This year Sy averages: 6.6ppg, 3.0rpg and 1.1apg in 14 games he played so far. He has a dual citizenship: Mali and French.

   #2. Amadou Sow (206-F-98, currently plays college basketball in the States) led UCSB to a victory against the University of California - Riverside (0-1) 72-64 in the NCAA on Saturday night. Sow recorded 22 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks in 32 minutes. The Univ. of California-Santa Barbara has conference record this season. It's Sow's first year with the team. He has relatively good stats this year: 10.8ppg and 6.2rpg in 15 games.

   #3. Mambi Diawara (193-G-94, college: Lamar St.CC, currently plays in Canada) led University of Calgary to a victory over the Griffins (1-13) crushing them 102-72 in the U Sports last Friday. He was MVP of the game. Diawara scored 19 points and grabbed 4 rebounds (was perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line) in a mere 19 minutes. The University of Calgary has a very good 13-3 record this season. It was his team's 11th consecutive victory in a row. They will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And that game will be critical. Diawara has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 18.8ppg, 6.2rpg, 3.3apg and 1.9spg in 16 games. Diawara is another player who holds two passports: Mali and Canadian.

   #4. Nouhoum Bocoum (207-F/C-92, college: Arkansas St., currently plays in Spain) could not help Aridane (4-10) in their last game on Saturday. Despite his very good performance the 15th-placed Aridane (4-10) was edged 105-102 at home by the lower-ranked Daimiel (#16) in the Group B. Bocoum recorded a double-double by scoring 26 points and getting 10 rebounds. This season Bocoum has very high stats. He averages: 16.7ppg, 10.1rpg and 1.9apg. Bocoum has both American and Mali nationalities.

   #5. Salif Boudie (203-F-95, currently studies in the States) contributed to a 1-point Arkansas St.'s victory against the University of South Alabama (1-1) 66-65 in the NCAA in Thursday night's game. He scored 10 points, grabbed 8 rebounds and made 3 blocks in 29 minutes. The Arkansas State University has 1-1 conference record this season. The Regular Season already ended in the NCAA. This year Boudie's overall stats are: 5.3ppg and 6.1rpg in 15 games.

   #6. Tahirou Diabate (206-F-98, is currently at the American university) was not able to help the Portland in their game against the Brigham Young University in the NCAA. He scored 8 points in only 14 minutes. His team was crushed by 23 points 79-56. This year Diabate's overall stats are: 5.5ppg and 3.3rpg in 19 games.

   #7. Souleymane Diakite (206-F-99, currently plays college basketball in the States) was not able to secure a victory for the NJIT in their game against the David Lipscomb University in the NCAA. He cannot count Wednesday's game as one of the best ones. Diakite scored only 3 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 8 minutes on the court. His team was badly defeated by 18 points 70-52. This year Diakite's overall stats are: 1.8ppg and 2.5rpg in 12 games.