POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
Here is the weekly review of the top performing Mali players, who play currently abroad.
#1. This week's number one is an international forward
Sagaba Konate (203-97, college:
WVU, currently plays in Greece). He could not help
PAOK (3-2) in their last game. Despite Konate's good performance PAOK lost
89-102 on the road to the lower-ranked (#4) AEK.
He recorded 10 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 15 minutes on the court.
It was PAOK's first loss after three consecutive victories.
This year Konate averages: 7.0ppg, 4.3rpg, 2FGP: 65.3%(47-72), 3FGP: 33.3% and FT: 67.1% in 21 games he played so far.
He is currently a member of the Mali senior national team.
#2. Second place goes to an international small forward
Sadio Doucoure (200-92, currently plays in France). Doucoure was not able to help
Olympique Antibes in their game against Denain Voltaire (14-11) in the French ProB (second division).
He scored 5 points in 13 minutes.
Olympique Antibes was edged
69-68 in Denain by the much higher-ranked (#7) Voltaire.
It was Olympique Antibes' sixth consecutive loss in a row.
Doucoure has relatively good stats this year: 12.9ppg, 6.7rpg, 1.4apg, 2FGP: 43.8%, 3FGP: 29.3% and FT: 87.8% in 10 games.
He has a dual citizenship: Mali and French.
Doucoure is in the roster of the Mali senior national team.
#3. The Mali player who performed third best last week abroad was an international power forward
Nianta Diarra (201-93, currently plays in France). He was not able to secure a victory for
Cholet Basket (15-1) in their game against Pau-Lacq-Orthez (9-16) in the French Jeep ELITE ProA. Diarra's contribution was not very remarkable in Sunday's game.
He scored only 2 points.
The league leader Cholet Basket was edged
78-75 on the opponent's court by the much lower-ranked Pau-Lacq-Orthez (#14).
There are only four games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical.
Diarra's overall stats this season are: 4.9ppg, 2.8rpg, 2FGP: 61.3%(38-62) and FT: 56.3%.
He is another player who holds two passports: Mali and French.
Diarra is also a member of the Mali senior national team.
#4. An experienced point guard
Ibrahim Saounera (179-87, currently plays in France) couldn't help
Lorient (11-9) in their last game. Despite his very good performance the eighth-placed Lorient (11-9) lost
77-85 at home to the lower-ranked (#10) Lourdes-Tarbes in the Group A.
Saounera was the top scorer with 15 points (was perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line) in 30 minutes.
There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial.
This year Saounera has relatively solid stats: 11.2ppg, 2.6rpg, 3.6apg and 1.2spg in 20 games.
Similarly like Diarra and Doucoure above he has both Mali and French nationalities.
Saounera is also Mali national team player.
#5. Former international swingman
Sourata Cisse (196-86, currently plays in France) is a teammate of previously mentioned Ibrahim Saounera and both played together in the last French NM1 game.
Cisse couldn't help
Lorient (11-9) in their last game on Tuesday. Despite his good performance Lorient (#8) was defeated
85-77 on their home court in Lorient by the lower-ranked Lourdes-Tarbes (#10) in the Group A.
Cisse scored 13 points.
Cisse has reliable stats this season: 10.5ppg, 1.5rpg and 1.5apg.
Similarly like three previous players above, he also holds two passports: Mali and French.
Despite Cisse played previously for the French U20 national team, he is currently in the Mali national team roster.
#6. Forward
Ibrahim Djambo (208-92, college:
Hofstra, currently plays in France) couldn't help
Toulouse (16-6) in their game against Tours (18-4) in the French NM1 (third division), despite his very good performance in Tuesday night's game.
Djambo was the top scorer with 23 points. He also added 5 rebounds in 40 minutes.
But Toulouse (#2) lost
67-81 on the opponent's court to the leading Tours in the Group A.
Djambo's team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And now that game is quite important.
Djambo has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 15.1ppg, 6.1rpg and 1.6apg in 19 games.
Djambo holds both American and Mali passports.
He is an international player who is currently on the senior Mali National Team roster.
One more player who has never been selected to any of national teams, but has Mali passport: #1. Bandja Sy (204-C-90, agency:
BeoBasket, college:
NM State, currently plays in Spain) managed to help MoraBanc Andorra to win against the closely-ranked Unicaja Malaga (15-18)
92-85 in the Spanish Liga Endesa last Wednesday.
Sy scored only 3 points and grabbed 4 rebounds.
MoraBanc Andorra (14-18) is placed 11th in the Liga Endesa.
There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical.
Sy's overall stats this season are: 5.6ppg and 4.0rpg.
He has a dual citizenship: Mali and French.
Other top Mali players, who play abroad:Modibo Diaby (200-F-3) plays for
Cluj Napoca in Romanian Liga Nationala
Cheick Diallo (206-C/F-96) plays for
Baloncesto Fuenlabrada in Spanish Liga Endesa
Bassala Bagayoko (207-C-6) plays for
Baloncesto Fuenlabrada in Spanish Liga Endesa
Abdramane Camara (206-PF-0) plays for
Chorale de Roanne in French Jeep ELITE ProA
Namory Boundy (202-F-89) plays for
SO Maritime Boulogne in French NM1
Samba Balayera (195-G/F-96) plays for
Saint-Quentin in French ProB
Kone Sidiki (208-F/C-1) plays for
Sloga in Serbian KLS
Siriman Kanoute (181-PG-1) plays for
Sluc Nancy in French ProB
Mohamed Sidibe (196-F-2) plays for
Sluc Nancy in French ProB
Moussa Doumbia (209-C-5) plays for
Stellazzurra in Italian ANGT
Tim Troussel (203-PF-95) plays for
Hague in Dutch DBL
Notice:
The list above includes only some of the Mali playing currently abroad. Go to Mali Abroad Page to see completed list.
