We bring you last week's top performances from Malians who are playing abroad and who all have had prior experience of national team duties at youth or senior level.
#1. This week's number one is former international power forward
Nianta Diarra (201-1993, currently plays in France). Diarra could not help
Cholet Basket (9-4) in their last game on Saturday. Despite his very good performance the league leader Cholet Basket was edged
90-88 on the road by the lower-ranked SIG Strasbourg (#6).
Diarra was the second best scorer with 19 points. He also added 4 rebounds.
This season Diarra averages: 8.3ppg, 5.1rpg, 2FGP: 67.7%(84-124), 3FGP: 25.0% and FT: 41.9%.
He has a dual citizenship: Mali and French.
Diarra played for the Mali senior national team year ago.
#2. Second place goes to former international forward
Sagaba Konate (203-1997, college:
WVU, currently plays in Italy). He was not able to help
Trieste (0-0) in their game against Virtus BO in the Italian Serie A.
Konate recorded 8 points in only 14 minutes.
His team lost
81-92 at home to the lower-ranked (#3) Virtus BO.
This year Konate's overall stats are: 7.8ppg, 5.5rpg and FT: 68.6% in 23 games he played so far.
He played for the Mali national team in 20.
#3. The Mali player who performed third best last week abroad was former international point guard
Ibrahima Sidibe (180-1995, currently plays in France). Sidibe led
Orchesien BC to a victory against the sixth-ranked Les Sables (0-7)
71-64 in the French NM1 (third division) in Tuesday night's game.
He recorded 11 points and grabbed 6 rebounds.
BC Orchies (9-6) is placed third in Group B.
It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row.
There are only three games left until the end of the Second Stage. So now every game will be critical.
Sidibe's total stats this season are: 7.9ppg, 2.2rpg, 2.3apg, 1.2spg, 2FGP: 48.7%, 3FGP: 25.4% and FT: 56.6%.
He is another player who holds two passports: Mali and French.
Despite Sidibe played previously for the French U20 national team, he played also for the Mali national team in 21.
#4. An experienced swingman
Mamadou Sy (194-1985, college:
Cloud County, currently plays in France) was not able to secure a victory for
Pontoise (10-5) in their game against Besancon (5-10) in the French NM1 (third division).
Sy scored only 4 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in 32 minutes.
The second-placed Pontoise (10-5) lost
48-54 on the opponent's court to the much lower-ranked (#9) Besancon in the Group B.
There are only three games left until the end of the Second Stage. So now every game is very crucial.
This year Sy's total stats are: 3.4ppg, 5.2rpg and 1.1apg in 31 games.
He has both Mali and French nationalities.
Sy used to play for the Mali national team
back in 18.
#5. Former international guard
Ludovic Chelle (186-1983, currently plays in France) couldn't help
SOPCC (7-8) in their last game on Tuesday. Despite his very good performance SOPCC (#7) was defeated
72-68 in Cergy by the higher-ranked Pontoise (#5) in the Group B.
Chelle was the top scorer with 18 points. He also added 5 assists.
There are only three games left until the end of the Second Stage. So now every game will be important.
Chelle has averaged so far 8.2ppg, 1.6rpg and 2.3apg.
Similarly like Sy and Sidibe above he also holds two passports: Mali and French.
Despite Chelle played previously for the French U20 national team, he is currently in the Mali national team roster.
#6. Center
Moustapha Diarra (205-1987, college:
USF, currently plays in France) couldn't help
Andrezieux (7-8) in their last game. Despite Diarra's very good performance Andrezieux (#6) lost
79-86 on their home court in Andrezieux to the higher-ranked (#5) Lourdes-Tarbes in the Group B.
He was the top scorer with 16 points. Diarra also added 5 rebounds in 28 minutes; quite an impressive performance considering it's only his first season in pro basketball. It was Andrezieux's third consecutive loss in a row.
There are only three games left until the end of the Second Stage. So now every game will be extremely important.
Diarra has relatively good stats this year: 10.3ppg, 3.5rpg and 1.5apg in 33 games.
He is a former international player as he played for the Mali senior team year ago.
#7. Former international forward
Ibrahim Djambo (209-1992, college:
Hofstra, currently plays in France) contributed to an easy victory against the third-ranked C'Chartres (14-8) crushing them
92-72 in the French NM1 (third division) last Tuesday.
Djambo recorded 12 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists.
CEP Lorient Basket (8-7) is placed fourth in Group A.
There are only three games left until the end of the Second Stage.
This season Djambo has relatively solid stats: 12.3ppg, 5.2rpg, 1.7apg and 1.2spg.
He holds both American and Mali passports.
Djambo used to play for the Mali national team
years ago.
#8. Power forward
Baba Samake (202-1994, currently plays in France) couldn't help
Dax-Gamarde (3-1) in their last game. Despite his good performance Dax-Gamarde (#6) was crushed
98-77 on the opponent's court by the higher-ranked (#5) Avignon/Pontet in the Group C.
Samake scored 11 points and grabbed 6 rebounds (went 5 for 5 at the free throw line) in a mere 19 minutes.
They ended the series of three consecutive victories.
There are only four games left until the end of the Second Stage.
Samake has averaged so far 5.5ppg and 4.6rpg in 22 games.
He used to play for the Mali national team
back in 17.
#9. Former international point guard
Siriman Kanoute (181-2001, currently plays in France) contributed to an easy victory against the third-ranked Vendee Challans (5-2)
91-75 in the French NM1 (third division) in Friday night's game.
Kanoute scored 9 points, had 4 boards, dished 5 assists and stole 3 balls.
It was the game of the round between two top 3 ranked teams. AS Kaysersberg Ammerschwihr BCA (8-2) is placed first in Group C.
There are only four games left until the end of the Second Stage.
Kanoute has averaged so far 8.4ppg, 2.4rpg, 3.0apg and 2.0spg.
He used to play for the Mali national team
years ago.
#10. Point guard
Ibrahim Saounera (179-1987, currently plays in France) is a teammate of previously mentioned Ibrahim Djambo. But that was another game of his team in French NM1 which we would like to mention.
Saounera couldn't help
Lorient (8-7) in their game against STB Le Havre (19-2).
He scored 9 points in 25 minutes.
But Lorient (#4) was crushed
88-66 in Le Havre by the leading STB Le Havre in the Group A.
Saounera has averaged so far 7.8ppg, 2.1rpg and 3.0apg in 30 games.
He is a former international player as years ago he still played for the Mali senior national team.
#11. Former U19 international forward
Mohamed Sidibe (196-2002, currently plays in France) couldn't help the league outsider
Les Sables in their game against SO Maritime Boulogne in the French NM1 (third division).
Sidibe scored only 4 points.
His team was crushed by 25 points
81-56.
Sidibe has averaged so far 4.9ppg and 3.0rpg.
He used to play for the Mali U19 national team
years ago.
#12. Former international center
Drissa Ballo (203-1995, currently plays in France) is a teammate of previously mentioned Moustapha Diarra and both played together in the last French NM1 game.
Ballo couldn't help
Andrezieux in their game against Lourdes-Tarbes. He cannot count Friday's game as one of the best ones.
Ballo scored only 2 points.
His team was defeated
86-79.
This season Ballo averages just 1.1ppg.
He used to play for the Mali national team
back in 21.
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-1990, agency:
BeoBasket, college:
NM State, currently plays in France) contributed to
Metropolitans' victory against one of league's weakest teams Provence Basket (8-18)
77-73 in the French Betclic ELITE ProA in Monday night's game.
He scored 10 points in 26 minutes.
Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans (19-7) is placed first in the Betclic ELITE ProA.
This year Sy averages: 5.1ppg and 2.9rpg in 17 games he played so far.
He has a dual citizenship: Mali and French.
#2. Tim Troussel (203-PF-1995, college:
Newman, currently plays in Austria). Troussel could not help
Lions to beat Nord Dragonz.
He recorded 6 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 21 minutes.
Lions (#4) were badly defeated
85-68 on the road by the lower-ranked (#5) Nord Dragonz in the PlayOff - Knockout group.
Troussel has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 15.4ppg, 9.4rpg, 2.2apg and 1.6spg in 17 games.
Troussel is another player who holds two passports: Mali and French.
#3. Mamadou Dembele (209-C-2005, currently plays in Italy) managed to help WithU Bergamo in a victory against the 16th-ranked Bernareggio (5-20)
77-71 in the Italian Serie B (third division) on Sunday night.
Dembele recorded only 4 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 20 minutes.
WithU Bergamois placed in Group B.
Dembele has averaged so far 1.8ppg and 2.3rpg in 13 games.
