Here is the weekly review of the top performing Mali players, who play currently abroad.
#1. This week's number one is former international forward
Sagaba Konate (203-1997, college:
WVU, currently plays in Italy). He led
Trieste to a victory against the closely-ranked Reggio Emilia (2-2)
109-103 in the Italian Serie A in Sunday night's game.
Konate had a double-double by scoring 20 points and getting 15 rebounds. He also added 3 blocks in 36 minutes on the court; quite an impressive performance considering it's only Konate's first season in pro basketball. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Allianz Pallacanestro Triesteis placed in the Serie A.
This year Konate averages: 8.6ppg, 6.0rpg, 2FGP: 61.6%(85-138) and FT: 71.0% in 25 games he played so far.
He played for the Mali senior national team year ago.
#2. Second place goes to former international point guard
Ibrahima Sidibe (180-1995, currently plays in France). Sidibe could not help
Orchesien BC (9-8) in their last game. Despite his very good performance the fourth-placed Orchesien BC (9-8) lost
69-73 on the road to the second-ranked Vitre in the Group B.
Sidibe was the second best scorer with 17 points. He also added 4 rebounds in 28 minutes.
Sidibe's team will play only one more game in the Second Stage. And that game will be critical.
This year Sidibe's overall stats are: 8.0ppg, 2.2rpg, 2.3apg, 1.3spg, 2FGP: 48.1%, 3FGP: 25.8% and FT: 57.5% in 32 games.
He has a dual citizenship: Mali and French.
Despite Sidibe played previously for the French U20 national team, he played also for the Mali national team in 21.
#3. The Mali player who performed third best last week abroad was former international small forward
Sadio Doucoure (200-1992, currently plays in France). Doucoure was not able to help
Provence Basket in their game against JSF Nanterre (15-13) in the French Betclic ELITE ProA. His contribution was not very remarkable in Friday's game.
Doucoure scored only 2 points.
Provence Basket was badly defeated
101-82 in Nanterre by the lower-ranked JSF Nanterre (#9).
It was Provence Basket's fourth consecutive loss in a row.
Doucoure's total stats this season are: 4.9ppg, 2.5rpg, 2FGP: 54.2%, 3FGP: 22.9% and FT: 82.4%.
He is another player who holds two passports: Mali and French.
Doucoure played for the Mali national team year ago.
#4. An experienced swingman
Mamadou Sy (194-1985, college:
Cloud County, currently plays in France) was not able to secure a victory for
Pontoise (11-6) in their game against SO Maritime Boulogne (11-6) in the French NM1 (third division).
He scored only 4 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 25 minutes.
Pontoise (#3) was edged
66-65 in Boulogne-sur-Mer by the leading SO Maritime Boulogne in the Group B.
Sy's team will play only one more game in the Second Stage. And now that game is very crucial.
This year Sy's total stats are: 3.3ppg, 5.4rpg and 1.2apg in 33 games.
Similarly like Doucoure and Sidibe above he has both Mali and French nationalities.
Sy used to play for the Mali national team
back in 18.
#5. Former international center
Moustapha Diarra (205-1987, college:
USF, currently plays in France) was the major contributor in
Andrezieux's victory against the second-ranked Vitre (11-6) crushing them
89-54 in the French NM1 (third division) in Friday night's game.
He scored 13 points, grabbed 5 rebounds and made 2 blocks in 20 minutes.
Andrezieux Boutheon Loire Sud Basket (9-8) is placed fifth in Group B.
Diarra's team will play only one more game in the Second Stage. And now that game is quite important.
Diarra has relatively good stats this year: 10.2ppg, 3.6rpg and 1.5apg in 35 games.
Similarly like three previous players above, he also holds two passports: Mali and French.
Diarra used to play for the Mali national team
years ago.
#6. Point guard
Ibrahim Saounera (179-1987, currently plays in France) contributed to an easy victory against the second-ranked Lyon (13-6)
89-73 in the French NM1 (third division) last Friday.
He scored 13 points and added 3 passes.
It was the game of the round between two top 3 ranked teams. CEP Lorient Basket (10-7) is placed third in Group A.
It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row.
They will play only one more game in the Second Stage. And now that game is extremely important.
Saounera has averaged so far 8.0ppg, 2.2rpg and 3.0apg.
He is a former international player as he played for the Mali senior team year ago.
#7. Former international center
Cheick Soumaoro (205-1990, currently plays in France) couldn't help
SOPCC (8-9) in their last game. Despite Soumaoro's good performance SOPCC (#6) was edged
84-83 on the opponent's court by the leading Toulouse in the Group B.
He scored 11 points and grabbed 4 rebounds (was perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line) in a mere 18 minutes.
Soumaoro's team will play only one more game in the Second Stage.
Soumaoro has averaged so far 6.7ppg and 4.7rpg in 32 games.
He used to play for the Mali national team
years ago.
#8. Forward
Ibrahim Djambo (209-1992, college:
Hofstra, currently plays in France) is a teammate of previously mentioned Ibrahim Saounera and both played together in the last French NM1 game.
Djambo contributed to an easy victory against the second-ranked Lyon (13-6)
89-73.
He scored 13 points.
This season Djambo has relatively solid stats: 12.1ppg, 5.0rpg, 1.6apg and 1.2spg.
He holds both American and Mali passports.
Djambo used to play for the Mali national team
back in 21.
#9. Former international guard
Ludovic Chelle (186-1983, currently plays in France) is a teammate of previously mentioned Cheick Soumaoro and both played together in the last French NM1 game.
Chelle couldn't help
SOPCC (8-9) in their game against Toulouse (18-4).
He scored 9 points in 17 minutes.
But SOPCC (#6) was edged
84-83 on the opponent's court by the leading Toulouse in the Group B.
Chelle has averaged so far 8.2ppg, 1.6rpg and 2.3apg in 26 games.
Despite he played previously for the French U20 national team, Chelle is currently in the Mali national team roster.
#10. Forward
Mohamed Sidibe (196-2002, currently plays in France) managed to help Les Sables Vendee Basket to win against the tenth-ranked Besancon (5-12)
70-58 in the French NM1 (third division) on Friday night.
He scored only 2 points and grabbed 7 rebounds.
Les Sables Vendee Basket (0-8) is placed sixth in Group B.
Sidibe's team will play only one more game in the Second Stage.
Sidibe has averaged so far 4.5ppg and 3.4rpg.
He is a former U19 international player as years ago he still played for the Mali national team.
#11. Former international point guard
Siriman Kanoute (181-2001, currently plays in France) contributed to an easy victory against the fifth-ranked Union Rennes crushing them
79-54 in the French NM1 (third division) in Friday night's game.
Kanoute scored only 2 points and had 3 steals in 16 minutes.
Kanoute has averaged so far 7.7ppg, 2.4rpg, 2.8apg and 2.1spg in nine games.
He used to play for the Mali national team
years ago.
#12. Former international power forward
Baba Samake (202-1994, currently plays in France) couldn't help
Dax-Gamarde in their game against GET Vosges in the French NM1 (third division). Samake cannot count Friday's game as one of the best ones.
He scored only 3 points.
His team was defeated
90-76.
Samake has averaged so far 5.4ppg and 4.5rpg.
He used to play for the Mali national team
back in 17.
#13. Former international center
Drissa Ballo (203-1995, currently plays in France) is a teammate of previously mentioned Moustapha Diarra. But that was another game of his team in French NM1 which we would like to mention.
Ballo contributed to a 1-point
Andrezieux's victory against the sixth-ranked Les Sables
79-78.
He scored only one point and added 3 assists in 5 minutes on the court.
This year Ballo averages only 1.1ppg in 16 games.
He used to play for the Mali national team
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-1990, agency:
BeoBasket, college:
NM State, currently plays in France) contributed to
Metropolitans' victory against the 16th-ranked Le Portel (9-20)
99-94 in the French Betclic ELITE ProA last Tuesday.
Sy recorded 8 points.
Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans (21-7) is placed first in the Betclic ELITE ProA.
It was his team's fourth consecutive victory in a row.
Sy's overall stats this season are: 4.9ppg and 2.8rpg.
He has a dual citizenship: Mali and French.
#2. Tim Troussel (203-PF-1995, college:
Newman, currently plays in Austria) could not help
Lions (8-11) in their last game on Sunday. Despite his very good performance Lions (#4) were defeated
83-74 at home by the lower-ranked Nord Dragonz (#5) in the PlayOff - Knockout group.
Troussel was the top scorer with 22 points. He also added 5 rebounds.
Troussel has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 15.8ppg, 9.1rpg, 2.1apg and 1.6spg.
Troussel is another player who holds two passports: Mali and French.
#3. Mamadou Dembele (209-C-2005, currently plays in Italy) was not able to help
Bergamo (0-0) in their game against San Vendemiano (18-8) in the Italian Serie B (third division). Dembele cannot count Saturday's game as one of the best ones.
He scored only 2 points, grabbed 5 rebounds and made 2 blocks.
His team was defeated
78-73 on the road by the lower-ranked San Vendemiano (#4) in the Group B.
Dembele has averaged so far 1.9ppg and 2.5rpg.
