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 forward
Sagaba Konate (203-1997, college:
WVU, currently plays in Italy). He led
Trieste to a victory against the closely-ranked Cremona (1-3)
84-72 in the Italian Serie A in Saturday night's game.
Konate scored 14 points, had 8 rebounds, passed 4 assists and added 5 blocks in 31 minutes on the court; quite an impressive performance considering it's only his 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: 8.8ppg, 6.1rpg, 2FGP: 60.7%(91-150) and FT: 71.9% in 26 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 was the major contributor in a
Orchesien BC's victory against the seventh-ranked Lourdes-Tarbes (8-10)
86-76 in the French NM1 (third division) on Friday night.
He recorded 16 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists in 29 minutes.
BC Orchies (10-8) is placed fourth in Group B.
The Second Stage already ended.
This year Sidibe's overall stats are: 8.2ppg, 2.3rpg, 2.4apg, 1.2spg, 2FGP: 48.2%, 3FGP: 27.5% and FT: 57.7% in 33 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 an experienced former international swingman
Mamadou Sy (194-1985, college:
Cloud County, currently plays in France). Sy could not help
Pontoise (11-7) to beat Andrezieux (10-8).
He recorded 6 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals.
The second-placed Pontoise (11-7) was defeated
78-67 on the road by the lower-ranked Andrezieux (#5) in the Group B.
The Second Stage already ended.
Sy's total stats this season are: 3.4ppg, 5.5rpg, 1.2apg, 2FGP: 38.2% and FT: 40.7%.
He is another player who holds two passports: Mali and French.
Sy played for the Mali national team year ago.
#4. Center
Cheick Soumaoro (205-1990, currently plays in France) was not able to help
SOPCC (8-10) in their last game. Despite his good performance SOPCC (#6) was badly defeated
85-66 in Les Sables-D'Ollone by the lower-ranked (#6) Les Sables in the Group B.
Soumaoro was the top scorer with 12 points in a mere 18 minutes.
The Second Stage already ended.
This year Soumaoro's total stats are: 6.9ppg and 4.6rpg in 33 games.
He used to play for the Mali national team
back in 18.
#5. Former international forward
Ibrahim Djambo (209-1992, college:
Hofstra, currently plays in France) was not able to secure a victory for
Lorient (10-8) in their game against Caen (7-11) in the French NM1 (third division). Despite his good performance on Friday night Djambo was the top scorer with 12 points. He also added 4 rebounds.
The Second Stage already ended.
Djambo has relatively good stats this season: 12.1ppg, 5.0rpg, 1.6apg and 1.2spg.
He has both American and Mali nationalities.
Djambo used to play for the Mali national team
years ago.
#6. Center
Moustapha Diarra (205-1987, college:
USF, currently plays in France) faced previously mentioned Mamadou Sy in the French NM1 last game.
Diarra contributed to
Andrezieux's victory against the fifth-ranked Pontoise (4-5)
78-67.
He recorded 9 points and blocked 3 shots in 16 minutes.
The Second Stage already ended.
This year Diarra has relatively solid stats: 10.2ppg, 3.6rpg and 1.4apg in 36 games.
He is a former international player as he played for the Mali senior team year ago.
#7. Former international point guard
Ibrahim Saounera (179-1987, currently plays in France) is a teammate of previously mentioned Ibrahim Djambo and both played together in the last French NM1 game.
Saounera couldn't help
Lorient (10-8) in their game against Caen (7-11). Despite his good performance last Friday He recorded 10 points.
Saounera has averaged so far 8.1ppg, 2.2rpg and 2.9apg.
He used to play for the Mali national team
years ago.
#8. 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 (8-10) in their game against Les Sables (0-8).
He recorded 9 points in 17 minutes.
But SOPCC (#6) was badly defeated
85-66 in Les Sables-D'Ollone by the lower-ranked (#6) Les Sables in the Group B.
Chelle has averaged so far 8.3ppg, 1.6rpg and 2.3apg in 27 games.
Despite he played previously for the French U20 national team, Chelle is currently in the Mali national team roster.
#9. Former international power forward
Baba Samake (202-1994, currently plays in France) managed to help Dax-Gamarde Goos Basket to win against the fourth-ranked CFBB (7-6)
72-71 in the French NM1 (third division) in Friday night's game.
He recorded only 2 points.
Dax-Gamarde Goos Basket (4-2) is placed sixth in Group C.
There are only two games left until the end of the Second Stage. So now every game will be critical.
Samake has averaged so far 5.3ppg and 4.3rpg.
He used to play for the Mali national team
years ago.
#10. Forward
Mohamed Sidibe (196-2002, currently plays in France) faced previously mentioned Cheick Soumaoro in the French NM1 last game.
Sidibe contributed to an easy victory against the sixth-ranked SOPCC (8-10)
85-66.
He recorded only 2 points in 11 minutes.
The Second Stage already ended.
Sidibe has averaged so far 4.3ppg and 3.3rpg in 12 games.
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 a 2-point
Kaysersberg's victory against the eighth-ranked JSA Bordeaux
74-72 in the French NM1 (third division) on Friday night.
Kanoute recorded only one point.
Kanoute has averaged so far 7.0ppg, 2.2rpg, 2.6apg and 2.1spg.
He used to play for the Mali national team
years ago.
One more player who has never been selected to any of national teams, but has Mali passport: #1. Bandja Sy (204-F-1990, agency:
BeoBasket, college:
NM State, currently plays in EuroCup) contributed to an easy victory against the 16th-ranked Venezia (9-9) crushing them
87-66 in the Eurocup last Wednesday.
Sy recorded 6 points and grabbed 6 rebounds.
Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans (11-5) is placed third in the Eurocup.
It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row.
Sy's overall stats this season are: 4.2ppg and 3.1rpg.
He has a dual citizenship: Mali and French.
