POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
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 U16 international power forward
Cheick Diallo (206-1996, college:
Kansas, currently plays in Puerto Rico). He led
Cangrejeros to a victory over the leader Vaqueros (9-3)
95-89 in the Puerto Rican BSN in Sunday night's game.
Diallo was MVP of the game. He had a double-double by scoring 31 points and getting 20 rebounds in 38 minutes on the court; quite an impressive performance considering it's only Diallo's first season in pro basketball. It was the game of the round between two top 3 ranked teams. Cangrejeros de Santurce (6-7) is placed second in Group B.
Diallo has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 21.5ppg, 12.3rpg, 2FGP: 71.4%(35-49) and FT: 64.0% in four games he played so far.
Diallo played for the Mali U16 national team year ago.
#2. Second place goes to former international forward
Sagaba Konate (203-1997, college:
WVU, currently plays in Italy). Konate was the major contributor in
Trieste's victory against the league leader Treviso (4-0)
84-83 in the Italian Serie A on Sunday night.
He scored 19 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in 27 minutes; not bad, 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's overall stats are: 8.7ppg, 5.9rpg, 2FGP: 60.8%(101-166) and FT: 72.1% in 29 games.
He played for the Mali national team in 20.
#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 managed to help FOS Provence Basket to win against the 13th-ranked Chorale de Roanne (13-20)
100-84 in the French Betclic ELITE ProA in Tuesday night's game.
He scored 5 points, had 5 rebounds and made 2 blocks.
FOS Provence Basket (3-11) is placed seventh in the Betclic ELITE ProA.
They ended the series of four consecutive loses.
Doucoure's team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And that game will be critical.
Doucoure's total stats this season are: 4.1ppg, 2.3rpg, 2FGP: 46.4%, 3FGP: 23.1% and FT: 84.2%.
He has a dual citizenship: Mali and French.
Doucoure played for the Mali national team year ago.
#4. An experienced forward
Amara Sy (202-1981, agency:
BeoBasket, currently plays in France). He could not help
Paris (1-13) to beat Limoges CSP Elite (20-12).
Sy scored 6 points in 16 minutes.
Paris lost
70-85 at home to the higher-ranked (#4) Limoges CSP Elite.
His team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And now that game is very crucial.
This year Sy's total stats are: 3.1ppg and 1.2rpg in nine games.
He is another player who holds two passports: Mali and French.
Sy used to play for the Mali national team
back in 11.
#5. Former international point guard
Ibrahim Saounera (179-1987, currently plays in France) contributed to an easy victory against the fifth-ranked Pontoise (4-6) crushing them
82-50 in the French NM1 (third division) on Saturday night.
He recorded 13 points and had 3 steals.
CEP Lorient Basket (10-8) is placed fourth in Group A.
It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row.
Saounera has averaged so far 8.0ppg, 2.1rpg and 2.8apg.
Similarly like Sy and Doucoure above he has both Mali and French nationalities.
Saounera used to play for the Mali national team
years ago.
#6. 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 fifth-ranked Pontoise (4-6) crushing them
82-50.
He recorded only 3 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in 25 minutes.
Djambo has relatively good stats this year: 11.5ppg, 5.2rpg, 1.5apg and 1.2spg in 39 games.
He also holds two passports: Mali and American.
Djambo is a former international player as he played for the Mali senior team year 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 France) contributed to an easy victory against the seventh-ranked Pau-Lacq-Orthez (17-15)
86-71 in the French Betclic ELITE ProA last Tuesday.
He scored 10 points and grabbed 6 rebounds.
Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92 (24-9) is placed third in the Betclic ELITE ProA.
Sy's team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And that game will be critical.
Sy's overall stats this season are: 5.2ppg and 3.0rpg.
He has a dual citizenship: Mali and French.
Other top Mali players, who play abroad:Nianta Diarra (201-F/C-1993) plays for
Cholet Basket in French Betclic ELITE ProA
Mamoudou Dia (200-C-2003) plays for
Pesaro in Italian Serie A
Bassala Bagayoko (208-C-2006) plays for
Fuenlabrada in Spanish Liga Endesa
Sidiki Kone (211-F/C-2001) plays for
Radnicki 1950 in Serbian 1MRL
Modibo Diaby (202-F-2003) plays for
CSM Steaua Bucuresti in Romanian Liga Nationala
Ibrahima Sidibe (180-PG-1995) plays for
Orchesien BC in French NM1
Lassena Fofana (202-C-2005) plays for
Caceres in Spanish LEB Gold
Mamadou Sy (194-F/G-1985) plays for
Pontoise in French NM1
Moussa Doumbia (209-SF-2005) plays for
RO SAzzurra in Italian Serie A2
Souleymane Pinda Traore (210-C-2002) plays for
Zamora in Spanish LEB Silver
Notice:
The list above includes only some of the Mali playing currently abroad. Go to Mali Abroad Page to see completed list.
