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 international center
Mariam Coulibaly (192-1997, agency:
Areus Sports, currently plays in Spain). She led
IDK Eustotren to a victory over the closely-ranked Cadi La Seu (1-2)
77-72 in the Spanish LF Endesa in Saturday night's game.
Coulibaly was MVP of the game. She had a double-double by scoring 19 points and getting 11 rebounds in 36 minutes on the court.
IDK Eustotren San Sebastian (1-2) is placed 14th in the LF Endesa.
The Regular Season already ended.
Coulibaly has individually a very good year with high stats. She averages: 19.0ppg, 10.0rpg, 1.3apg, 2FGP: 56.4%(22-39) and FT: 92.9% in three games she played so far.
Former Stade Malien Bamako starter played for the Mali senior national team year ago.
#2. Second place goes to former international center
Kankou Coulibaly (187-1990, agency:
Basket Promotion Agency, currently plays in France). Coulibaly contributed to
Charnay's victory against the ninth-ranked Monaco (0-1)
67-56 in the French LF2 (second division) last Saturday.
She recorded a double-double by scoring 10 points and getting the same number of rebounds. Coulibaly also added 5 assists and 3 steals. It was her first game for Charnay this season.
Her team is placed third in the LF2.
But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen.
Coulibaly played for the Mali national team in 22.
#3. The Mali player who performed third best last week abroad was former international power forward
Sika Kone (190-2002, currently plays in Spain). She could not help
Gran Canaria (3-1) in their last game. Despite Kone's good performance Gran Canaria was badly defeated
81-65 at home by the lower-ranked (#5) Zaragoza.
She had a double-double by scoring 10 points and getting 12 rebounds in 28 minutes.
The Regular Season already ended.
Kone has relatively good stats this year: 12.3ppg, 11.7rpg, 2FGP: 40.6%, 3FGP: 33.3% in three games.
She played for the Mali national team year ago.
#4. Center
Diana Balayera (191-1996, also represented by
Areus Sports, currently plays in France) is a teammate of previously mentioned Kankou Coulibaly and both played together in the last French LF2 game.
Balayera was the major contributor in
Charnay's victory against the ninth-ranked Monaco (0-1)
67-56.
She recorded 12 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. It was her first game for Charnay this season.
Balayera used to play for the Mali national team
back in 22.
#5. Former international forward
Ramata Diakite (188-1991, currently plays in Belgium) was not able to help
Brunehaut in their game against Waregem (1-1) in the Belgian Top Division Women. She did not have that impressive stats last Saturday.
Diakite recorded only 2 points in 17 minutes.
Brunehaut lost
49-62 on their home court in to the higher-ranked (#7) Waregem.
But the season just started, so everything may happen.
This year Diakite's overall stats are: 1.0ppg and 4.5rpg in two games.
She used to play for the Mali national team
years ago.
#6. An experienced power forward
Meiya Tirera (188-1986, currently plays in France) contributed to
Aulnoye's victory against one of league's weakest teams SIG (0-1)
72-63 in the French LF2 (second division) on Saturday night.
Tirera recorded 12 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks. It was her first game for Aulnoye this season.
Her team is placed first in the LF2.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
Tirera is a former international player as she played for the Mali senior team year ago.
#7. Former international guard
Touty Gandega (170-1991, currently plays in France) is a teammate of previously mentioned Meiya Tirera and both played together in the last French LF2 game.
Gandega was the main contributor in
Aulnoye's victory against one of league's weakest teams SIG (0-1)
72-63.
She was the best player in that game. Gandega recorded 16 points, 4 assists and 4 steals in 36 minutes. It was her first game for Aulnoye this season.
Despite Gandega played previously for the French U20 national team, she is currently in the Mali national team roster.
Other top Mali players, who play abroad:Mama Doumbia (175-G-2007) plays for
Gran Canaria in Spanish LF Endesa
Lala Toure (186-C-2008) plays for
Gran Canaria in Spanish LF Endesa
Aminata Sangare (186-F-2002) plays for
Alcobendas in Spanish LF Challenge
Goundo Diallo (176-F/G-1997) plays for
Limoges in French NF1
Sira Thienou will continue her college career at Auburn
