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EVELYN AKHATOR
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Traditionally, every week we bring you a list of the top performances of Nigerians who are currently playing abroad.
#1. This week's number one is an international forward
Evelyn Akhator (190-95, college:
Kentucky, currently plays in EuroCup). Akhator led her Turkish team
Besiktas to a victory over the closely-ranked Inventa (2-2) crushing them
94-64 in the Eurocup last Thursday.
She was MVP of the game. Akhator recorded a double-double by scoring 24 points and getting 13 rebounds; not bad, considering it's only her second season in pro basketball. Besiktas CT Istanbul (2-2) is placed 14th in the Eurocup.
It was her team's third consecutive victory in a row.
They will play only one more game in the Eurocup Regular Season. And that game will be critical.
Akhator has individually a very good season with high stats. She averages: 16.0ppg, 12.2rpg, 2FGP: 55.9%(33-59) and FT: 66.7%.
Akhator is currently a member of the Nigerian senior national team.
#2. Second place goes to an international forward
Adaora Elonu (185-90, agency:
ProDep Management, college:
Texas A&M, currently plays in Euroleague). She was the major contributor in a
Perfumerias Avenida's victory against the seventh-ranked Flammes (2-2)
75-62 in the Euroleague on Wednesday night.
Elonu scored 14 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 27 minutes.
Perfumerias Avenida Salamanca (2-2) is placed third in the Euroleague.
Elonu has relatively good stats this year: 12.0ppg, 5.2rpg, 1.8apg, 2FGP: 52.4%, 3FGP: 42.9% in five games she played so far.
She has a dual citizenship: Nigerian and American.
Elonu is in the roster of the Nigerian senior national team.
#3. The Nigerian player who performed third best last week abroad was an international guard
Promise Amukamara (173-93, college:
Arizona St., currently plays in Romania). She contributed to an easy victory against the sixth-ranked Cluj Napoca (0-5)
70-54 in the Romanian Liga Nationala in Saturday night's game.
Amukamara scored 16 points, grabbed 4 boards, passed 9 assists and added 5 steals.
CS Municipal Satu Mare (5-2) is placed second in Group A.
There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial.
This season Amukamara has relatively solid stats: 12.0ppg, 2.7rpg, 4.7apg, 2.7spg, 2FGP: 45.8% and FT: 55.6%.
She is another player who holds two passports: Nigerian and American.
Amukamara is also a member of the Nigerian senior national team.
#4. Forward
Uju Ugoka (185-93, agency:
Two Points, college:
Virginia Tech, currently plays in France) was the main contributor in
Roche's victory against the closely-ranked Flammes (2-5)
88-71 in the French LFB last Saturday.
She was the best player in that game. Ugoka recorded 24 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 35 minutes.
Roche Vendee BC (3-4) is placed ninth in the LFB.
It was her team's third consecutive victory in a row.
But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen.
Ugoka has reliable stats this year: 14.4ppg and 7.7rpg in seven games.
She used to play for the Nigerian national team
back in 2016.
#5. International forward
Atonye Nyingifa (180-90, college:
UCLA, currently plays in Spain) could not help
Maquinaria Ensino (2-6) in their last game on Sunday. Despite Nyingifa's very good performance Maquinaria Ensino was crushed
72-49 on the road by the much higher-ranked Argon Uni Girona (#3).
She recorded a double-double by scoring 16 points and getting 13 rebounds. Nyingifa also added and 3 steals.
But the season just started, so everything may happen.
It's Nyingifa's first year with the team.
Her stats this season are: 13.3ppg, 8.4rpg, 1.9apg and 1.9spg.
Nyingifa has both American and Nigerian nationalities.
She plays currently for the Nigerian national team.
#6. Forward
Sarah Imovbioh (188-92, college:
S.Carolina, currently plays in Hungary) was not able to help
PEAC-Pecs in their game against Sopron Basket (9-0) in the Hungarian A Division.
Imovbioh scored 5 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in 27 minutes.
PEAC-Pecs was crushed
92-43 in Sopron by the leading Basket.
Imovbioh has very impressive stats this year: 15.4ppg and 10.6rpg in seven games.
She is an international player who is currently on the senior Nigerian National Team roster.
#7. International forward
Elo Edeferioka (188-93, college:
Georgia Tech, currently plays in Spain) contributed to an easy victory against the third-ranked Ardoi (7-1)
72-56 in the Spanish LF2 (second division) last Sunday.
Edeferioka recorded a double-double by scoring 14 points and getting 10 rebounds.
It was the game of the round between two top 3 ranked teams in Group A. Real Club Celta Zorka Vigo (9-0) is placed first.
So far her team won all nine games in the Regular Season.
But the season is still in it's first stage and everything can happen.
Edeferioka averaged so far 10.4ppg and 7.7rpg.
She is also Nigerian national team player.
#8. Guard
Ezinne Kalu (173-92, college:
Savannah St., currently plays in Germany) was not able to secure a victory for
Gruner Stern Keltern (5-4) in their game against Herner TC (9-1) in the German DBBL.
Kalu scored only 4 points and added 3 assists in 24 minutes.
Gruner Stern Keltern was crushed
88-60 in Herne by the second-ranked r TC.
This year Kalu's overall stats are: 7.0ppg, 2.5apg and 2.0spg in two games.
She also holds two passports: Nigerian and American.
Kalu plays currently for the Nigerian national team.
The list of other players, who all have Nigerian passport but never been selected to any of Nigerian national teams: #1. Temi Fagbenle (193-F-92, college:
USC, currently plays in Poland) led
CCC Polkowice to a victory over the league outsider TS Ostrovia (0-9) crushing them
81-43 in the Polish EBLK in Saturday night's game.
She was MVP of the game. Fagbenle scored 19 points, had 6 rebounds and made 2 blocks in 23 minutes; quite an impressive performance considering it's only her third season in pro basketball. CCC Polkowice (8-0) is placed first in the EBLK.
So far her team won all eight games in the Regular Season.
There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical.
Fagbenle has relatively good stats this year: 14.4ppg, 7.8rpg, 1.3apg, 1.4bpg and 1.1spg in eight games she played so far.
She has a dual citizenship: British and Nigerian.
#2. Elizabeth Balogun (185-G, currently plays college basketball in the States) managed to help Georgia Tech to win against the Georgia State University
78-71 in a derby game in the NCAA in Sunday night's game.
She scored only 4 points.
The Georgia Tech has conference record this season.
Balogun's stats this year are: 11.1ppg, 2.9rpg, 1.5apg and 1.6spg.
#3. Olamide Aborowa (190-F-96, currently studies in the States), who plays in the NCAA could not help the
Texas to beat the Mississippi State University.
She scored only 4 points in 15 minutes.
her team were badly defeated
67-49 on the road by the Mississippi State University.
Aborowa has been at the team for four years.
This season Aborowa's total stats are: 3.4ppg and 3.4rpg in eight games.
