We are recalling all foreign players that have ever played in the League, telling about foreign championships and National teams of different countries in World basketball map project. Today we will tell about basketball in Gabon
Population: 2,2 mln
Players in the history of League: 1
Full list of players: Stephane Lasme
Stephane Lasme, the most famous Gabonese player, was member of UNICS in 2017/18 VTB League season. The center played 28 games averaging 12.6 points and 6.0 rebounds. In the same season, Lasme participated in the All-Star Game.
Furthermore, Lasme’s record includes NBA’s Golden State and Miami, several games for Spartak St. Petersburg in 2010 and leagues of Turkey, Greece, Serbia, Spain and Israel.
Basketball in Gabon
League: Division 1
Founded: –
Number of teams: 16
League’s web-site: –
16 teams compete in countrie’s championship and cup (the first stage of the latter is held within one day)
The most popular and successful club of Gabon is Manga BB. Moamba’s team is the basement for the national team, unbeaten locally and represents Gabon in Basketball Africa League, top tier African club competition.
Last season, Manga BB played 6 qualification games in Basketball Africa League with 4-2 record. They beat clubs from Equatorial Guinea, DR Congo and the Republic of Congo. Despite the positive record at the second stage (2-1) the Gabonese team didn’t manage to qualify for 2020 Basketball Africa League.
Interesting fact
Ex-UNICS player Stephane Lasme has his own basketball academy for youth in Gabon.
Gabon National team
FIBA Rank: 136
FIBA members: since 1965
Achievements: 3 Afrobasket participations
Gabon national team joined FIBA 55 years ago, and to this day have only played at three Afrobasket final stages.
In 1993, Gabon lost all 4 group stage games and took the last 9th place. In 2005, Gabon also were 9th with 3-4 record, but this time among 12 teams.
At 2015 Afrobasket in Tunis, Gabon lost all 3 group stage games, but then made a sensation beating Cabo Verde in Last 16 (77:67). In quarterfinal, Gabon were downed by Nigeria (64:88) who later became the champions. With a record of 1-6, Gabon took overall 8th place, the highest in countrie’s history.
Today, Gabon are ranked 136th of 168 (27th of 38 in Africa) in FIBA world rating.
The most famous players in history of Gabon
Stephane Lasme. Best player of Gabon, played in NBA’s Golden State and Miami, was champion of Greece, Israel, Serbia, Adriatic and Eurocup. His personal awards are Greek league MVP (2013), Greek league final MVP (2013), best defender of Eurocup (2013) and Eurocup final MVP (2016).
Chris Silva. South Carolina university alumnus. Plays for Miami Heat since 2019.
Therence Mayimba. Ex-NCAA player and Gabonese top scorer at 2015 Afrobasket. Mayimba spent last season in French league.
Dmitriy Kolinov
