The EuroCup's top rebounder sat down for a one-on-one interview with Javier Gancedo
Mfiondu Kabengele, Reyer: 'I'm definitely grateful to be out here'
Interviews
8 Mins read
Umana Reyer Venice has been battling injuries since the start of the season. The team is 2-3 in Group B and plays four of its next five games on the road. Its main pillar this far has been center Mfiondu Kabengele, who leads the 2024-25 EuroCup in rebounding with 10.2 per game and already has three double-doubles this season. He is also posting 13.6 points on 63.6% two-point shooting and 1.6 assists for a PIR of 22.0, which is fourth overall in the competition.
Kabengele's uncle was the late African basketball legend Dikembe Mutombo, who passed away recently. In this week's EuroCupBasketball.com interview with Javier Gancedo, Kabengele spoke about architecture, food, basketball and how to turn injuries into something positive for the team.
"I'm excited for other guys to really shine and perform because we are going to need it," Kabengele said. "I feel like every team is scouted, our top guys, and this is a good opportunity for other guys to step up, open the game for everybody."
Congratulations on beating Hamburg. A great first half paved the way to the win. What allowed you to overcome injuries and get that important win?
"Thanks. It was just a team effort. Guys had to step up and sacrifice even more. Sometimes it's not just about guys having to shoot more or do more. Some guys have to do less than what they are accustomed to because of the new guys coming in and their playing style. So I feel like guys did a good job of just being adaptable, adjusting to the injuries and just staying the course. Guys recognized we were not at full strength, so it's good to see the fight in some of the guys during the game."
"My favorite part [of Venice], other than the food, is definitely the architecture, seeing how the city is built on water"
Rodney McGruder joined the backcourt and had a great game. How can he help you right away, given your injury circumstances?
"Another ball handler. Another great defender, that's probably one of the main things. We have Tyler [Ennis] and JP [Jordan Parks], who are also great leaders on this team. Both are great defenders and Rodney can fill that role. He is a great on-ball defender and a good ball screen defender, as well as making good reads in the pick-and-roll. So obviously his shot is a given, but the things that I'm looking forward to that can help other guys the most is his ability to read ball screens, make plays off the dribble, and obviously, get defensive stops."
This is your second season in Reyer. How do you like playing for such a historic team and the privilege of living near Venice?
"It's been great! My agent at the time, when I was coming from Greece, we were looking at potential teams and I didn't know much about Reyer. I knew about Venice, but I didn't know much about the team, and he just told me about the coaching staff, the players there, and it sounded too good to be true. And now that I came here, I'm seeing it. Great coaching staff, great players, the city is fantastic, the fans are great, so I'm definitely grateful to be out here."
Have you been to the old arena [Misericordia di Venezia]?
"Yeah! We went there! We did a video promo there for our introduction for the games, and they had some pictures of what it looked like before. It's a museum now, so it was nice to see that. And just to visualize how players would get to the games and stuff, that was cool."
We mentioned Venice. Have you seen every corner already and tried the amazing local food?
"For sure, the city is great. My favorite part, other than the food, is definitely the architecture, seeing how the city is built on water. I read about the way it was built. They put these stakes into the ground and packed it with mud and dirt to keep it solid. And then through that, it insulated it from the water from eroding. It's just high-tech architecture. And then obviously the food is amazing. Pasta, the seafood... so it's really, really, really nice. I really enjoy it."
Back to basketball. You lead the EuroCup in rebounds and already have three double-doubles in five EuroCup games. You grabbed 21 in an Italian League game, too. What makes you such a great rebounder?
"I would just say energy and heart. I'm not going to sit here and lie to you, be like, 'I watch all the film and see how guys shoot'. I just try to position myself and give myself a chance. It's all about giving myself a chance. If you stay in shape, you've got a chance to have energy in the fourth quarter. If you work on your jump shot, you will be able to make shots when you are tired. If you go hard in practice, you will be able to perform in games. You will always have a chance when you do certain things. So I feel like if I continue, if I keep working out, making sure I'm in shape, strong, mobile... I feel like all those things give me a chance, the best chance when the shot goes up. And obviously, the God-given abilities, my arm length, the motor, my heart, my size, those things definitely help a lot. So I feel like the accumulation of all those things is why I'm rebounding the way I am."
"The EuroCup does a good job of reminding me and others if I am who I say I am"
This is your second EuroCup season. What do you like the most about it?
"It's great. A lot of great imports, great domestic players. It's nice to get out of Italy sometimes and see other countries, see their fans and players and some things along the way. I have met players who I played against previously, and you get to ask them how their time is there in this city and this town and with this team, and you get their perspective and stuff like that. So it's really great. And the competition, I would say there's definitely more guys of my size and strength, so it's good. It's good to see where I stand sometimes... how I size up with these guys because sometimes you can get lost and think too much of yourself until you meet the real deal. And the EuroCup does a good job of reminding me and others if I am who I say I am, so it's been cool.
You will play four of the next five games on the road. How much of a test is that for Reyer, and how good can it be for the team's chemistry if this tour is successful?
"It will be great. It will be a lot of confidence for the other guys because I know for a fact when all the other guys come back, it will be an adjustment period for all of us, and it's going to be important for guys to have those moments of confidence, those moments of production to reassure themselves when their name is called again and they get back to the flow of things, that they still have that ability. So I'm excited for other guys to really shine and perform because we are going to need it. I feel like every team is scouting our top guys and this is a good opportunity for other guys to step up, open the game for everybody. So I'm excited to see where these guys come from."
You seem to be very comfortable playing for Coach Neven Spahija, one of the best EuroCup coaches of aall time What's the best thing about him as a coach?
"He's cool, just always challenging guys, always making sure to bring guys back to the team concept. Every guy has high aspirations for themselves and for others and Coach does a good job of trying to bring it back to the team. So that's the one thing I really appreciate about him because sometimes you can get lost, even myself, I can get lost in my own success and think big of myself. But Coach does a good job of bringing me back and just telling me 'you know, this is all about us, us, us'. And that just relieves the pressure, the stress. He does a really good job of bringing everybody back to the team concept."
Finally, you will face U-BT Cluj-Napoca in front of 10,000 fans next week. As a competitor, how do you like strong atmospheres like this? Does it make you play even better?
"I always like those kinds of things because I always learn something new about myself and others. In practices, you can perform but there's no one there. But in road games, are you still able to make the same read or still have the same effort? Are you still to hit the same shots? So it's going to be very revealing. We are going to step up or fold, myself included. I'm excited to see what the game reveals about ourselves."