MANILA, Philippines – Ange Kouame cracked Gilas Pilipinas’ 15-man pool for the second window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, but chances of him suiting up in the games are slim.
Head coach Tim Cone said Kouame will serve as a backup to Justin Brownlee, who is expected to reinforce the national team in a pair of home games against New Zealand and Hong Kong on November 21 and 24, respectively.
“Ange is very important to us and we need him there so he can be ready to step in immediately if necessary,” Cone said in a press conference on Wednesday, November 13.
“But he will most likely not be in the lineup because we expect Justin to to play in both games.”
Kouame last donned the national colors when he and Brownlee keyed the Philippines recapture the Asian Games crown last year.
In FIBA competition, however, teams can field only one naturalized player.
Brownlee starred in the Philippines’ first-window sweep of Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei as he averaged 21 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block, installing himself as the prime choice for the naturalized player spot.
Adding Kouame to the pool, though, gives Cone a fallback in case anything untoward happens to Brownlee.
“[I]f something, God forbid, knock on wood, happens to Justin, then we would be able to bring in Ange and he would know the system, he would know what we ask of him. He’ll be part of the preparation,” Cone said.
“So it is important to have him be a part of the program as much as possible as that backup.”
A former UAAP MVP, Kouame currently plays for Meralco in the East Asia Super League.
Fresh from helping the Bolts beat Korean Basketball League club KCC Busan Egis on Wednesday, Kouame will enter the national team training camp at the Inspire Sports Academy in Laguna on Friday, November 15. – Rappler.com