Ange Kouame back in Gilas 15-man pool for the FIBA Asia qualifiers
Ange Kouame will have a share in Justin Brownlee’s responsibility as Gilas naturalized player in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers on November 21 and 25 to be held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Kouame has been included in the Gilas Pilipinas 15-man pool after the Samahan ng Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) confirmed it.
According to SBP executive director Erika Dy, Kouame will also participate in the Gilas camp at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba City, Laguna starting November 15.
The former Ateneo big man’s presence can ease the load out of Brownlee who has been playing non-stop basketball since the February window.
Now that Kouame is in the line-up, Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone will have the option to rest Brownlee in one of the two qualifiers.
Under the rules of FIBA, the national team must choose between the two naturalized players on who will play in each of the two games of the current window.
Dy also said that having multiple naturalized players in the first pool submitted to FIBA is allowed, until the eve of the game where a technical meeting will be held to finalize the roster.
“The night before [a game], there’s a technical meeting. You have to have only one naturalized [player],” Dy said.
Aside from Brownlee and Kouame, the other players completing the pool are June Mar Fajardo, Jamie Malonzo, Chris Newsome, Japeth Aguilar, Mason Amos, Aj Edu, Calvin Oftana, CJ Perez, Kevin Quiambao, Dwight Ramos, Kai Sotto, Carl Tamayo, and Scottie Thompson.
Meanwhile, Kai Sotto is also certain to play for Gilas Pilipinas in the November 21 and 25 window, despite suffering an ankle sprain in the previous game.
According to Gilas team manager Richard Del Rosario, Sotto will also be part of the Gilas training camp.
“Yes, he will join Gilas. His injury a couple of days ago was just a minor sprain,” Del Rosario said in Filipino.
Right now, Gilas Pilipinas is currently tied on top of Group B together with New Zealand which they will face on the 21st. Then, they will close the window on the 24th against Hong Kong.
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