WILL the UAAP allow Ateneo center Ange Kouame to suit up as a local after he was granted Filipino citizenship? That’s unlikely.
UAAP executive director Atty. Rebo Saguisag could not be reached for comment but a highly-reliable insider yesterday said that is likely what will happen.
“I agree with it, but will not confirm it,” the insider said.
Ateneo athletic director and BMD member Emmanuel Fernandez said in a previous interview that there’s no need for the reigning three-time champions Blue Eagles to tap another foreign player if the 6-foot-10 Kouame becomes naturalized.
The towering Kouame officially became a Filipino last Tuesday after President Duterte signed Senate Bill No. 1892 making him a naturalized citizen.
A native of Ivory Coast, Koaume, 23, is being eyed by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas to play for Gilas Pilipinas in the third window of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers in a bubble from June 16 to 20 in Clark and in the Olympic qualifying tournament from June 29 to July 4 in Belgrade, Serbia.
He is also seen as a vital cog in the nationals’ campaign in the 2023 FIBA World Cup the country is co-hosting.
Kouame averaged 12.5 points and 11.5 rebounds for the Katipunan-based five in 2019 when it bagged its third straight title via a perfect 16-0 season.
A former Rookie of the Year awardee in 2018, Kouame is still eligible to play for the Eagles for three more years.
