2 weeks Ago By Delfin Dioquino
MANILA, Philippines – Ange Kouame is getting another crack at representing Gilas Pilipinas. Kouame will share naturalized player duties with Justin Brownlee after being named to the 15-man pool for the second window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, where the Philippines will host New Zealand and Hong Kong. The former Ateneo big man returns to national team action for the first time in two years since he last played for the Philippines in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers in 2022.
Adding Kouame to the pool gives head coach Tim Cone an option to rest Brownlee, who is fresh from leading Barangay Ginebra to a finals appearance in the PBA Governors’ Cup. Cone said Brownlee hinted at the possibility of missing the next PBA conference as he has been playing non-stop basketball since February, when he led the Philippines to a sweep of the first Asia Cup Qualifiers window. Familiar faces make up the rest of the pool, with the likes of PBA stars June Mar Fajardo, Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar, Calvin Oftana, Chris Newsome, CJ Perez, and Jamie Malonzo back in action.
Japan B. League standouts Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, and Kai Sotto, Korean Basketball League stalwart Carl Tamayo, and UAAP stars Kevin Quiambao and Mason Amos of La Salle complete the pool. Edu is healthy again after missing the first window and the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament due to knee issues, while it is uncertain whether Malonzo will play as he missed the entire Governors’ Cup due to a calf injury.
Sotto has also dealt with injuries in the B. League as he hurt his ankle and suffered a concussion over the past week. Toting a 2-0 record in Group B, the Philippines faces New Zealand first on November 21 before it shoots for a repeat win over Hong Kong on November 24.
– Rappler.com.
