JORDAN Clarkson is the only naturalized player joining Gilas Pilipinas in the China mini-pocket tournament slated next week.
Ange Kouame won’t be joining the men’s national team to Guandong starting on August 1 as he’s reinforcing Rain or Shine in its campaign in the coming Jones Cup.
“No, he won’t go with us to China anymore,” said Gilas mentor Chot Reyes.
READ: Brownlee to skip Gilas stint in China pocket tournament
The team earlier ruled out Justin Brownlee from going with the team to Guandong for a series of tune-up games against Lebanon, Iran, and Senegal, opting to rest the Barangay Ginebra import amid bone spurs issues on his foot to keep him fresh for the Hangzhou Asian Games in September.
That leaves Clarkson as the only naturalized player at Gilas' disposal in its final overseas sojourn prior to the the FIBA World Cup.
The 31-year-old Fil-Am, who recently signed a contract extension with the Utah Jazz, is expected to hook up with the rest of the national team contingent in China by August 6.
But despite Kouame not playing either in the World Cup or Asiad, Reyes said the 6-foot-10 standout from Ateneo remains an integral part of the Gilas training pool.
“He plays an important role because he gives June Mar (Fajardo) a big body to defend with, play against, and to attack in practice,” the national coach pointed out.
“And that’s very important for June Mar because we know in the World Cup, we’ll be playing against people who are bigger than him,” Reyes added. “So he (Ange) still has a very important role to play for us.”
Kouame continues to train with Gilas, which practiced at the Moro Lorenzo gym early Thursday morning.
Rain or Shine is just wrapping its campaign in the PBA On Tour before it starts to prepare for its campaign in the Jones Cup with the 25-year-old Kouame on board.
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