ANGE Kouame will be going with Meralco to Ilagan, Isabela for its home game in the EASL Home and Away Season 3, but remains a game time decision against the visiting Taoyuan Pilots.
Coach Luigi Trillo bared Kouame and Asian import Sina Vahedi already practiced with the Bolts the past two days.
But he admitted the two players are not 100 percent in game shape and have yet to fully grasp the system being run by Meralco under active consultant Nenad Vucinic.
Kouame a game-time decision
Trillo added the team will decide on whether to play both Kouame and Vahedi by Friday.
"We have until the day before the game to decide during the managers meeting to submit our lineup," said Trillo.
The Bolts will leave for Isabela on Friday afternoon as there's no announcement yet from the EASL if the game will be postponed owing to the threat of Typhoon Uwan.
Koaume being tapped as Meralco's naturalized player comes in the wake of original choice Justine Brownlee failing to come over and suit up for the Bolts as he's reportedly down with pneumonia.
The Bolts are playing at home for the first time, and needed all the support it can get after going 0-2 in Group B standings following their last loss against the Pilots, 82-72 in Taipei last Sunday.
Ilagan became Meralco's temporary home after beating Rain or Shine in a pre-season tuneup game at The Capital Arena, 95-89.
The Bolts will actually play all of their remaining four games in the country, hoping to complete a sweep for a possible shot at making the playoffs.
Taoyuan currently leads Group B with a 2-0 record followed by Ryukyu at 1-1.
The Macau Black Bears, who are also in the same bracket, have yet to play a game in the EASL this season.
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