NATURALIZED player Ange Kouame will reinforce Rain or Shine in its campaign in the Jones Cup.
Co-team owners Raymund Yu and Terry Que confirmed the Elasto Painters have already secured the services of the 6-foot-10 from Gilas Pilipinas, where he’s been training for the past three weeks as part of the pool for the FIBA World Cup.
“Yes, Gilas Pilipinas allowed him to play for us (Rain or Shine) in the Jones Cup,” said Yu.
The Jones Cup is set for August 12-20 in Taipe, Taiwan.
It’s still uncertain though, if the big man out of Ateneo will continue to join the national team in its training camp in Guandong, China where it plays a mini pocket tournament against counterparts from Lebanon, Iran, and Senegal.
The China pocket meet is slated on August 1-6.
But Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao said the presence of Kouame in the middle will be a huge boost to the team’s campaign in the Jones Cup.
“Nakiusap kami kay coach Chot sa Gilas na ipahiram si Ange Kouame,” said Guiao in an interview with SEAG Network. “Malaking bagay na may madala kaming malaking tao doon na sanay din sa international style of play.”
The 25-year-old Kouame previously suited up in the Jones Cup as part of the Ateneo team that finished a fighting four during the 2018 edition of the tournament
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
