Angelo Kouame on Tab Baldwin's Praises: "It Means a Lot to Me"

Gilas Pilipinas Project Director and Ateneo Blue Eagles Head Coach Tab Baldwin and Angelo Kouame have been together for two seasons in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP). The partnership produced two championships as part of a three-peat.

Now, this partnership is going deeper as Kouame is now the newest naturalized player of the Philippines as Gilas prepares for two qualifying tournaments.

Incidentally, Tab Baldwin said that Kouame would be one of the leaders of this Gilas Pilipinas pool. That was even before Kouame's naturalization papers got signed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

On Tuesday's episode of Hoops Life, the newest naturalized player of Gilas Pilipinas dished the praise back to his college coach.

"It means a lot to me," that was Kouame's reaction when Jinno Rufino told him that Baldwin indeed named 25-year old Blue Eagle as one of Gilas' leaders.

He continued, "We all know how Coach Tab is representing on the international stage. A coach like him who sees the potentials since day one, it's unbelievable for me. I appreciate it a lot,"

Despite the high praises from his collegiate coach, Kouame said that he isn't there yet.

"If I want to get there, I have to focus on the work,"

Kouame is currently inside the Calamba bubble, where Gilas Pilipinas is training for the Olympic qualifying tournament and the third window of the 2021 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Asia Cup qualifiers.

Screenshot is from the Smart Sports Facebook page