Blowing Bubbles Inside The Bubble: Ange Kouame vs Lebron Lopez

The present and the future of Ateneo meet in the seventh episode of Smart e-lympics and it will be a test of their lungs in Blow the Bubble Challenge.

At 18 years of age, Francis Lebron Lopez is the youngest member of the Gilas Pilipinas pool training currently inside the Bubble training in Calamba as they prepare for the upcoming FIBA competitions next month. Trust like that given to a young kid might come with a high amount of pressure but Lebron turn down speculations and insist that there is no pressure to prove himself with the bunch of players he is playing within the Bubble with much experience than him.

“Sa totoo lang I just needed to play. It’s not really pressure for me and I’m really grateful that I am here and I’m just gonna do the best that I can,” Lebron explained.

On the other side, Ange Kouame, our newest Kababayan as the bill granting him a Filipino citizenship was signed into law just last week, has nothing but praises as the process of naturalization successfully ended.

“I feel super super thankful. We’ve waited for it and it finally happened so I’m happy and very thankful that I’ve been part of it and let’s go to work,” Ange expressed.

In a race-to-three game where the goal is to have the bubble reach their camera, Kouame did not waste any time and go ahead quickly after the third blow and lead the game 2-0. Lebron came closer after making a point but it was immediately answered by Kouame to finish the game with a score of 3-1.

It was a quick affair where Lebron graciously accepted his defeat saying “kailangan ko tanggapin ang pagkatalo ko.”

Kouame on his part shade a little trash talk to Lebron after the win where all of them accepted with laughter.

“I knew since the beginning that I’ll be the winner, it’s just a matter of time,” the smiling Ange said.

With the victory, Kouame advances to the quarter-final match of the competition while also eliminating Lebron.

The challenge is a cool break from intense training as both players are part of the Gilas Pilipinas pool where the Final 12 will be taken to play on June 16 to 20 in the final window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers inside a Bubble environment in Clark, Pampanga.

“Sana pagpatuloy niyo ang pagsuporta sa amin. Gagawin naming ang best naming for the team to win and also to learn,” Lebron stated in his closing statement on the show.

Meanwhile, Ange simply just promise to give his 100% for our flag and country in the upcoming games.

“I promise I will do my best and represent this flag proudly.”

Catch Smart E-lympics every Wednesday and Saturday at seven in the evening on the Facebook page and Youtube channel of Smart Sports.