‘Pre, Filipino Ako!’: Ange Kouame Officially a Naturalized Filipino Citizen

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas announces Tuesday morning that Ateneo Center and Ivorian Angelo Kouame’s naturalization bill was signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte last Monday evening.  

“The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is elated to announce that Angelo Kouame’s Filipino naturalization is now official.” said Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas President Al Panlilio in a statement.

With this, Kouame is now eligible to suit up for Gilas Pilipinas and play for our flag and country starting with the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers final window which will be held in Clark, Pampanga from June 16 to 20, 2021.

The SBP has nothing but praises and gratitude to all person behind every step it takes to make the prized young center a Filipino.

“The SBP extends our appreciation to President Rodrigo Duterte for signing it into law and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Senator Bong Go for their assistance. We thank our SBP Chairman, Senator Sonny Angara, along with Senators Joel Villanueva and Richard Gordon for filing the bill in the Senate and our Vice Chairman, Congressman Robbie Puno, for authoring the bill in the House of Representatives. The SBP thanks all of our allies in both houses whose support has been crucial in pushing this legislation to further strengthen our Gilas Pilipinas Men.”

It was Antipolo first district representative Robbie Puno who filed House Bill No. 5951 on January 2020 to add Kouame into the federation's plans for a pool of naturalized players. Senator Angara, who is chairman of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), filed Senate Bill 1892 last October 2020. Senate Bill 1892 is a counterpart of House Bill 5951 filed by SBP vice-chairman, Antipolo City Rep. Robbie Puno. Few weeks after the bill was cleared from its final reading in the Senate, President Rodrigo Duterte has formally signed House Bill No. 5951, enacting the naturalization bill for Kouame into a law.

In 2016, Kouame arrives in the Philippines and started studying high school in Multiple Intelligence International School in Katipunan before entering Ateneo. He became the Rookie of the Year in UAAP and helped the Blue Eagles won two championships before the pandemic forced collegiate basketball to be stopped.

Ange Kouame got emotional and use his social media accounts to express his feelings as he is finally now a ‘Kababayan’.

“Pre, Filipino ako!” is his short tweet minutes after the news broke out in the internet.

He then followed it up with a Facebook post in which he thanked all Filipinos who supported him out through the process.

"I seriously don’t know how to express my emotions right now but I’m proud to be a kababayan. Thanks to all the people that were part of this process helping in the up and down. Thank you Lord for the opportunity given and let’s keep moving, business ain’t done. Puso !!!"

Kouame will now be on the final phase of requirements to officially don the blue and white of Gilas Pilipinas not only in the tournaments this coming June but also in the future including the FIBA World Cup in 2023.

“Koaume will now undergo the final steps required by FIBA before a naturalized player can suit up for a country and we are confident that he’ll be able to play during our hosting of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers and the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Serbia. Although Kouame’s presence is crucial for these two tournaments, having him as an official member of the squad in the upcoming games is an early investment as we build towards the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup,” Panlilio continues on his statement.

Kouame has been training with the national team since November and his official naturalization will only make him more focused on the task at hand in leading the country in the FIBA tournaments.

“It’s a great day for Philippine basketball and we’re thankful for the full support of our basketball community,” said Panlilio in his closing statement.