The International Basketball Federation (Fiba) has approved the naturalization of Ange Kouame, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) announced on Saturday.
The approval of the global cage body means Kouame can now suit up for Gilas Pilipinas, and the Fiba green light came at the right time, just four days before the third window of the Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers (ACQ) at Clark Freeport.
But national team program director Tab Baldwin views the Fiba decision with an eye for something farther down the road.
“This decision is consistent with the whole program because it’s a vision to the future,” said program director Tab Baldwin.
Indeed, Kouame’s naturalization i…
Keep on reading: Future is set: Kouame gets go-signal from Fiba