Preparation for 2023 World Cup: Kouame Eyed as Naturalized Player for Gilas

The 2023 FIBA World Cup is still 3 years away and yet, the basketball authorities here in the country have already started making the needed preparations. Why?

It's simple: the Philippines will be the host of the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Now, in terms of assembling the best pool for the said event, Gilas Pilipinas has already started preparing by assembling a 20-man pool from which the final 12 players for the first round of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers will be chosen.  While Gilas veterans like Japeth Aguilar, Christian Standhardinger, Troy Rosario, Matthew Wright, among others are included in the pool, the SBP also included some of the country's future basketball stars like Thirdy Ravena, Kobe Paras, Juan Gomez De Liano, and Justine Baltazar. And don't forget that "Manong" Kiefer Ravena is included in the pool. And so is Ray Parks.

However, there will be no June Mar Fajardo this time around for the Philippine team which means Aguilar and the rest will have to pick up the slack. While Christian Standhardinger has already shown us that he is worth the trust to play as the team's naturalized player in the past tournaments that he has suited up for Gilas, Standhardinger is standing at 6' 8''. While that's a normal height for a big man in the PBA, as they all say, height is might especially in the international scene of basketball.

In the past, Gilas Pilipinas had Marcus Douthit and Andray Blatche as naturalized players with the latter suiting up for the Philippines in last year's forgettable World Cup stint. In 2018, 1-Pacman Representative Mikee Romero filed House Bill 8106 which aims to grant Filipino citizenship to Justin Brownlee. And Brownlee himself has repeatedly expressed his desire to play for the Philippines. But that was in 2018, folks.

Earlier this month, it has been reported that the SBP has reached out to Chris McCullough- one of the potential prospects to replace Blatche as the team's naturalized player. And that is not a bad choice at all considering how McCullough played for the San Miguel Beermen last year- leading San Miguel to the 2019 Commissioner's Cup title. And yes, McCullough has expressed his desire to play for the Philippines. 

Then, there's this: Deputy House Speaker and Antipolo City Representative Roberto Puno filed House Bill 5951 which aims to grant Filipino citizenship to Angelo Kouame.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, that Angelo Kouame guy who is currently with the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the UAAP. The same Angelo Kouame whose defensive presence was felt all throughout Season 82 where the Blue Eagles accomplished a 16-0 season sweep. And yes, this is the same Angelo Kouame who evolved under the guidance of the greatest basketball minds the Philippines has ever come to respect in Coach Tab Baldwin. Incidentally, Tab Baldwin has been eyed as the next program director of Gilas Pilipinas- a position that the tactician is said to be open in accepting. 

Justin Brownlee

Chris McCullough

Angelo Kouame

While Brownlee and McCullough already garnered playing experience in the international scene, Kouame has something that both Brownlee and McCullough no longer have: youth. By the time the 2023 World Cup comes around, Brownlee will be at the age of 35 while McCullough will be at the age of 27. Kouame? He would be 23 by then.

While there's no doubt that Brownlee and McCullough have shown their on-court prowess in the PBA specifically last year, getting the services of Angelo Kouame for the national team is the next step towards assembling a potentially great Gilas Pilipinas squad- should they qualify to play in 2023. Why?

For one, Angelo Kouame is the complete package for a big man. He plays great defense as you've seen in the UAAP. He can score virtually anywhere on the court including yes, those occasional threes. But one thing that makes him the perfect candidate as Gilas' next naturalized player is he's a perfect fit to the mixture of young guns and PBA  veterans that make up the 2023 team. Mind you, aside from Thirdy Ravena, Kouame would potentially be joining Matt and Mike Nieto, and Isaac Go if this naturalization happens this year. And yes, even Kobe Paras and Justine Baltazar know what an Angelo Kouame can do because they have first-hand experience playing against the Ivorian big guy. Youth and being a perfect fit.

Sure, June Mar Fajardo and Greg Slaughter would be 32 and 33 respectively by the time the 2023 FIBA World Cup comes to town but there's nothing wrong if we can have Angelo Kouame on board by then. Don't get this writer wrong. 32 and 33 are relatively still good age in basketball but nothing lasts forever. So, why wait until then when SBP can already get Kouame settled down as the next big guy of the national team. After all, nothing beats early preparations. 

Photo is from CNN Philippines