A YEAR and a half in the making.
That s how long it took for Ange Kouame to finally acquire his Filipino citizenship, a process that culminated on Tuesday and now allows him to reinforce Gilas Pilipinas in international competitions.
It s a journey Kouame never imagined he would take since arriving in the country in 2016, studying at Multiple Intelligence International School in Katipunan and winning the Rookie of the Year honors in Ateneo.
Now Ange has claimed it: Pre, Filipino ako!
Let s look at the path that led us here.
Jan. 20, 2020 - Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) vice chairman and Antipolo first district Rep. Robbie Puno formally put the wheels in motion, filing House Bill No. 5951, seeking to grant naturalization status to the Ivory Coast-born big man.
Angelo Kouame is now a naturalized Filipino after President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law his papers. (SBP Images)
President Rodrigo Duterte approved the naturalization of Gilas Pilipinas player Angelo Kouame after the Chief Executive signed into law the papers that made the center eligible to play for the national team.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Al Panlilio made the announcement Tuesday, May 18, as he expressed his gratitude to the President and other government officials that helped the federation in the process to naturalize Kouame.
“The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is elated to announce that Angelo Kouame’s Filipino naturalization is now official,” Panlilio, a longtime basketball official, said in a statement.
By a 23-0 vote, the Senate on Monday unanimously approved on third and final reading bills seeking the naturalization of two foreign athletes – basketball player Ange Kouame of Ivory Coast and football striker Bienvenido Morejon Marañon of Cadiz, Spain.
PASAY CITY, March 15 Senator Sonny Angara sees the addition of Ange Kouame to the Gilas Pilipinas national basketball team as a boost to the Philippines’ chances in qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics.
Angara, the chairman of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), is the principal author of Senate Bill 1892 granting Philippine citizenship to Kakou Ange Franck Williams Kouame through naturalization, which was approved on third and final reading today.
Senate Bill 1892 is the counterpart of House Bill 8632, introduced by SBP vice chairman, Antipolo Rep. Robbie Puno.
Angara thanked his colleagues in the Senate for the support given to Kouame, particularly Committee on Justice and Human Rights chairman Richard Gordon, who sponsored and defended the bill in plenary.
Press Release - Angara: Kouame an asset to Philippine basketball senate.gov.ph - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from senate.gov.ph Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.