Atin Ito First Filipino Community Newspaper in Ontario
At a Glance
- Rain or Shine has signed Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player Ange Kouame as its reinforcement for the upcoming Jones Cup in Taipei, Taiwan next month, the team announced on Tuesday, July 18.
Rain or Shine has signed Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player Ange Kouame as its reinforcement for the upcoming Jones Cup in Taipei, Taiwan next month, the team announced on Tuesday, July 18.
Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player Ange Kouame. (FIBA photo)
Although allowed to sign multiple reinforcements for the tiff, Elasto Painters head coach Yeng Guiao opted to sign the former Ateneo standout as its lone import in the tournament, putting more premium on his local players’ exposure and development.
Still, Kouame’s presence inside the paint should give Rain or Shine a big boost especially that it is set to face up against bigger and quicker guys in the week-long tournament.
The 6-foot-10 center should also be on tip-top shape, having trained with Gilas in the past few weeks including the nationals’ trip in Europe as part of its buildup for the 2023 World Cup.
Kouame will also get reunited with his former Ateneo teammates in Gian Mamuyac and Anton Asistio. The trio already played in the Jones Cup when the Blue Eagles under head coach Tab Baldwin finished fourth in the tournament with a 5-3 record in 2018.
Joining Kouame in the frontline are veterans Jewel Ponferrada, Beau Belga, offseason acquisition Mac Belo and young forward Leonard Santillan.
Manning the backcourt, meanwhile, aside from Asistio and Mamuyac are Rey Nambatac, Andrei Caracut and Shaun Ildefonso.
Rain or Shine, currently second in the ongoing PBA on Tour, is hoping to defend the title in the Jones Cup which the country’s last won with the Mighty Sports team in 2019 while also fast-tracking the development of its crew in time for the 48th season of the PBA in October. — Mark Rey Montejo
