MANILA, Philippines — Agad na tutugon si naturalized player Angelo Kouame kung ipatawag ito para muling maging bahagi ng Gilas Pilipinas sa mga international tournaments.
Handa si Kouame na muling magsuot ng Gilas Pilipinas jersey kung bibigyan ito ng pagkakataon.
“Yeah for sure (I’ll answer yes if Gilas calls), a hundred percent, because at the end of the day, I’m still Filipino. If the call is there, I’ll take it,” ani Kouame.
Isa sa malaking torneong lalahukan ng Gilas Pilipinas ay ang FIBA World Cup na idaraos sa Maynila sa Agosto 25 hanggang Setyembre 10.
Naglaro na ang 6-foot-10 na si Kouame sa 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, sa FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament at sa 2023 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.
Ngunit naisantabi muna ang pangalan ng ng dating UAAP MVP sa FIBA World Cup dahil nariyan na si naturalized player Justin Brownlee.
Kasama pa si NBA star Jordan Clarkson ng Utah Jazz na naturalized player din ang estado base sa patakaran ng FIBA.
Gayunpaman, naiintindihan ni Kouame ang sitwasyon at handa itong magbigay-daan kina Brownlee at Clarkson.
“I understand that things change and situations happen but I have to stick to the job because this is what I stand for and play for. It is what it is. I’m just gonna go with the flow. I’m just gonna keep working everyday,” ani Kouame.
Malalim ang karanasan nina Brownlee at Clarkson na tunay na kailangan ng Gilas Pilipinas sa FIBA World Cup.
Kaya naman hindi ito makapili kung sino sa dalawa ang karapat-dapat dahil pareho itong mahusay.
“I think both of them can suit pretty well with the national team, especially in scoring points and everything. I think both of them. They can do a good job, whether you think it’s Justin Brownlee or Jordan Clarkson,” wika pa ni Kouame.