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EL Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) hopes that Congress will act quickly on the naturalization of Kakou Ange Franck Williams Kouame to be available when the men’s national basketball team competes in the third window of the International Basketball Federation Asian Qualifiers ( FIBA) 2021 in February. .
The representative of the first district of the city of Antipolo, Roberto “Robbie” Puno, said that the Justice Committee of the House of Representatives already approved the naturalization of the Ivorian of 6 feet 10 inches in the first reading.
“That’s what we are trying to do, hopefully getting that [Kouame] available in the FIBA Asian qualifiers for the third window of February. But the question is can we do it? So we will try, ”Puno told BusinessMirror on Wednesday. “We will be back in mid-January, so we still have a month left. Maybe we can still do it. “
Puno said that House Bill 5951 on the naturalization of Kouame still needs to be submitted to a second and third reading in plenary to ensure full approval by Congress.
Senator Sonny Angara is doing his part through his No. 1892 that he filed on October 25.
Angara is the current president of the SBP, while Puno is the vice president.
If both houses of Congress approve Kouame’s naturalization, the bills would only need the signature of President Rodrigo Duterte for him to join Gilas Pilipinas.
Kouame, 23, was the best rookie in the Philippine University Athletic Association in 2018. He averaged 12.5 points, 14 rebounds and 5.5 blocks last season when he helped the Blue Eagles Athenaeum to their third consecutive basketball crown. male in the league. .
