Ange Kouame takes hoops talents to French basketball club

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Ange Kouame will take his basketball talent to Europe after the Union Basket Chartres Metropole announced his arrival in a social media post.

After a historic gold medal stint with the Gilas Pilipinas men’s national basketball team in the Asian Games, the towering center will embark on a new journey and will arrive in France in the next weeks.

The former Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) Blue Eagles superstar and UAAP multi-champion will be playing in the Nationale Basketball League and will look to boost the French Club in their ongoing campaign.

Currently, the UB Chartres Metropole holds a 2-2 win-loss record and is aiming to improve on their standings once Kouame suits up for the squad.

“New recruit. We are pleased to announce the arrival of Ange Kouame from the Philippines. He will join the team very soon. We can’t wait!” posted the French basketball club.

Koaume is coming off a golden Asian Games stint after helping the Philippines end a 61-year championship drought when they outclassed Jordan in the grand finals game.

The energetic center played a vital role under head coach Tim Cone’s system and was tasked to anchor the team’s defense when June Mar Fajardo was out.

Against Jordan in the gold medal match, Kouame was solid on both ends of the floor, manning the paint with his length while paying off the trust of his teammates when he scored the basket off a tip-in or a pick-and-roll play.

Before playing for coach Cone, Kouame was mentored by Tab Baldwin, a former Gilas chief tactician and the one responsible for Ateneo’s dynasty.