20 Facts About Ange Kouame

Kakou Ange Franck Williams "Angelo" Kouame was born on December 15,1997 and is an Ivorian-Filipino basketball player who last played for the Meralco Bolts in the East Asia Super League.

Ange Kouame represents the Philippines on its national basketball team.

Ange Kouame was born on December 15,1997, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Ange Kouame was into football during his early childhood until developing interest in basketball when he and his younger brother requested their father for football kits but were instead given basketball jerseys.

Ange Kouame speaks fluent French but did not speak English upon moving to the Philippines.

Ange Kouame studied for one year at the Multiple Intelligence International School in Quezon City to develop his English speaking skills that would help him be acquainted with Filipino culture prior to attending Ateneo.

Ange Kouame was able to connect with the Ateneo Blue Eagles through his Cameroonian friend Aaron Njike who got recruited for a team in the United States.

Ange Kouame was assessed by coaches Yuri Escueta and Tab Baldwin, who was a team consultant for Ateneo at the time.

Ateneo decided to have Ange Kouame join the team despite lacking in fundamentals and training.

Ange Kouame took part in Ateneo's campaign in the 2018 William Jones Cup in Taiwan, which saw his team finishing as fourth placers.

Ange Kouame helped Ateneo clinch two consecutive titles; in UAAP Season 81 and 82.

Ange Kouame joined the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters of the Philippine Basketball Association in 2023.

Ange Kouame has been considered for the Philippine national team as early as 2018, following his stint in the 2018 William Jones Cup in Taiwan with Ateneo.

However, Ange Kouame would have to obtain Filipino citizenship to be eligible.

Ange Kouame successfully obtained consent from his mother to obtain Filipino citizenship, despite his mother hesitating initially over concerns that he might lose his Ivorian citizenship.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas in 2020 began to lobby in the Congress for Ange Kouame to be given Filipino citizenship through naturalization following his performance in UAAP Season 82 which would make him eligible to play for the Philippine national team.

Ange Kouame was then included in the Philippines 12-man roster for the third and final round of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.

Ange Kouame played in the 2020 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade, Serbia.

In 2022, Ange Kouame played against the Jordanian and Saudi Arabian national teams during the 2023 FIBA World Cup qualifiers.

Ange Kouame was included in the 21-man pool for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.