By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Since confirming that Ange Kouame will be Gilas Pilipinas’ final naturalized player, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) and program director coach Tab Baldwin received criticism and questions regarding their decision.
It was a hard decision to make as super-scorers Justin Brownlee, Chris McCullough, and mainstay import Andray Blatche were lined up together with Kouame.
After months of being silent, coach Baldwin finally explained why they hand-picked Kouame out of the experienced veterans as the best fit for the Gilas system.
Baldwin reiterated that even without the naturalized players, the pure-blooded Filipinos themselves can already make a remarkable team.
With the likes of RR Pogoy, June Mar Fajardo, Paul Lee, and CJ Perez, Gilas Pilipinas should no longer worry as these guys can provide plenty of offense in the ball game.
For Baldwin, the best naturalized player should be the one that can perfectly complement the Filipino style of playing ball and that should be a hard-working defensive juggernaut who will just crash the boards, anchor the paint, dive for loose balls, and take to heart their defensive scheme.
“Why not bring in a guy who is great at rebounding, great at rim-protecting, a defensive stalwart behind these excellent players who are mediocre to good on defense? Some of them might become very good, but they are really out there because they are good at executing offenses. Why would we bring in a guy who will dominate the basketball? I don’t see any sense in that,” Baldwin shared.
The Ivorian center’s performance in his last stint in the Ateneo Blue Eagles was more than enough to prove Baldwin’s point after effectively stifling every post-player he went up against and was also a good communicator at the defensive end.
Kouame’s naturalization only needs President Duterte’s signature for him to officially be the country’s naturalized big man replacing Blatche.
“So my assembly of the pool of naturalized players are guys who are great rebounders, great locker room guys, great rim-protectors, and got a lot of energy and be great teammates. I think Ange Kouame fits all of that,” added Baldwin.
