By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Ange Kouame and Bienvenido Marañon have passed the first hurdle for Philippine citizenship and hope to soon be playing for Gilas and PH Azkals, respectively.
Senate Bill no. 2058 and 1391 for Kouame and Marañon respectively, have been passed on the first reading and will be sent to plenary for the second and third reading.
The bills, once through the succeeding readings, will be left at President Rodrigo Duterte’s office for the approval.
Kouame has been under the Gilas Program for two years now and is just waiting for his naturalization in order to join the PH national team for FIBA competitions.
Meanwhile, Marañon, as a mainstay of the United City FC (formerly Ceres-Negros FC), expressed his willingness to be a part of the PH Azkals and considered it to be a long-term plan for himself and his football career.
“I think Ange is not really here just to play basketball, but he’s really here to make the Philippines his home. For football, I’m in full support of the Zubiri Bill. Majority Leader is right. It’s not the height, or it’s not the physical capacities, it’s really more of skill,” said Angara.
