September 13 ------ ANGE Kouame will play for Meralco in the 2024-25 East Asia Super League season, but not as an import but as its naturalized player. The EASL apparently gave a concession for PBA teams to field a naturalized player on top of the two imports for the coming season, with the Bolts choosing Kouame for that spot. DJ Kennedy, on the other hand, will be Meralco’s second import, joining Allen Durham for the EASL competition.
Meralco coach Luigi Trillo confirmed the development, with Kouame already joining the Bolts’ practice on Wednesday. The 6-foot-11 Kouame was naturalized in 2021, and has been competing for Gilas Pilipinas in international competitions including the Hangzhou Asian Games where the Philippine team won. Also, PBA teams have apparently been given an option to field an Asian import as well. “DJ is arriving tomorrow. He is versatile. He plays 1 to 4. High-level guy, played in Europe, and he is a weapon for us. AD is going to be there, and then Ange Kouame is our naturalized,” said Trillo. “We can have one more Asian import but we probably won’t get one,” said Trillo.
The former Ateneo big man recently played professional basketball in France, and once suited up for Rain or Shine in the William Jones Cup last year. The 34-year-old Kennedy, who played for St. John’s University in the NCAA, played pro leagues in Israel, Latvia, Turkey, Australia, and China.
Source: spin.ph
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