Romwel Anzures

Strong Group Athletics big man Ange Kouame in their media availability on Sunday, January 19, 2025 at the Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong. Photo by Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News.

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ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1737369324082IMG_6077.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Strong Group Athletics big man Ange Kouame in their media availability on Sunday, January 19, 2025 at the Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong. Photo by Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News."/>Strong Group Athletics big man Ange Kouame in their media availability on Sunday, January 19, 2025 at the Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong. Photo by Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News.MANILA — Ange Kouame is set to suit up for Strong Group Athletics once again, this time in the 34th Dubai International Basketball Tournament.</div>The 6-foot-11, Ateneo de Manila University legend was a part of the SGA squad that ruled last year’s William Jones Cup, but he will now be looking to man the paint in their redemption tour in Dubai.“It&#x27;s always a blessing, especially to represent the country,” said the Gilas Pilipinas center during the squad’s media availability last Sunday. “It’s another tournament and I hope we get a win this year, especially for the Dubai tournament.”Unlike their triumph in the Jones Cup wherein their main weapons came from their guards and wings as the likes of RJ Abarrientos and Kiefer Ravena were there, SGA’s main reinforcement now a member of their front line, four-time NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins.And for Kouame, the former Sacramento Kings star is just what they need to finally rule the tilt.“It feels great because he&#x27;s a type of player with a lot of experience,” the Filipino-Ivorian said. “So like you see during practice, I try to learn as much as I can from him, and I try to adjust my game too.”Aside from the prowess that ‘Boogie’ has on the offensive end, it is on the defensive side wherein Kouame is making the most of Cousin’s presence.“Honestly, it&#x27;s mostly in defense,” he shared. “It&#x27;s hard to guard him because he can shoot, he can drive, and he can finish around the basket.  He&#x27;s an all-around player, and that&#x27;s where I try to see my level, especially to try to push myself and try to push him too.”The two prolific big men even got at it at multiple points during their practices, but Kouame shrugged it off and said that it was just a result of each of their competitiveness.“At the end of the day, he&#x27;s a competitive player and I&#x27;m competitive too. So it comes to that, where we try to go against each other,” Ange pointed out.For Kouame, It is now just a matter of translating these learnings into the hardcourt in Dubai.“We know the teams that we&#x27;re going to play against aren&#x27;t going to give us any free time where it&#x27;s going to be easy for us to score, so that&#x27;s what we try to bring in practice,” he said.<div>RELATED VIDEO: <script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAEyze-tm4MR6kEa&amp;cid=ABTTvVsOipXyo8PV&amp;activation=click&amp;vip_mode=playing&amp;vip_position=bottom-right"></script></div>

Ange Kouame is set to suit up for Strong Group Athletics once again, this time in the 34th Dubai International Basketball Tournament.

Ange Kouame is set to suit up for Strong Group Athletics once again, this time in the 34th Dubai International Basketball Tournament.

Ange Kouame making the most of DeMarcus Cousins’ presence in SGA

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Ange Kouame making the most of DeMarcus Cousins’ presence in SGA

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 20, 2025 07:58 PM PHT

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