GILAS Pilipinas will be without one of its naturalized players when it attempts to defend its men’s basketball gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan next month.
Angelo Kouame has been ruled out of the continental competition as he remains under contract with a club in France, according to Gilas head coach Tim Cone.
“He is in France playing under contract,” Cone said in a Viber message to Fastbreak on Wednesday.
Kouame was part of the Gilas squad that captured the gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023, helping the Philippines end a 61-year wait for the men’s basketball title.
The 6-foot-11 former Ateneo de Manila University standout’s unavailability leaves Barangay Ginebra San Miguel star Justin Brownlee as the only confirmed naturalized player for Gilas in the Asian Games pool.
Bennie Boatwright, meanwhile, remains uncertain for the tournament as his naturalization process has yet to be completed.
Boatwright’s naturalization bill is still awaiting action from President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., with the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas hoping to complete the process in time for the Asian Games.
Unlike FIBA-sanctioned competitions, the Asian Games allow participating teams greater flexibility in their roster composition, enabling Gilas to consider multiple naturalized players and Filipino-Americans.
The 2026 Asian Games will be held in Aichi-Nagoya from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4, with the men’s basketball tournament scheduled earlier from Sept. 10 to 20. (Adrian Co)
