Photo Release

March 8, 2021

‘Is Kouame an import player?’: Sen. Sonny Angara, during Monday’s hybrid plenary session, March 8, 2021, asks if Ivorian basketball center Kakou Ange Franck Williams Kouame of Ateneo Blue Eagles could be considered an import in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), which is composed of eight schools. Angara, himself a basketball afficionado, expressed fears that once the Senate approves the Filipino citizenship of Kouame, there is a possibility that Ateneo de Manila University would recruit another import of Kouame’s caliber to the disadvantage of other schools. The UAAP officials are currently allowing one import per team and are studying the possibility of prohibiting imports from playing as locals without a 10-year residency. The Committee on Justice is pushing for the citizenship of Kouame to play in the Gilas Pilipinas. The Senate had already approved on second reading a measure granting citizenship to Spanish footballer Bienvenido Morejón Marañón. Both citizenship bills are expected to be passed on third reading next week. (Screen grab/Senate PRIB)

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