Naturalized big man Ange Kouame and the returning Mikka Cacho aim to lead the Gilas men’s and women’s 3x3 squads in reclaiming lost glory at the 33rd SEA Games.
Both the Gilas men’s and women’s 3x3 basketball teams head to the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand with a clear goal: settle unfinished business.
For the men’s squad, naturalized big man Ange Kouame shifts his attention to the 3x3 event after Thailand’s decision to bar naturalized players from the 5-on-5 tournament.
[ALSO READ: SEA Games: Thirdy Ravena, Matthew Wright, Ray Parks Jr. banner Gilas Men Final 12]
The half-court competition follows a more lenient passport-only rule, allowing Kouame to remain eligible.
Kouame will team up with FEU standout and presumptive UAAP Season 88 MVP Janrey Pasaol alongside Joseph Eriobu and Joseph Sedurifa, who were part of the team that finished runner-up in the 2023 edition in Cambodia.
[ALSO READ: Gilas coaches comment on losing SEA Games 3x3 gold to Cambodia's naturalized players]
On the women’s side, Mikka Cacho is the lone holdover from the team that claimed silver two years ago.
She will be joined by Kaye Pingol, Reynalyne Ferrer and Jhazmin Joson as Gilas Women look to improve on their strong regional record.
Since the 3x3 tournament was included in 2019, the women’s team has never finished lower than fourth.
The Gilas men’s 3x3 squad opens its group-stage campaign against Vietnam on Wednesday, Dec. 10, at 12:50 p.m. (PH time), while the women’s team faces Indonesia earlier at noon.
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.