Ange Kouame’s Journey of Growth On and Off the Court
Ateneo de Manila University legend Angelo Kouame is currently suiting up for Strong Group Athletics (SGA) in the 34th Dubai International Basketball Tournament, providing fans who’ve followed his journey in the Philippines an opportunity to witness the next chapter in his journey.
During his recent brief hiatus from basketball, the 6-foot-11 Filipino-Ivorian spent time bettering himself by reading self-development books and learning about the trading market.
“I think practicing in general, trying to learn new things in my personal life. I say more practice at home, chill, play video games, read, and those types of stuff, but practice every day,” he shared.
When not on the court practicing or playing basketball, he enjoys playing video games. Aside from basketball, he’s a fan of Warzone, a popular first-person shooter video game. Ange also expressed how deeply he values his team, likening them to family and pledging to always show up for them through thick and thin.
“I don’t do it for the money or anything. I’m looking for the championship. So, I’m always going to show up. It’s (SGA) family. Let’s say that.”
Ever wondered how Ange got into basketball? His passion for the sport stems from using it as an outlet to cope with the loss of his father and the challenges he faced in life.
“I got into basketball after my dad passed away because I was usually playing soccer back then… I was, not for a long time, in the street with my friends. So, basketball was a way for me to, like, get away from, you know, all the stress, all the other things.”
During a training session with SGA, Ange was spotted having a conversation on the court with NBA star DeMarcus Cousins. Ange sees this as a valuable opportunity to learn and grow as an athlete.
“I mean, he’s been like that since day one, you know? He’s a competitive guy, I’m a competitive guy. But at the end of the day, it comes to the point where he’s an NBA player. He knows the game longer than I do, and he’s OG and also a veteran, especially coming from the NBA. So, there’s a little trick, a little store that he’s trying to teach me, and I try to learn from him. And we go over there, you know, and I try to add that to my game too. At the end of the day, a player like him is really rare for me to play against, so I try to have a small experience from it for my growth.”
For now, Ange has no long-term plans in place, choosing instead to focus on his immediate commitments with the Meralco Bolts in the East Asia Super League (EASL) and his upcoming stint with SGA.
“I’m still going to be with Meralco, focus on the EASL because at the end of February is the end of Meralco, and EASL will go until March. So, I don’t know if it’s going to happen or not. But other than that, I’m still focusing on what is in front of me. So, SGA and EASL are the main goals for me. After that, we’ll figure out what’s coming.”