The bills that will grant Ateneo Ivorian star Angelo Kouame and United City FC striker Bienvenido Marañon’s Filipino citizenship passed the Senate committee on justice on Wednesday, February 24.

Senate Bill (SB) No. 2058 and SB 1391 for Kouame and Marañon, respectively, will now be brought to plenary for their respective 2nd and 3rd reading approvals.

“I think Ange is not really here just to play basketball, but he’s really here to make the Philippines his home,” said Senator Sonny Angara, who gave Kouame Senate endorsement.

“For football, I’m in full support of the Zubiri Bill. Majority Leader is right. It’s not the height, or it’s not the physical capacities – it’s really more of skill,” said Angara of Marañon.

Both Filipino citizenship hopefuls hurdled the 3rd and final reading in the House last February 16.

Towering at 6-foot-10, Kouame averaged 12.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, 2.9 blocks and 1.4 assists in UAAP Season 82, which was vital to Ateno’s 16-0 sweep and three-peat title romp. 

Marañon on the other hand, is the AFC Cup all-time leading goalscorer with 35 goals after he scored a brace in the defunct Ceres-Negros FC’s 4-0 win over Bali United on March 11, 2020.

He surpassed Jordanian Mahmoud Shelbaieh’s record of 34 goals in the AFC Cup.

Hailing from Cadiz City in Spain, Marañon helped propel Ceres, which has rebranded to United City FC, to 4 PFL titles together with Azkals star Stephan Schrock. – Rappler.com