By REYNALD MAGALLON
Kai Sotto has committed to join Gilas Pilipinas for the fourth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) said in a statement on Wednesday, Aug. 10.
“We are glad to have Kai into the Gilas fold and thank him for his proactive response to the call to play for flag and country for the August Qualifiers,” said SBP Executive Director and Spokesperson Sonny Barrios.
Sotto who last played for the national team during the Olympic Qualifying tournament last year in Belgrade, Serbia will be returning to the national team duty, bolstering a lineup that already has Utah Jazz star Jordan Clarkson along with the core players of the Gilas team that saw action in the FIBA Asia Cup 2022 in Indonesia just last month.
The 7-foot-3 Sotto is set to arrive in the country from Australia on Aug. 18, just in time for the Gilas’ preparation for the its road game against Asia Cup 2022 silver medalist Lebanon in its home turf in Beirut on Aug. 26 before hosting Saudi Arabia on Aug. 29 at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Sotto, however, won’t be available once again in the fifth and sixth window in November and February as he will be playing in the Australia NBL after resigning to Adelaide 36ers last month.
Sotto will join Dwight Ramos, Ray Parks Jr., Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, Carl Tamayo, Francis Lopez, and Kevin Quiambao in the pool along with yet to be named players who will be coming from the 10 PBA team which won’t be playing in the Philippine Cup finals.
