By REYNALD MAGALLON
Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone was left “heartbroken” for his prized big man Kai Sotto who was confirmed to have suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament which would likely sideline him for six to nine months.
Although as devastated as everyone after the news of Sotto’s injury broke out, Cone offered some optimism in the 22-year-old’s situation, noting that he still has a lot of basketball left in his career.
“I’m heartbroken for him,” said Cone in a message to Tempo-Manila Bulletin. “But Kai is young, still only 22, and has a lot of basketball is still ahead of him.”
Sotto’s injury, however, came at the worst possible time when the 7-foot-3 center was finally starting to live up to the expectations after putting up his best season in the Japan B.League.
He was averaging 13.8 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game for the Koshigaya Alphas prior to his injury.
Even in the international stage, Sotto has been relishing a stellar stretch in his career as he normed 16.5 points, 13 rebounds, and 4.5 assists through the November window of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers where the Nationals’ swept New Zealand and Hong Kong.
Sotto had also emerged as one of the anchors for Gilas on both ends of the floor and his absence is surely to have a huge impact with the team – just like when he went down with a rib injury in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Latvia when the Nationals struggled in the semifinals against Brazil.
Sotto is set to miss the third and final window of the qualifiers in February and is also likely to be questionable for the FIBA Asia Cup in August.
Cone, however, vowed the Nationals will continue to soldier on through the loaded 2025 calendar not just for themselves but also for their fallen comrade in Sotto.
“We will try to soldier on without him while he rehabs. Without doubt he is worth the wait, and we will await his return to Gilas with great anticipation,” Cone said of Sotto.
“I’ve said it before, until we get Kai and AJ together, the other countries won’t see our best Gilas team. Looking forward to that day,” added the veteran coach.
