By REYNALD MAGALLON
Gilas Pilipinas center Kai Sotto is ready and raring to go for the Nationals’ games against New Zealand and Hong Kong in the second window of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers which begins on Thursday, Nov. 21.
As expected the 7-foot-3 center got the clearance to play after being put under concussion protocol following a hit on the head during one of his games with his mother team Koshigaya Alphas in the Japan B.League.
While deemed on target for return before the Gilas games, Sotto’s availability still became a cause of concern ahead of Gilas first game against the Tall Blacks especially with fellow young big man AJ Edu also doubtful due to an injury.
With Sotto back, Gilas head coach Tim Cone will have the core of the Nationals that pulled off the massive upset against then-world No. 6 Latvia during the FIBA Olympic Qualifying tournament last July.
Sotto was a focal point for Gilas on both ends of the floor during that tournament, forming a tall frontline with June Mar Fajardo, with also Japeth Aguilar serving as backup.
Cone has lauded the versatility Sotto brings to the Gilas lineup, having the ability to adjust and play at the power forward position.
“It’s unusual you get two fives and allow them to play together and that is to credit to Kai’s versatility and his character in terms of ‘I’m comfortable to play the five but I will go play the four and be uncomfortable so that June Mar can stay at the five,” said Cone.
The twin towers posed problems not only to Latvia but also to Georgia which featured two NBA players. Sotto, however, got hurt and missed their semifinals game against Brazil in the OQT.
“That’s what was missing when we played Brazil in the semifinals of the OQT. When Kai got injured, we didn’t have the ability to do that and it wore out June Mar in the fourth game that we had,” he added.
Gilas also seemed to have gotten better with the return of Scottie Thompson who missed that tournament due to a nagging back injury.
The Nationals could have added another towering presence to the team but Edu was still undergoing treatment and strengthening to his knee which he hurt during the Nagasaki Velca’s game in the B.League.
