By MARK REY MONTEJO
Everyone’s worst fear turned out to be true as Gilas Pilipinas star Kai Sotto was confirmed to have suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament on his left knee following the results of his magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests.
Sotto’s Japan B.League team Koshigaya Alphas announced the sad news on Wednesday, and Jan. 8 as the 7-foot-3 slotman also released his own statement on an Instagram post.
“The worst way to start the year, might be the darkest day of my basketball career, when I was told I tore my ACL. Tough to let this one sink in,” said Sotto who sustained the injury during his team’s game against Mikawa Seahorses on Sunday, Jan. 5.
“I appreciate all the love and support everyone has given me these past few days. I know God has a better plan for me and we just have to keep going,” he added.
With the injury, Sotto is deemed out for the rest of the B.League 2025 season and is also expected to miss the third and final window of the FIBA 2025 Asia Cup qualifiers in February.
Recovery time from the injury is about six to nine months.
Sotto’s injury came at a bad time just when he was finally living up to expectations, evident by his improved numbers of averaging 13.8 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game.
He has also emerged as one of the focal points of Gilas’ offensive and defensive thrusts during the November window of the qualifiers where he averaged 16.5 points, 13 rebounds, and 4.5 assists.
Without the 22-year-old center, Gilas head coach Tim Cone will have to make do with a lineup of June Mar Fajardo and Japeth Aguilar at the center position.
