MANILA – Filipino center Kai Sotto will join the Gilas Pilipinas and could likely make his men’s basketball team debut in the February window of the 2021 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Asia Cup qualifiers in Clark, Pampanga.
In a short video shown during the FIBA Smart Global Press Conference on Thursday, the NBA G League Team Ignite center made his commitment to play in the Gilas seniors team.
“I will be joining the national team. I’m looking forward to joining my idols in the PBA and in college,” the seven-foot-two Sotto said. “I am excited. I hope we bring our best. Sobrang special nito para sa ating lahat.”
Sotto’s announcement was a welcome development, according to Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) program director Thomas “Tab” Baldwin, but he admitted that the former’s stint in the FIBA-Asia window is still up in the air.
“At this point, you’ve heard Kai and said that he is going to be available. We are going to get him in and we would like to believe that that would be for the February window,” Baldwin said.
“We all can’t wait to bring him in the Gilas fold. Watch these coming days and we will be having an announcement about this,” added the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles coach.
The Gilas Pilipinas currently has a 3-0 win-loss record after winning over Indonesia last February and against Thailand twice last month. They only need a win to formalize their entry to the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup in Lebanon.
In the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup qualifier window, the national men’s basketball team will play against South Korea twice and Indonesia once.
The 18-year-old Sotto made his mark with Batang Gilas in the international stage and Baldwin is keeping his fingers crossed the kid can play for the seniors team sooner than later./PN
