MANILA – Kai Sotto has chosen to commit to the Gilas Pilipinas in the February window of the 2021 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Asia Cup qualifier.
The 18-year-old Sotto said Thursday he will return to the Philippines to join training with Gilas at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna.
“I’m heading home soon. Sobrang excited ako na binigyan ng opportunity para makapaglaro sa Gilas ngayong February window,” said the former Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eaglets center.
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa lahat ng sumusuporta at naniniwala sa aking pangarap na makapaglaro para sa bayan at sa tamang panahon, sa NBA,” added the seven-foot-three behemoth.
With Sotto opting to compete with the Gilas, he would possibly miss the majority of the G-League season slated Feb. 8 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida, US.
Sotto was supposed to be part of the Team Ignite who will be facing 17 other G-League clubs for the 2021 season of NBA’s developmental league as preparation for his possible inclusion in the 2021 NBA Rookie Draft later this year.
In a report by Philstar.com, a NBA G-League source said that Sotto’s decision to play with the national men’s basketball team would make his entry in the Orlando bubble impossible.
“Unfortunately, Kai will miss our single-site competition in Orlando due to health and safety protocols, as a quarantine period would be required after his international return,” a NBA G-League insider said.
“Depending on what the official dates of the competition are, there is a very small window [Kai] could potentially join [Ignite] if he desired and if Ignite was to make the playoffs,” he added.
The Gilas Pilipinas, currently having a 3-0 win-loss record, will tangle against South Korea on Feb. 18 and 22, and Indonesia on the 20th at the AUF Sports Arena and Cultural Center in Clark, Pampanga./PN
