MANILA – Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball team big man Kai Sotto is expected to be sidelined for nearly six months after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in his left knee.
In a social media post on Wednesday afternoon, the 7-foot-3 Koshigaya Alphas Asian Quota Player described his situation as the “darkest day” of his promising basketball career.
“The worst way to start the year, might be the darkest day of my basketball career, when I was told I tore my ACL,” said Sotto, who sustained his injury during the Alphas’ Japan B.League Division 1 game against the Seahorses Mikawa last Sunday.
“Tough to let this one sink in. 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.
Sotto’s absence is a significant setback for the national basketball team, which will compete in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers next month and the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup tournament later this year.
Gilas head coach Tim Cone, for his part, is heartbroken with the injury sustained by Sotto, but said that he will patiently wait for his prized center’s return to basketball action.
“I’m heartbroken for him,” Cone said in a statement sent to Panay News last night. “But Kai is young, still only 22, and has a lot of basketball is still ahead of him. 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,” he added. “I’ve said it before, until we get Kai and AJ (Edu) together, the other countries won’t see our best Gilas team. Looking forward to that day.”
Sotto was having an impressive season for the Alphas in the Japan B.League this season, averaging 13.8 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game before the injury.
Cone had previously stated that he would rely on alternate centers Japeth Aguilar and Jamie Malonzo of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings and De La Salle University Green Archers’ Mason Amos in Sotto’s absence./PN
