No Sotto in China, but some recovered players have returned.
The Philippine men's national basketball team on Tuesday headed to China for the Heyuan WUS International Basketball Tournament, and Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes has decided to become mum on the status of 7-foot-3 big man Kai Sotto.
The Hiroshima Dragonflies player returned to the Philippines after his NBA Summer League stint with the Orlando Magic. However, he won't be joining Gilas in the pocket tournament.
"I think that's a better question to ask of him rather than me," Reyes said regarding Sotto's status, as reported by News5's Martie Bautista.
"I refuse to comment on it anymore. The best person to ask is team manager Butch Antonio. He's the one in negotiations with their camp."
"He was in practice yesterday but..." Reyes trailed off before shrugging, "He's not here."
Sotto, who watched the final day of the PVL Invitational Conference with Akari Chargers' Fifi Sharma, said he was doing his best to recover from a back injury sustained during the NBA Summer League and hoped he could recover in time for the FIBA World Cup.
"Nag-rehab ako and everything so sana pagdating ng World Cup okay na, 100 percent na ako," Sotto told News5’s Ian Suyu on Sunday.
"Hinihintay ko lang naman mag-heal ‘yung likod ko dahil gusto ko 100 percent ako pagdating ng mga games."
He even shared an Instagram story of receiving treatment for his back.
It's another challenge for the national team, which will also not have Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson with them in China. Reyes confirmed the NBA player would arrive in the Philippines on August 8 instead.
Gilas team manager Butch Antonio, however, told News5 that SBP is "working with the Clarkson group to get to China by August 8."
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas had announced that Clarkson would be playing in the FIBA World Cup while fellow naturalized player Justin Brownlee would be suiting up in the Asian Games.
But there is some silver lining for Reyes, as Roger Pogoy, Calvin Oftana, and Ray Parks recovered from injuries and have joined the practice.
The Philippines will face Iran on August 3, Thursday, at 8 p.m. and Senegal on August 4, Friday. These games will be aired on One Sports and One Sports+.
(With reports from Ian Suyu, Martie Bautista, News5)
(Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect Gilas Pilipinas team manager Butch Antonio's statement on Jordan Clarkson.)
(CF, GM)