Sotto is only 21, and forcing him to play with an ailing back does not make any sense.
Gilas Pilipinas’ buildup to the FIBA World Cup recently got a big boost with NBA star Jordan Clarkson finally joining the team, alongside 7-foot-3 big man Kai Sotto.
However, it appears Sotto has not been medically cleared just yet to participate in actual practices. As a result, all he can do for now is shoot jumper after jumper after jumper.
That means the waiting game continues for coach Chot Reyes and the rest of Gilas.
“Nag-first practice kahapon with the team. Si Jordan Clarkson nakasali [pati] si Kai Sotto, pero for now, light shooting lang siya. ‘Di pa siya nakakapag-full-form ng practice,” Reyes admitted in One PH's Sa Totoo Lang. “’Yun ang hinihintay natin, ‘yung clearance ng doctor kung makakasama na siya sa bakbakan.”
So, for now, Sotto is essentially just a bystander in Gilas practice. And that is until the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas (SBP) can truly ascertain that the 21-year-old big is medically ready to play.
“Sinabi nila kasi na meron silang MRI [of Sotto’s back]. Gusto lang namin makita ‘yun, makita ng sarili nating doctor or tayo na mismo magpapa-MRI sa kaniya,” Reyes added. “Kasi ‘yung SBP, gusto nila siguruhin bago mag-umpisa that okay si Kai. Ayaw natin siya isabak sa laban na hindi siya 100 percent.
Put simply, in the words of Reyes himself, the SBP is “naninigurado lang”—as it should. Sotto is still just 21 years old, with a potentially long basketball ahead of him, along with an NBA dream to keep pursuing. And letting him play sans a clean bill of health could be detrimental to the young man’s future.