Gilas Pilipinas will surely miss the towering pressence of Kai Sotto.
Kai Sotto is set to miss the final window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers this month and there's no assurance when he will don the Gilas Pilipinas blue again.
Coach Chot Reyes confirmed during the national team's practice on Monday that Sotto will miss their games against Lebanon and Jordan on February 24 and 27, respectively.
“Japeth (Aguilar) is injured, and Kai has already said categorically that he’s opting out of this window… so we really have to plan around that. And like I said, that’s a big blow to our team," Reyes told One Sports.
Sotto is set to play with the Hiroshima Dragonflies in the Japan B.League after his departure from Australia's NBL. Aside from that update, coach Chot admitted he hasn't heard from the 20-year-old center. When asked about the future of Sotto with the national team, Reyes responded that it "remains to be seen."
"I haven’t spoken to him personally neither to any of his family. I had a talk with some of his handlers, his management team, but other than that, not with Kai directly."
The 7-foot-3 big man played four FIBA Qualifiers games for Gilas Pilipinas. His best performance was during the Philippines' 84-46 demolition of Saudi Arabia last August 29 where Kai made his presence felt on both sides of the court with 13 points, 16 rebounds, 4 blocks and a an efficient 22 plus/minus rating.
Sotto has repeatedly assured his commitment with the national team. He even left the NBA G League Ignite in January 2021 to play for Gilas.
After the FIBA Qualifiers, Gilas Pilipinas will shift its focus to prepare for its revenge tour in the 2023 Southeast Asian Games in May, then the much-anticipated FIBA World Cup in August.