For the first time as professionals, longtime Gilas Pilipinas teammates Kai Sotto and AJ Edu go head-to-head in a game.
For the first time ever, it’s a clash of Gilas Pilipinas titans in Japan.
Koshigaya Alphas and Nagasaki Velca are set to face off in the 2024-25 B.LEAGUE season, marking the highly-anticipated first professional showdown between longtime Gilas Pilipinas teammates Kai Sotto and AJ Edu.
Both young talents have been central to Gilas since their youth team days and will certainly bring their skills head-to-head in this exciting matchup.
Sotto, who has shown flashes of his potential with Koshigaya, is averaging a double-double with 12.5 points and 10.0 rebounds, which is tied for fourth in the league.
However, he’ll be looking to bounce back from a rough outing last weekend, where he managed just seven points across two games against Shibuya, his lowest output for a set of outings this season.
As the Alphas hold a 1-10 record, tied for the league's bottom spot, Sotto’s presence will be crucial as Koshigaya fights to regain form.
Edu, on the other hand, has been a defensive force for the 6-5 Velca, leading the entire B.LEAGUE with 1.9 blocks per game while adding 7.1 points and 6.6 rebounds.
His impact as a rim protector could pose a challenge for Sotto in the paint, as Edu looks to anchor a Nagasaki defense that aims to disrupt Koshigaya’s inside game.
While both players are focused on helping their teams secure a win, this matchup holds special significance for Filipino fans, who will get to see these Gilas Pilipinas pillars compete professionally for the first time.
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[Editor's note: This article was generated by a member of the One Sports Digital team using AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]