LESS than a month before Gilas Pilipinas launches its bid in the Olympic qualifying tournament, national coach Tim Cone is convinced the team’s tallest player–7-foot-3 big man Kai Sotto–will play a big role in their quest for a slot in Paris.
“If I may say, he’s a perfect fit for our system, both offensively and defensively,” Cone said.
“I think he has a chance to really take off with us.
“It’s interesting about Kai. I mean, when I watch Kai practice and when I watch him play, he is just absolutely dominant. I mean, there’s so little he cannot do,” he added.
“He does lack a little bit of strength in terms of fighting for position underneath the basket and I think that’s going to come with age,” Cone said. “He’s only 22 years old. He hasn’t even got built, developed into his body yet. So, really, the sky’s the limit.”
The Filipino cagers are set to do battle in the OQT from July 2 to 7 in Latvia.
Naturalized star Justin Brownlee, who is expected to team up with Sotto, reigning seven-time MVP June Mar Fajardo and former winner Scottie Thompson, Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, CJ Perez, Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, Carl Tamayo, and Kevin Quiambao, and alternates Japeth Aguilar and Mason Amos.
With 6-foot-7 forward Jamie Malonzo out for the OQT due to a recent calf injury operation, Cone is set to name either Aguilar or Amos as replacement.
Sotto, 22, has what it takes, according to Cone.
“It’s not a stretch for him to go out and play against the bigger European players. But I think in the competitive level that we’re going to be at, the pressure is going to be on him to perform because he is going to be the main guy,” he said.
“One of the main guys, if not the main guy on our team and that’s going to grow him, he’s going to evolve and get better and that’s the whole point of doing this for over four years.”
Gilas, ranked 37th, must finish in the top two of its group to reach the crossover semifinals against the top two of Group B, which includes No. 12 Brazil, No. 17 Montenegro, and No. 67 Cameroon.
The winners of the crossover semis will duke it out for the lone slot in the Olympics set for July in the French capital.
