PRIZED big man Kai Sotto will sit out Gilas Pilipinas’ FIBA Asia Cup campaign in August, but that does not mean the camaraderie the Nationals are developing will also be stalled.
Philippine five coach Tim Cone said Sotto will travel with the team in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, while recovering from an ACL injury.
Sotto is too crucial a player that Cone does not want to rush his return, convinced the towering 7-foot-3 center, 23, can still suit up for the Filipino cagers in the next 12 years.
“Kai’s gonna travel with us and at least that’s what we’ve worked out so far, he’s going to go to the tournament with us, but obviously he won’t play or practice or anything at that point,” Cone said. “But at least he’ll be part of the team and that’s really, really crucial. We’re not going to rush Kai back to the national team, whatever it takes.
“I expect Kai to be playing for the national team even when he’s 35, so that’s really the goal. He’s going to be playing all these years, so we’re not going to rush him back this year,” he added.
Cone’s troops see action in the Aug. 5-17 tilt known formerly as the ABC Championship and FIBA Asia Championship.
Gilas is pooled in Group D with New Zealand, Chinese Taipei, and Iraq.
While admitting he yearns to have Sotto back in his side, Cone wants the Japan B.League standout to be fully healthy.
“Long beyond me and I’m gone, he’s still going to be coaching up, playing on that national team. So, obviously, we’re not going to rush him back. We’re going to make sure he’s on a hundred or a thousand percent healthy so that when he does come, we can use him fully,” he said. “But that may take longer than we hope, but we hope that he can get back as soon as possible. We’re certainly not going to rush or demand that he get back, but we’re really pleased that he’s going to come to Jeddah with us.
“That’s a really nice, keeps the chemistry and the bonds, keeps it moving forward.”
Sotto might not be able to block shots or score on slam dunks in the continental showpiece, but at least his on the bench cheering on for Gilas and a comeback in the World Cup Asian qualifiers later this year, not farfetched.
