PRIZED center Kai Sotto giving way to reigning eight-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo at the center position left Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone elated no end.
“The nice thing is that Kai and June Mar are developing a chemistry in which they can play together and that’s really unusual to get two five men and allow them to play together,” Cone said. “That’s a credit to Kai’s versatility and his character in terms of, you know, I’m comfortable with the five, but I will go play the four and be uncomfortable so that June Mar can stay at the five.
“So, it’s a really good rotation. We have two of them that can play together and then when June Mar rests, Kai can swing to the five and when June Mar comes back, Kai can swing back to the four,” he added.
The Philippine five broke camp at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna yesterday after the 15-man national team training pool toughened up since Friday for the second window of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.
Gilas clashes with New Zealand this Thursday, Nov. 21, and Hong Kong three days later, both at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Aside from naturalized star Justin Brownlee, fellow naturalized cager Ange Kouame, and Tamayo, reigning eight-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo, former MVP Scottie Thompson, Chris Newsome, CJ Perez, Calvin Oftana, Kevin Quiambao, and overseas-based standouts Sotto, Dwight Ramos, Carl Tamayo and AJ Edu make up the pool.
The 7-foot-3 Sotto has been greenlighted to suit up for Gilas after completing a concussion protocol, but the 6-foot-10 Edu (knee) is still doubtful.
Cone ruled out Malonzo from seeing action for the squad after undergoing calf surgery while Japeth Aguilar and Mason Amos will serve as reserves.
Cone is raring to have Sotto play alongside Fajardo anew for Gilas after their partnership was cut short when Sotto suffered a rib injury before their semifinal tiff with Brazil in the Olympic qualifying tournament in Riga last July.
“So, we have a constant and that was what was missing when we played Brazil in the semifinals of the OQT when Kai got injured,” he said.
“We didn’t have the ability to do that. Kai’s presence makes it a lot easier. AJ’s presence would make it so much nicer. But it doesn’t look like we’re going to get AJ.
Two behemoths—and likely with 6-foot-9 Aguilar as well—manning the paint for the Filipino dribblers will certainly pose a big threat to the Tall Blacks and Chinese.
