Kai Sotto confirmed that he would be playing for Gilas Pilipinas in the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifier window in February.
President Al Panlilio of the SBP said time is necessary as it continues to finalize information about how Sotto will travel in from the United States and engage in the Calamba, Laguna, Gilas training bubble.
The 7-foot-3 man said on Instagram that he will be back in the country soon for the continental tournament.
“Sobrang excited ako na nabigyan ng opportunity para makapaglaro sa Gilas ngayong February window,” he said.
After all, it seems like Kai Sotto will be able to fit in the Gilas Pilipinas.
On the same time frame as initially planned in the Philippines, Qatar offered to hold the Group A third window of the Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) said.
As he makes it to the Gilas bubble in Calamba, Laguna, Sotto will join other professional and collegiate standouts.
“Last time we spoke, we were just clearing some legal documentation and we’re hoping for him to fly as soon as possible kasi he needs to undergo quarantine,” Panlilio said, in which Sotto has to meet the required 14-day quarantine time upon arrival.
“So the sooner he leaves the US, actually the better for him so that we don’t eat up on the days of practice,” added the SBP head.
In December, the 18-year-old center affirmed his commitment to the national team. Sotto is presently focusing with the select team Ignite of the NBA G League, along with fellow NBA prospects including Jalen Green and Daishen Nix.
Ignite head coach Brian Shaw expressed his support for the decision of Kai Sotto to join Gilas Pilipinas for the 2021 Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers window in February, but said he is uncertain if the young center will still join his NBA G League in time for the bubble match in the league.
Shaw said at a virtual press conference that with the Asian competition expected to take place in the same month as the G League season, he was unclear if Sotto would have enough time to play with Ignite.
“That was a decision that Kai and his team thought was important for him so we support it, him going and being a part of that,” said Shaw Thursday. “Unfortunately a lot of it is during the time when we’re going to be in the bubble, we just wish him the best.” On February 18, the same month that the G League will play its 2021 season at ESPN Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, Gilas Pilipinas will also launch its third Fiba qualifying window.
The G League bubble was meant to be the first taste of Sotto’s official competition in the league that acts as the NBA’s sort of farming system.
“Because he’s traveling internationally, the quarantine times can be a lot longer so we don’t know how it’s gonna play out once it’s all said and done in terms of him coming back and joining the team or not,” said Shaw.
Nonetheless, Sotto’s decision to represent the Philippines in foreign competition was supported by the three-time NBA winner, Coach Brian Shaw.
“We want him to do well in those competitions and in the time and everything that he comes back you know we’ll see what happens then,” said Shaw. “One of the things, before all these guys entered the program, was we’re not gonna hold anybody back we commend our players for wanting to represent their countries.”
The G League season begins from February 11 to March 7, with 15 games set for Ignite to play.
“I know he has commitments. Initially after the window (in Pampanga), he’s supposed to go back to the States right away and go back to the G-League,” Panlilio said. “The window is very short so we want to make sure we maximize that and bring him over.”
But now, the national program just has to wait until Sotto arrives. “We are hoping he arrives as soon as possible so he can begin joining us in practice and absorb the system,” said coach Jong Uichico, who handled the national team in the second window.