Kai Sotto will continue to focus on his injury rehab and will no longer travel with Gilas Pilipinas to Saudi Arabia for the FIBA Asia Cup 2025.
Kai Sotto is not going with Gilas Pilipinas to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 after all.
Sotto bared this Monday night, July 28, saying he will need to focus on his knee’s rehabilitation and report to the Koshigaya Alphas in the Japan B.LEAGUE.
Despite being unavailable to play due to a torn ACL, Sotto was intially supposed to accompany the team for the FIBA Asia Cup, which will run from August 5 to 17.
“Hindi ako makakasama kasi kailangan ko ituloy yung rehab ko,” said Sotto, who did show up to support Gilas in the team’s 103-98 win over the Macau Black Bears at the Big Dome.
“Soon pinapapunta na rin ako ng team ko sa Japan. So di talaga makakasama sa Gilas.”
Sotto suffered an ACL injury playing for the Alphas in a 79-77 loss to the SeaHorses Mikawa last January.
Asked if there’s a new timeline for his recovery a good six months since the injury, Sotto answered in the negative.
Nevertheless, Sotto is hopeful he could be back in time to reinforce Gilas at least in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, which will start in November.
“Hindi ko pa alam. Hopefully yun din gusto ko malaman. Taking it day by day,” he said.
“Hopefully soon. Syempre kahit sino naman gusto makalaro ng mas maaga pero di ko minamadali.”