Kai Sotto shares an update on his recovery from an ACL injury as he is set to join Gilas Pilipinas in Guam for Window 1 of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
While everyone else from the team was getting ready to go home, Kai Sotto was still putting up shots at the Upper Deck Gym in Ortigas Thursday, Nov. 20.
Sotto, though, is still not going to play for Gilas Pilipinas in the first window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
“Hindi pa ako puwedeng mag-join sa team practices pero may mga sariling program na ako pagdating sa court, sa weight room, sa rehab," Sotto told reporters after breaking a sweat in his shooting drills.
"Pero hindi pa ako puwede sa team practices,” he reiterated.
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The 7-foot-3 ace has yet to fully recover from the ACL injury he suffered early this year in Japan.
He admitted that he is still feeling a twinge in his knee.
“Hindi mawawala 'yon siguro,” Sotto said.
"Sabi niya (AJ Edu), hindi basta-bastang mawawala 'yong pain. Kahit naglalaro na siya after ma-ACL, may kaunting kirot pa rin. Kaya normal naman.”
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To say that the Koshigaya Alphas import in the Japan B.LEAGUE is itching to return to action and be of help to the national team is an understatement.
“Iba ang feeling mula noong na-injure ako hanggang ngayon. 'Yon pa rin ang iniisip ko, kung ano 'yong pakiramdam ulit 'pag nakalalaro ulit ako,” Sotto said.
“'Pag nanonood ako ng practice with the team dito, mas nagaganahan akong mag-rehab, mag-focus pa sa recovery para makabalik akong mas maayos. And alam kong makatutulong ako sa team at kailangan ako ng team.”
[ALSO READ: Juan GDL part of Gilas pool for FIBA WC Asian Qualifiers, says Cone]Asked if there’s a timetable for his return, Sotto said if things go as planned, they are looking at January next year.
“Target sana, January. Hopefully, walang maging setback or anything. Sana, smooth pa rin,” he said.
But right now, Sotto is making sure to be there for his teammates as they go up against Guam on the road and at home on Nov. 27 and Dec. 1, respectively.
“Yes, sasama ako sa Guam. Kahit papaano, gusto ko pa ring makatulong sa mga teammates ko saka kay coach Tim (Cone),” Sotto said.
“Kahit during practice, hangga't makakaya ko. Kahit dummy defense lang, nandiyan ako. [Kahit] presensiya ko lang, feel kong makatutulong sa team.”
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Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.