Gilas Pilipinas not rushing Kai Sotto鈥檚 reactivation
THOUGH optimistic projections put ACL-hit Kai Sotto potentially returning as early as October, Gilas Pilipinas won鈥檛 be rushing the 7-foot-3鈥檚 reactivation in the next window.
Mr. Sotto is into his seventh month of rehab after undergoing surgery for the ACL tear he sustained while playing for his Japanese club Koshigaya Alphas in January.
鈥淭he Japan league is hoping he鈥檒l be back in time in October to play. And if he鈥檚 back in October to play, maybe he鈥檒l be available to us in November in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers,鈥 said coach Tim Cone.
鈥淏ut,鈥 Mr. Cone was quick to add, 鈥測ou don鈥檛 want to mess around with an ACL injury. So whatever time he needs, we鈥檙e certainly going to give him.鈥
Mr. Sotto himself didn鈥檛 give a timetable for his comeback.
鈥淚鈥檓 just taking it day by day, making sure to get a little better than yesterday,鈥 the 23-year-old slotman said when he joined the Nationals on the bench during their 103-98 win over the Macau Black Bears in a tuneup.
Initial plan was for Mr. Sotto to join the Gilas delegation in the FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to support the Nationals. But it fizzled out as he needed to continue his rehab in Japan.
In the meantime, June Mar Fajardo and Mr. Sotto鈥檚 replacement Japeth Aguilar have assumed primary big-man chores as Gilas embarks on the Aug. 5 to 17 Asia Cup.
The Nationals kicked off their bid Group D on Tuesday night (early Wednesday Manila time) against souped-up Chinese-Taipei. They鈥檙e set for a duel with another familiar foe, New Zealand, on Thursday, before wrapping up their group assignments against Iraq on Saturday.
Mr. Cone said the Justin Brownlee-led Gilas has prepared for the Continental meet as best as they could.
鈥淲e鈥檝e done what we can as a (coaching) staff and now it鈥檚 on the players to go out there and really just play their game,鈥 he said in an interview on One Sports a day before the Asia Cup opener. 鈥 Olmin Leyba
