Kai Sotto is back where Gilas Pilipinas needs him most, in the middle of the action.
The 7-foot-3 Filipino center will suit up for Gilas at least for the August window of the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers, giving the national team a major boost ahead of crucial games against Jordan and Iran.
Gilas head coach Tim Cone, as quoted by various sports media outlets, said Sotto has joined team practices and assured the squad he will play on Aug. 28 against Jordan and on Aug. 30 against Iran.
For Sotto, the games mark his long-awaited return to the national team after an ACL injury suffered while playing in Japan’s B.League in January 2025.
Although the towering center has since recovered, his basketball journey has taken him to the United States, where he has been pursuing opportunities to play for an American university.
Now, his return comes at an especially useful time for Gilas.
The Philippines will be without big men EJ Edhu and Quentin Millora-Brown, leaving Cone with a thinner frontline against two physically demanding opponents.
Sotto’s size, rebounding, rim protection, and interior presence could provide Gilas with a different dimension as it seeks to strengthen its position in the World Cup qualifying campaign.
The bigger question is whether this is a short comeback or the beginning of a longer Gilas chapter.
Sotto’s availability for the Asian Games in September remains unclear, leaving fans to savor his immediate return while waiting for the next chapter.
