FILE – Kai Sotto during his time with Gilas Pilipinas. –AFP
Gilas Pilipinas may have a complete roster three days before facing Jordan in another Fiba World Cup Qualifier match in Amman on November 10, and that list could include the 7-foot-tall Kai Sotto- 2.
But much of that will depend on certain conditions, some of which are already familiar to the national mainstreaming program.
“We won’t make any announcements about Kai until he has a Jordanian visa,” national coach Chot Reyes said in a web radio show hosted by Philippine Sports Commission President Noli Eala held on Saturday.
“And if that happens, his last game (against Adelaide) is November 6 and he flies straight to Jordan, where we will eventually finish,” he added.
That means Gilas, whose other members will fly to Jordan on November 7th, will only have about three days to train as a complete group before taking place at midnight on November 11th. Manila).
Sotto, who played alongside Utah Jazz star Jordan Clarkson in the final window of the Qualifiers back in August, is back in the spotlight as Gilas continues to use Qualifiers as a means of identifying good combinations. of the players for the next World Cup. in August next year.
There is no tower three
Reyes said he is eager to test-drive a crew that includes Sotto, June Mar Fajardo and naturalized big man Ange Kouame.
“Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen now because we have the fact of the injury,” he said. “The little things that we never had the chance or the chance to try – that’s the value in these (Fiba) windows.”
Fajardo, a six-time Philippine Basketball Association Player of the Year and a two-time World Cup veteran, is currently recovering from a procedure to repair a throat injury he sustained during the clash of the Philippines. San Miguel with Rain or Shine earlier this month.
Reyes hopes that Monday’s regular exercises will help Gilas’ career in this fifth window, which includes a rematch against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on November 13 (midnight 14 May). 11).
“I really liked the enthusiasm and dedication (of the players) for our Monday training session. There is value in those practices. Reyes said.
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