MANILA, Philippines – Kai Sotto has long been regarded as one of the team’s cornerstones for the FIBA World Cup. Even Kai Sotto, a member of the Gilas Pilipinas, is not guaranteed a position on the team for the FIBA World Cup. 

As the 7-foot-3 Sotto missed the sixth and final window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, head coach Chot Reyes indicated the national team is open to the option of acquiring another big man for a naturalized player. 

The Philippines split its two-game home stand without Sotto, winning 107-96 against Lebanon on February 24 and suffering a 91-90 defeat to Jordan on February 27.

“On the squad, there are no sure things. No one has a lock, and that applies to everyone. Therefore there are yet no obvious winners. It applies to all local athletes, including those who have naturalized, said Reyes. 

“I believe we have another naturalized player. We already have Ange Kouame, but we’re not completely ruling out the idea of looking for another man who is 6-10 or 6-11.” 

Sotto has always been regarded as a pillar of the World Cup squad. The 20-year-old, who averaged 13 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks while playing for the Adelaide 36ers in the National Basketball League (NBL) of Australia, significantly improved his game in four Asian Qualifiers games.

“On the squad, there are no sure things. No one has a lock, and that applies to everyone. Therefore there are yet no obvious winners. It applies to all local athletes, including those who have naturalized, said Reyes. 

“I believe we have another naturalized player. We already have Ange Kouame, but we’re not completely ruling out the idea of looking for another man who is 6-10 or 6-11.” 

Sotto has always been regarded as a pillar of the World Cup squad. 

The 20-year-old, who averaged 13 pts, 9.3 rbds, and 3.3 blks while playing for the Adelaide 36ers in the National Basketball League (NBL) of Australia, significantly improved his game in four Asian Qualifiers games.

Yet despite what Reyes described as a “really attractive offer” from the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas for him to play in the two home games against the Cedars and the Falcons, Sotto skipped the sixth window. 

Sotto is currently in Japan where he will play for the B team Hiroshima Dragonflies after spending the previous two seasons in the NBL. League. 

About naturalizing another large player, Reyes remarked, “With all the uncertainty surrounding the Kai Sotto situation, if he’s not going to make himself available, then I think we have to think about that as well.” 

That’s merely a portion of the planning we now have on the go.

In the lead-up to the World Cup, which the nation will co-host with Japan and Indonesia in August, Reyes said players who want to make the roster need to devote themselves for a significant length of time to be with the team.