6 days Ago
SEVEN-FOOT-THREE Kai Sotto has been cleared to play for Gilas Pilipinas, raising the prospect of a twin-tower combo with June Mar Fajardo which has coach Tim Cone excited. Mr. Sotto, according to team manager Richard del Rosario, is “good to go” for the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers games against New Zealand on Thursday and Hong Kong on Sunday after clearing the concussion protocol.
The big man was placed on concussion watch by the Japan B.League after being hit in the head during the Koshigaya Alphas’ 80-72 win over Yokohama last week. However, 6-foot-10 AJ Edu remains doubtful as he continues to undergo treatment for his right knee, which he hurt recently in the Nagasaki Velca’s 71-68 defeat to the Akita Northern Happinets.
Mr. Sotto’s presence is a big boost for Gilas as the Tall Blacks are coming in with a seven-footer and a couple of 6-foot-10 bigs in tow. “They bring in a lot more size than they have in the past,” Mr.
Cone said of New Zealand. Mr. Cone, meanwhile, is thrilled to have both Mr.
Fajardo and Mr. Sotto in the fold. “The nice thing is that Kai and June Mar are developing a chemistry in which they can play together.
And that’s really unusual to get two fives (centers) and allow them to play together,” he noted. He credited this to Mr. Sotto’s versatility and willingness to sacrifice, describing his attitude as “I’m comfortable with the five but I will go play the four (power forward) and be uncomfortable so that June Mar can stay at the five.
” “It’s a really good rotation. We have the two of them that can play together. And then when June Mar rests, Kai can swing to the five.
And when June Mar comes back, Kai can swing back to the four. And so we have a constant. “And that was what was missing when we played (and lost to) Brazil in the semifinals of the OQT (Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Latvia) when Kai got injured.
We didn’t have that ability to do that. It was a tough road for June Mar. Kai’s presence makes it a lot easier,” he added.
— Olmin Leyba.
