CONE 'EXTREMELY EXCITED' TO HAVE KAI SOTTO BACK AT GILAS

MANILA, Philippines — Coach Tim Cone is said he’s “extremely excited” to have Filipino young big man kai Sotto rejoin the Gilas Pilipinas squad after over a year of being out due to a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) on his knee.

Cone and the national squad will be reconvening in the middle of the month as Gilas prepares for its two homes games in the 2027 FIBA Asian Qualifiers against  New Zealand on February 26, followed by Australia on March 1.

“Extremely excited. But we'll temper ourselves because he is still just getting back into physical shape and rhythm,” Cone told The Manila Times. “I'm hoping he'll be able to join us fully.” The American coach is well updated with the 7-foot-3 Sotto, who just a week ago, has finally seen action in the Japan B.League 2025-26 season for his squad Koshigaya Alphas.

Sotto played his first game since suffering from a torn ACL on January 24, going scoreless, but managing to contribute three blocks, two assists and a rebound. His season debut was cut short after hurting his ankle in the second half, though the Alphas scored a come-from-behind 83-81 overtime win against the Ibaraki Robots.

Sotto played his second game four days later, chipping in six points and four rebounds in 20 minutes, but the Alphas bowed to the Yokohama B-Corsairs, 92-63.

The now bulkier Sotto though has bounced back strong in his next two matches,  The 7-foot-3 Gilas Pilipinas center recorded 14 points, 10 rebounds, six assists in his team’s 81-88 defeat to the Dwight Ramos-led Levanga Hokkaido last Saturday.

But on Sunday, Sotto came back strong with his best game so far since returning from a knee injury, registering 20 points, 14 rebounds, two assists, and one block to help the Alphas pull off a payback 81-80 win, snapping Hokkaido’s 13-game home win streak in the process.

Sotto’s last two solid game will definitely augur well for the Filipino big man’s confidence, especially as he tries to help Gilas sustain its strong start in the Asian Qualifiers.

Gilas scored back-to-back wins against Guam to kick off the Asian Qualifiers, and will try to keep that streak going against Tall Blacks and the Boomers at home floor.

2026-02-03T01:14:43Z