MANILA, Philippines – The absence of Kai Sotto has left a major gap in Gilas Pilipinas, with the team struggling in international play, including back-to-back defeats in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
Sotto’s Impact and Gilas’ Struggles
- The 7-foot-3 big man was averaging 15.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in the qualifiers before being sidelined due to an ACL injury in Japan’s B.League.
- Since his absence, Gilas has lost four of its last five international games, including setbacks in the Doha International Cup and the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
Recent Defeats
- 91-84 loss to Chinese Taipei – Gilas’ first defeat to Taiwan since 2013.
- 87-70 loss to New Zealand – The Tall Blacks dominated early, building a 30-15 first-quarter lead and sinking 13 three-pointers.
Looking Ahead to FIBA Asia Cup
Head coach Tim Cone admitted the team is still adjusting to playing without Sotto, but emphasized the need to focus on long-term improvement ahead of the FIBA Asia Cup in August in Saudi Arabia.
🗣 “We’re trying to take each window as an experiment, move on, and hopefully grow and improve.”
With limited preparation time, Gilas aims to regroup and adapt as they prepare for the Asia Cup proper.