MANILA, Philippines — In a clarification regarding the Gilas Pilipinas roster for the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers, sources have confirmed that Kai Sotto’s Japanese B.League club, the Koshigaya Alphas, has not blocked the 7-foot-3 center from joining the national team.
Reports on February 20, 2026, indicate that the Alphas have given Sotto the “go-signal” to play for the Philippines, contrary to earlier rumors that the club wanted to protect him following his recovery from ACL surgery.
Key Points from the Report:
- Alphas vs. Management: While the Koshigaya Alphas are willing to release Sotto, the delay reportedly stems from his management team, East West. They are allegedly hesitant to let him play to preserve his health as he is currently in contention for a short-term NBA contract, which could be finalized during the FIBA window week.
- Koshigaya’s Stance: Alphas officials were reportedly unhappy with being blamed for Sotto’s potential absence. They reached out to the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) to reiterate their support for his Gilas stint.
- Quentin Millora-Brown (QMB) Update: In a positive turn for Gilas, 6-foot-10 big man Quentin Millora-Brown has officially declared his availability for the window. His inclusion was reportedly secured after his father, Bryan Brown, bypassed QMB’s management team—who were making additional demands of the SBP—to confirm his son’s desire to represent the Philippines.
- Upcoming Matches: Gilas Pilipinas will face New Zealand on February 27 and Australia on March 2. Both games will be held at home.
Current Gilas Pool
The pool, led by head coach Tim Cone, currently includes Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, Kevin Quiambao, Carl Tamayo, Justin Brownlee, Scottie Thompson, June Mar Fajardo, Troy Rosario, Chris Newsome, CJ Perez, RJ Abarrientos, and newcomers Juan Gomez de Liaño and Justine Baltazar.
Dwight Ramos expressed excitement over Millora-Brown’s arrival, noting that “size is a big factor” when facing the tall rosters of New Zealand and Australia. The team has just finished its training camp at Inspire and is moving into daily practices ahead of the home games.