Gilas Pilipinas is keeping its fingers crossed, hoping that Kai Sotto will be healthy in time for the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers starting in November.

The Filipinos need the towering presence of the 7-foot-3 big man in Gilas’ bid to qualify for the main draw in Doha, Qatar, after landing in a “Group of Death” with world No. 7 Australia, New Zealand and Guam.

“Hopefully, we get, I mean, the big missing piece for us is Kai Sotto,” Cone said about Sotto’s absence in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Gilas marched into battle with a hole in the middle as Sotto is still recovering from a knee injury early this year that needed surgery.

It didn’t help that veteran center June Mar Fajardo struggled the whole tournament.

The Philippines suffered a devastating loss to Chinese Taipei and New Zealand, the two teams Gilas beat in the first two windows of the Asia Cup qualifiers with 23-year-old Sotto around, to start its campaign.

Those losses sent Gilas on a difficult path to the playoffs, including an early collision with three-peat-seeking Australia in the quarterfinal.

Gilas won over Iraq but had to overcome an early six-point deficit to earn a quarterfinal qualifying match against host Saudi Arabia, which the Filipinos beat in overtime.

Without a solid man in the middle, the Boomers overran Gilas and ended its bid to end a four-decade title drought.

“Hopefully, we get Kai and that makes us a little bit more competitive,” Cone said.

Sotto averaged a double-double of 15.5 points and 12.5 rebounds with 3.8 assists and 2.3 blocks per game in four outings during the Asia Cup qualifiers.

Against New Zealand in the second window, Sotto had a near triple-double of 19 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.

He, unfortunately, tore his left anterior cruciate ligament while playing for his Japan B.League club Koshigaya Alphas in a 79–77 loss to the SeaHorses Mikawa last 5 January.