Giant problem: Big men Sotto, Millora-Brown out; Baltazar in

Gilas Pilipinas is facing a giant problem as it enters the crucial stretch of its preparation for the second window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

Gilas coach Tim Cone formally announced that the 7-foot-3 Sotto and the 6-foot-10 Millora-Brown will not be around when they battle New Zealand on 26 February and Australia on 1 March at the Mall of Asia Arena.

After days of speculation, Cone broke the news on Monday, saying that Sotto begged off from joining as he is not yet in great shape after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) while seeing action for Koshigaya Alphas in the Japan B. League last year.

Sotto, however, displayed a glimpse of his potential when he dropped monster numbers of 15 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Alphas to a 93-75 victory over Sun Rockers Shibuya last Saturday. He, however, is still not yet ready for national team duties, especially with the possibility of banging bodies with the taller, bulkier and more athletic slotmen from New Zealand and Australia.

On the same note, Millora-Brown will also be missing in action.

After tallying impressive numbers of six points, nine rebounds and three blocks in their 95-71 win over Guam in the first window, the former University of the Philippines star just declared that he will not join, a decision that came as a surprise since he fought so hard for his eligibility to suit up as a local Filipino on the international stage.

Right now, Millora-Brown is also in Japan, where he is competing for the Chiba Jets.

“Right now, Q (Millora-Brown) has chosen not to join us and Kai is, I guess, reluctant because of the injury factor. I can’t blame him for that,” said Cone after presiding over their training the Upper Deck Gym.

“Those are the guys that are on top of the list of players that we want on the team. But we really can’t control that.”

With Sotto and Millora-Brown out, Cone will be banking on a new recruit in Justin Baltazar of Converge.

Actually, it’s going to be Baltazar’s second stint for the national team. When Tab Baldwin was still calling the shots during the height of the pandemic in 2021, Baltazar already suit up, reuniting him with Gilas mainstays Carl Tamayo, Dwight Ramos and Converge teammate Juan Gomez de Liano.

Baltazar already showed up in training and declared readiness to patrol the paint for the Nationals without feeling any pressure of playing in a star-studded squad that features Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) standouts.

“I’m still adjusting and they are guiding me,” said Baltazar in Filipino after Gilas’ first day of their 10-day training for the second window.

“I need to approach the assistant coaches for the plays so that I can learn them as quickly as possible.”

He added that the possibility of playing a bigger role to fill the giant void created by the absence of Sotto and Millora-Brown is the last thing on his mind.

“My focus right now is what we are doing right now. I need to learn the system. I’m not thinking about that,” said Baltazar when asked about the possibility of filling the gap left by Sotto and Millora-Brown.

Aside from Baltazar, also manning the paint for Gilas are nine-time PBA Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo, AJ Edu and Tamayo while Ramos, Scottie Thompson and Kevin Quiambao can also help in the rebounding chore against two of the tallest teams in the tournament.