Gilas Pilipinas is one big man down heading into next month’s 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers third window after Kai Sotto tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
The 7-foot-3 slotman’s Japan B.League club Koshigaya Alphas confirmed Gilas’ worst fear on Wednesday afternoon.
Sotto sustained a non-contact left knee injury last Sunday in a loss to the Seahorse Mikawa. He flew to Tokyo to undergo an MRI.
“We would like to inform you that No. 11 Kai Sotto was injured in the game against Seahorse Mikawa on Sunday, January 5, 2025, and was diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. He has been placed on the injured list,” the club announced through its official website.
Sotto’s injury has dealt Gilas’ campaign a big blow as the Nationals seek to sustain their unbeaten run in the qualifiers in the final window on the road against Taiwan on 20 February and New Zealand on the 23rd.
Gilas is unbeaten in four games after the first two windows.
Sotto is averaging 13.8 points on 52 percent field goal shooting, with 9.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.1 blocks in his first year at Koshigaya.
“Might be the darkest day of my career,” the 22-year-old center said.
It was an unfortunate turn of events for Sotto following a previous injury scare a couple of months ago.
Just days before suiting up for Gilas in the November window of the Asia Cup qualifiers held in Manila, he went through a concussion protocol after a scary collision with an opposing player in his game in the Japan B.League.
Sotto was instrumental in Gilas’ upset over New Zealand, 93-89, and in a 93-54 rout over Hong Kong which secured the Filipinos’ entry into the main draw in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in August.
Despite already booking a ticket to the Asia Cup, Gilas head coach Tim Cone is looking to use the last window to improve the team’s cohesion and chemistry as well as build momentum before facing the best squads in the continent including defending champion Australia and powerhouse Japan.
Gilas will now have to make do with the available big men it has led by June Mar Fajardo and Japeth Aguilar.
Sotto will be out for at least six months to recuperate and some additional time to return to his competitive form.