Center Kai Sotto has been officially ruled out for the main draw of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup in August but Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone heaved a sigh of relief with the assurance that Kevin Quiambao is suiting up for the last window of the tournament’s qualifier.
Cone announced Wednesday night that Quiambao will hook up with the rest of Gilas in their training camp in Doha, Qatar, and play in the third window next month on the road against Chinese Taipei and New Zealand.
“Yeah, Kevin is fine. We spoke to him. He’ll be with us in Doha and the trip,” the national team mentor said.
However, Cone plans to use Quiambao sparingly during Gilas’ participation in the 2nd Doha Invitational Cup where they will take on Qatar, Lebanon and Egypt in a four-nation friendly to be held 14 to 16 February.
Gilas will fly to Doha on 13 February.
The two-time University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Most Valuable Player had an injury scare after hurting his right ankle in his debut with the Goyang Sono Skygunners in the Korean Basketball League three weeks ago.
He returned to action Tuesday in a 69-94 loss to Anyang JKJ where he finished with 14 points, five assists and four rebounds.
“He’s another guy we’ll take a look at. Talk to trainers and see if he needs load management as well,” Cone added.
“He needs to be held back at times but right now, he’s telling us that he’s ready to go, 100 percent. That’s the word we got.”
Quiambao’s availability was a welcome development for the squad, which suffered a big blow when the 7-foot-3 Sotto sustained a left torn anterior cruciate ligament.
The big man went down with a non-contact knee injury during his team Koshigaya Alphas’ loss to Seahorse Mikawa last 5 January.
Cone said it could take a year for the young center to get back to full health and playing form after undergoing surgery. M. ESCARLOTE
“I don’t think he even had surgery yet. What I heard last is that the surgery’s gonna be around the first of February. Sometime this week he might have the surgery,” the decorated tactician said.
“And then from there, we count the months, minimum nine. Probably 12. A guy that’s 7-foot-2 usually takes longer (to recover). So, we’re thinking maybe a year. He’ll be out for maybe a year.”
But while Sotto is unavailable for the FIBA Asia Cup, Cone is crossing his fingers to see his prized center back for the World Cup qualifiers next year.
“Hopefully, he will start to play sometime in the World Cup qualifiers,” he said.
“A big blow (in the Asia Cup) but we’ll see what we can do.”
Barangay Ginebra forward Troy Rosario has been tapped to fill the void left by Sotto.
He will be in Doha alongside naturalized players Justin Brownlee, Quiambao, June Mar Fajardo, Scottie Thompson, Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, CJ Perez, Dwight Ramos, Carl Tamayo, Mason Amos and returning players Jamie Malonzo and AJ Edu.
Another naturalized player Ange Kouame is expected to join Gilas with veteran forward Japeth Aguilar skipping the trip due to personal reasons.
Gilas is unbeaten in four games after the first two windows to reserve a seat in the main draw in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from 5 to 17 August.
Despite already being qualified in the tournament proper, Cone wants his wards to stay on the roll to build confidence and earn a favorable seeding.
Gilas is set to face host Taiwan on 20 February before flying to New Zealand for the much-anticipated rematch with the Tall Blacks on the 23rd.