Tim Cone said he was “heartbroken” when he heard the sad news that Kai Sotto tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) on his left knee after results of the MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan came out on Wednesday.
The Gilas Pilipinas coach has no doubt that Sotto’s injury leaves a big gaping hole in the middle for the Philippine men’s basketball team, which is eyeing to sweep its last two away games to close the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers in February.
“I’m heartbroken for him, but Kai is young, still only 22, and has a lot of basketball still ahead of him. We will try to soldier on without him while he rehabs,” Cone said in a message to the media.
The 67-year-old American coach said the 7-foot-3 is “worth the wait.”
“Without doubt he is worth the wait, and we will await his return to Gilas with great anticipation,” he added.
The 7-foot-3 Sotto, who plays for the Koshigaya Alphas in Japan, landed awkwardly after his left knee buckled with just six minutes gone by in the game last Sunday.
The injury turned out to be a torn ACL.
Sotto has compiled averages of 15.5 points, 12.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists in four games in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers.
The multi-titled PBA mentor stressed that Sotto’s injury would mean the 7-foot-3 big man and Fil-Cypriot AJ Edu will still not be able to play together, in the coming FIBA tournament next month.
Cone believes seeing the Sotto-Edu front court tandem elevates Gilas Pilipinas to a whole new level.
“I’ve said it before, until we get Kai and AJ together, the other countries won’t see our best Gilas team,” said Cone. “Looking forward to that day.”
The 6-foot-10 Edu last played for Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA World Cup in 2023 in Manila where he averaged 8.2 points and 8.6 rebounds under then national coach Chot Reyes.
However, the 25-year-old big man, who currently plays for the Toyama Grouses in the Japan B.League, missed the first two windows in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers last year due to a knee injury.
The Philippines already secured a spot in the FIBA Asia Cup slated next August in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia as it remains unscathed in the ongoing Qualifiers with a 4-0 record.
