MANILA, Philippines — Gilas Pilipinas is keeping its fingers crossed as the team awaits the result of Kai Sotto’s magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) following a suspected left knee injury he sustained in the Japan B.League game on Sunday.
The 7-foot-3 Sotto, who plays for the Koshigaya Alphas, landed awkwardly after his left knee buckled with just six minutes gone by in the game.
Sotto writhed in pain on the floor and was attended by the team medical staff, before getting assistance as he left the game for good.
“Still waiting for MRI results,” Cone said in a shortly reply to the Manila Times.
Undoubtedly, the Filipino young slotman has developed into a major piece under Cone’s system.
The former Gilas youth star slotman in fact, is coming off impressive efforts in the national squad’s FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers second window.
Sotto posted all-around nunbers of 19 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and two blocks in Gilas’ famous 93-89 win over New Zealand, marking the country’s first victory over the former Oceania basketball superpower since 2016.
He then posted 12 points and 15 rebounds in Gilas’ 93-54 plastering of Hong Kong.
Gilas will sury need Sotto’s size and presence when the team faces Taiwan on February 20 followed by New Zealand on February 23 in a pair of away games at the coming February window.
