MANILA, Philippines — Darating pa rin sa Pilipinas si NBA G League-bound Kai Sotto sa kabila ng kanselasyon ng FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers na idaraos sana sa Clark, Pampanga.
Ito mismo ang inihayag ng Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) dahil desidido si Sotto na magpartisipa sa training anuman ang mangyari sa schedule ng qualifiers.
Ayon kay SBP president Al Panlilio, handa si Sotto na maglaro saan man ang italaga ng FIBA na bagong host ng third window.
“Kai is committed to joining the bubble regardless of whether we play here or elsewhere. He has said that he wanted to be here and we’re in talks with him to try and bring him here as soon as possible,” wika ni Panlilio.
Magandang pagkakataon ito para kay Sotto na makasama ang Gilas Pilipinas pool dahil hindi lang FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers ang pinaghahandaan ng koponan maging ang iba pang international tournaments.
“It’s good for him to come in and also learn the system that we’re trying to implement in the national team to work with his teammates and have a feel of what the system will be,” ani Panlilio.
Kabilang sa tinukoy ng SBP chief ang prestihiyosong FIBA World Cup na idaraos sa Pilipinas sa 2023 katuwang ang co-hosts na Japan at Indonesia.
“This will help him and help us, looking at 2023, how we can work towards forming a core team that will be competitive in the World Cup,” dagdag ni Panlilio.
Nais ng SBP na ma-experience ni Sotto na makasama ang Gilas Pilipinas pool na posibleng maging teammates nito sa FIBA World Cup.