Sotto begs off from Gilas’ next journey

MANILA, Philippines — Kai Sotto won’t be joining his fellow Gilas Pilipinas young guns in their next journey.

The 7-foot-3 Sotto is tied up with club duties for the Adelaide 36ers, making him unavailable for Gilas’ campaign in the King Abdullah Cup in Jordan next week and the FIBA Asia Cup in Indonesia next month.

“We are told that Kai would be fulfilling his commitment with Adelaide,” Ryan Gregorio, special assistant to Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Al Panlilio, said.

Sotto, 19, made his seniors’ team debut in the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers in Clark against South Korea and Indonesia and the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Serbia against the Serbians and the Dominican Republic.

With Sotto set to join the 36ers in their pre-season buildup for the National Basketball League (NBL) in Australia, naturalized player Ange Kouame will get more frontline duties.

“We are moving forward with our preparations without Kai,” said Gregorio.