Gilas gets big boost for FIBA World Cup qualifiers

Sports

A BADLY needed reinforcement finally came for Gilas Pilipinas, which is gearing up for the second round of the FIBA World Cup Asian Cup Qualifiers.

Head coach Tim Cone confirmed that 7-foot-3 Kai Sotto will be playing when Gilas battles Jordan on August 28 and Iran on the 30th at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Cone shared that Sotto attended the national team's practice Monday, Aug. 17, at the SMC sports facility.

Back from an ACL injury, the 24-year-old Sotto is playing for the first time for Gilas since the 2024 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.

By rejoining Gilas, Sotto will be forming a twin tower with Cebuano big man June Mar Fajardo.

Also set to join Gilas for the pair of crucial games is naturalized Filipino Justin Brownlee.

The Nationals are in a must-win situation in the second round after tallying just two wins in the first round.

Gilas scored two wins after sweeping Guam in the first window. The Nationals then stumbled in the second and third windows where they lost all their four games to finish third in Group A with a 2-4 (win-loss) card.(CCM)