Gilas Pilipinas is patiently waiting on whether Kai Sotto will join the national team for Window 6 of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
Sotto, whose campaign with Adelaide ended last February 5, must report to Hiroshima.
But there were reports stating that the 20-year-old Filipino will beg off for this window which will see Gilas host Lebanon on the 24th and Jordan on the 27th to adjust to life in Japan.
Gilas though has made Sotto a “good offer” to play this window, according to Reyes.
“I know that they are talking, there are negotiations, and we gave them a very good offer. It’s up to them kung ano ang gagawin nila, if they accept it or not.
“Of course, I hope they do but you’ll never know until he is actually here. He has always told us how he is committed he is to the national team and serving the country. I think you can see in his own personal statements, alam naman natin yan,” said Gilas head coach and program director Chot Reyes.
The talks between East West Private and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas are still ongoing.
“Until he is here, we’ll never really know.”
Also questionable for the window is Carl Tamayo.
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Tamayo is slated to leave the country on the 15th to report to Ryukyu in Okinawa.
It is still unknown whether he will come back for the window.
As said earlier, though the B.League will be on a FIBA break, both Sotto and Tamayo have to go to Japan to complete their registration.
Sotto is averaging 13.0 points and 10.5 rebounds in two games played in the Qualifiers so far while Tamayo is norming 8.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in three games.
Without the 7-foot-3 Sotto and 6-foot-8 Tamayo, the woes of Gilas continue.
Another problem Reyes has is whether one of the team’s leaders in Japeth Aguilar will be fit enough come the window.
Aguilar is currently nursing an MCL sprain and is day-to-day.
“We’re hoping he’ll be back for the window but we’re not sure about that either,” said Gilas assistant coach Tim Cone.
“But that’s the target.”
The rest of Gilas’ frontline consists of Justin Brownlee, Kevin Quiambao, Mason Amos, June Mar Fajardo, Raymond Almazan, and Angelo Kouame.
With regards to the other B.League imports — namely Nagoya’s Bobby Ray Parks, Shiga’s Kiefer Ravena, San-En’s Thirdy Ravena, Hokkaido’s Dwight Ramos, and Nagasaki’s Jordan Heading, Reyes is relieved that they will be arriving on Monday.
“We just need to have a complete team to be able to practice and figure out what we are going to do and how we will prepare for the window. That’s the important thing for us,” said Reyes.
