Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone is absolutely certain that Kai Sotto will dominate Asia in the years to come after witnessing the latter’s standout performance up close in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers.
Sotto was a beast on both ends for the Philippines, averaging 15.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.5 blocks per game in the Nationals’ rousing sweep of Window 1, which included a pair of dominant victories against Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei.
The 7-foot-3 center registered 13 points, 15 rebounds, three blocks, and one steal in the 94-64 win over Hong Kong last Thursday before churning in 18 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and three blocks in the 106-53 victory against Chinese Taipei at the Philsports Arena on Sunday.
“Right now let me say about Kai (Sotto), he is going to absolutely dominate Asia.
“I just, I’ve always felt that. If you give it to him in the right spots, he can absolutely dominate Asia,” said Cone.
The multi-titled head coach said that the next step for Sotto, who currently plays for the Yokohama B-Corsairs in the Japan B.League, is to reach the European and NBA level of play, which he hopes that Gilas Pilipinas can help him achieve.
Cone also expressed his full support to Sotto, who is still chasing his NBA dream after going undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft.
The Philippines is set to play in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament this July, taking on home team Latvia and Georgia in hopes of clinching a spot in the Paris games.
After that, the Filipinos will resume action in the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers second window in November where they will host New Zealand and Hong Kong.
“For him, the next spot is to get up to the European level and the NBA level. We’re hoping we could help him get into that level,” said Cone.
“There may be a time when we might lose Kai. He may not be able to join the windows because he might be in the NBA and we will be very, very proud of that,” he added.
