GILAS Pilipinas coach Tim Cone said that he would love to see young big man Kai Sotto play for the national team when it opens the second round of the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers against Jordan and Iran late this August.
But the veteran American coach admitted that luring the Filipino skyscraper to the national team will not be easy.
“We have not received an official no yet, but we understand he has some things pending in the US that might affect his availability,” Cone told The Manila Times.
Recent reports revealed that the 7-foot-3 Sotto is aiming to see action in the US NCAA with hopes of eventually playing in the NBA.
The Gilas Pilipinas standout has missed the national team’s first round games in the Asian Qualifiers, where the Philippines ended with a 2-4 record.
Without Sotto’s size and shot blocking presence, the Philippine squad opened the Asian qualifiers with back-to-back wins against Guam but sustained two narrow losses to New Zealand in its home and road games and was bludgeoned by world cage power Australia twice.
Cone knows the country’s FIBA World Cup hopes will be greatly enhanced with Sotto around against Jordan and Iran in the second round.
“Obviously, we really need him if he can join. He’s a game changer,” Cone added.
Sotto recently concluded his 2025-26 Japan B.League season campaign by averaging 13.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 28 games, managing to stage a successful comeback since recovering from a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) on his knee a year ago.
Cone is aware what Sotto can contribute for the Philippine team as seen by his impact in the Philippine team’s 93-89 victory against New Zealand during the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers on Nov. 22, 2024 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Sotto was a tower of strength for Gilas Pilipinas, finishing with 19 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 blocks.
That win ended the Philippines four-game losing streak to New Zealand that began in 2016.
Gilas Pilipinas opens the second round in Group E against Jordan on Aug. 28, Friday, starting at 8:30 p.m. The team will swing back to action on Aug. 30 against many-time Asian cage champion Iran at 8 p.m.
The Philippines (2-4) joins a loaded Group E along with Australia (6-0), Iran (5-1), Jordan (5-1), New Zealand (4-2), and Syria (2-4).
