MANILA, Philippines — Filipino young big man Kai Sotto said he’s excited and very motivated to rejoin and reinforce Gilas Pilipinas as the national team opens the second round of the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers window 4 with home games against Jordan and Iran.
Now considered the centerpiece of the national side with naturalized player Justin Brownlee unavailable, the 7-foot-3 Sotto said being an expectant father to his wife, Rere Madrid, gives him that extra motivation to do even better for the Philippines.
“I’m very inspired with our coming baby, so I need to be even more serious (in my approach) to help (Gilas) get these two wins, for my baby and for my wife and for our country,” Sotto said in Filipino to media men during Monday’s press conference held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Sotto said the timing is perfect to make play in the fourth window since he has no contractual obligations after finishing the recent Japan B.League season with the Koshigaya Alphas, where he managed to play in midseason after recovering from a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament).
“The timing is great because I’m now healthy. The reason I couldn’t play previously for Gilas was because I was injured, but now, my schedule is free,” he added.
Gilas coach Tim Cone said they have always been in constant communication with Sotto, knowing he’s an integral piece to the Philippine team’s dream of making the FIBA World Cup next year in Doha, Qatar.
“Two or three days before we started (preparation) that we got confirmation Kai will join us,” shared Cone. “We’ve always been in conversation with him, whether it be (Gilas assistant coach) Richard (del Rosario) talking to him, or (team manager) Alfrancis Chua or (Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director) Erika (Dy), or Mr. (Ricky) Vargas, they all had conversations with him and his group, his dad, their agents.” “We were surprised like everybody else, but we’re jumping for joy when he decided to join us,” he said.
Sotto’s return allows him to team up once again with former Gilas youth front court partner AJ Edu since they last played for the national men’s team in the FIBA World Cup 2023 that the Philippines co-hosted with Japan and Indonesia.
The coming second round of the Asian Qualifiers will probably be the last time also, he will be playing alongside veteran Gilas big man June Mar Fajardo, who is set to retire from playing with the national team.
“Coach Tim and management talked to me and when I learned CJ (Perez) is coming back (from an injury) and (this would be the) last window of Kuya June, we finally got to be together again to face this opportunity,” said Sotto, whose last Gilas stint was during during the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers where he averaged 15.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists in four outings.
The last time Sotto played for Gilas was during the second window of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers back in November 2024 where he registered 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists to lead the national team to a historic 93-89 upset win against New Zealand at home floor.
