Gilas Pilipinas undoubtedly missed Kai Sotto in its latest FIBA World Cup qualifying window.
Would he have been enough to beat Australia?
Probably not.
Would he have made the difference against New Zealand?
Me thinks that's a much more interesting discussion.
The Philippines pushed the Tall Blacks to double overtime before eventually coming up short. With Kai's 7-foot-3 presence protecting the rim, controlling the glass, and providing another scoring option inside, it's not far-fetched to think Gilas may have escaped with a victory before the game even reached overtime.
Australia, however, is another story.
The Boomers remain among the world's elite basketball nations, loaded with NBA talent and players competing in Europe's top professional leagues. Even if Kai had been available—and even if Justin Brownlee had been in uniform—the Australians would still have deserved to be heavy favorites.
Sometimes the better team simply wins.
That doesn't lessen Kai's value to Gilas.
There are very few players in Asia with his combination of size and skill. He changes the game defensively simply by standing near the basket. Opponents hesitate to attack the paint, teammates gain confidence knowing there's a shot blocker behind them, and his presence alone forces coaches to rethink their offensive sets.
That's why his absence was so noticeable.
Kai currently finds himself in basketball limbo after leaving Japan's B.League while exploring his next professional opportunity. Reports linked him to NBA Summer League teams. There were rumors about NCAA Division I programs. Nothing has materialized so far.
Everyone understands that professional careers come first. Every player dreams of making it to The Association. There is nothing wrong with chasing that dream.
But that brings up a larger issue Philippine basketball has wrestled with for years.
Why is it that, in the Philippines, some of our biggest stars don't always suit up for the national team?
Look around the basketball world.
Nikola Jokić is playing for Serbia.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander suits up for Canada.
Karl-Anthony Towns continues to represent the Dominican Republic.
Lauri Markkanen answers Finland's call.
Alperen Şengün plays for Türkiye.
Rudy Gobert anchors France.
Dennis Schröder still leads Germany.
These aren't role players trying to make a name for themselves.
They're NBA All-Stars, well with the exception of Schröder (who becomes Michael Jordan in the world stage).
Some are among the very best players on the planet.
Some have MVP trophies sitting in their living rooms.
Yet when their countries call, they answer.
Representing the national team isn't viewed as an inconvenience. It's viewed as an honor.
That's the culture Philippine basketball should aspire to build.
This isn't about piling on Kai. He has proudly represented the Philippines many times before and has repeatedly shown his love for wearing a Gilas jersey.
Rather, it's about expectations.
The national team should always have its best available players.
Fans deserve that.
Coaches deserve that.
Most importantly, the flag deserves that.
Countries with successful basketball programs don't spend every international window wondering whether their stars will show up. They simply expect them to.
And here's what really boggles my mind.
If Kai's ultimate goal is to make it to The Association, what better audition could there have been than playing against New Zealand and Australia? NBA scouts don't just watch Summer League. They watch FIBA basketball. They watch players compete against seasoned professionals and legitimate NBA talent. Those games could have showcased Kai's rim protection, rebounding, passing and ability to compete against high-level international competition.
Instead, he watched from the sidelines.
Me thinks that was a missed opportunity—not just for Gilas, but perhaps for Kai himself.
I digress.
