MANILA, Philippines — Kai Sotto admitted feeling the pressure during the first few minutes of the Gilas-Jordan game Friday night.
The match marked the 7-foot-3 Sotto’s first game in nearly two years for Gilas, marked by a knee injury due to a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament).
“Before the game, there were so many things going in my mind. It was like a mix of excitement and just thinking how long I have not played for the national team,” Sotto said in Filipino, whose block preserved the Philippines’ 82-81 overtime win against Jordan to open the fourth window of the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers with a victory.
“I know how heavy the pressure I was carrying.” Sotto, once he settled down and with the support he got from the large home crowd at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, went to work.
The Filipino giant went on to finish with 18 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks, efforts that energized the national side.
“For me, I’m so happy to see everyone contribute,” the 24-year-old Gilas slotman said in the moxed zone. “Slow start but you saw how we got back into game possession by possession. I’m so proud of our team.” No doubt, Sotto’s stint with the Koshigaya Alphas in the Japan B.League gave him the confidence needed since recovering from a torn ACL.
The young Filipino big man teamed up well frontcourt partner AJ Edu, who went on to churn out a near double-double effort of nine points and 11 rebounds.
Sotto hopes to sustain his solid effort when Gilas battles Iran on Sunday at the close of its back-to-back home games.
