Kai Sotto returns to action for the Philippines in FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers; comeback could swing Philippines’ World Cup bid
Basketball: Can Kai Sotto be the answer for the Philippines in crucial FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers?
Basketball: Can Kai Sotto be the answer for the Philippines in crucial FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers?
Kai Sotto returns to action after a lengthy absence, with a World Cup spot hanging in the balance. Can he be the catalyst Gilas Pilipinas needs to get their campaign back on track?
Window 4 of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers tips off this week (28 August) with the Philippines facing an uphill battle to keep their qualification hopes alive.
Gilas Pilipinas, bronze medallists at the 1954 World Cup, have appeared at each of the past three editions but sit fifth in Group E with a 2-4 record. The world No. 39 side are three points behind third-placed Jordan and two behind New Zealand in fourth.
The top three teams in each second-round group qualify for next year’s World Cup in Qatar, along with the best fourth-placed side, while hosts Qatar qualify automatically. That leaves the Philippines firmly in contention — but they need to start racking up some wins, and quickly.
Fortunately for the Gilas faithful, they’ll receive a huge boost this week in the form of 7-foot-3 (2.21m) centre Kai Sotto . The 24-year-old will don the national jersey for the first time in almost two years, having torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in January 2025 and missed the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup (where the Philippines finished 7th) in addition to the first three windows of this campaign. Gilas played 13 games without him and won four.
“It’s a huge pressure for us,” Sotto said during Monday’s pre-tournament press conference.
“That’s the pressure that we need. Since the start of practice, we’ve been improving. And as long as we help each other and we trust each other, we’ll get what we want.”
How to watch Kai Sotto and Philippines live in 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers - full schedule
What Kai Sotto gives Gilas Pilipinas
Sotto’s return couldn’t be more timely, with Mike Phillips and Quentin Millora-Brown , the two leading rebounders of the Philippines’ qualifying campaign at 8.5 and 8.0 a game, both unavailable, as is naturalised forward Justin Brownlee , still recovering from injury, having led Gilas through the qualifiers with 14.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists a game.
Thankfully, in Sotto, Philippines head coach Tim Cone has a familiar piece to build his triangle offence around. In the year before the 24-year-old’s debilitating injury, Gilas won five of six games, with Sotto averaging 14.0 points, 11.3 rebounds and 2.0 blocks, second only to Brownlee as a scorer. He was on the floor in Riga, too, when the Philippines fell two wins short of qualifying for Paris 2024 .
Sotto will not have to carry the frontcourt alone. Gunma Crane Thunders center AJ Edu , who has not played alongside him for Gilas since the 2023 FIBA World Cup, is expected to provide a defensive presence, while Sotto takes on a bigger role at the other end. Veteran June Mar Fajardo , 36, will also feature in what he has suggested could be his final window with the national team.
“It was a huge challenge when I got injured, but I am so thankful to God for guiding me and to the people who helped me,” Sotto said.
“AJ was one of them. He was someone I constantly turned to when I was injured because he had gone through the same thing.”
Sotto in action at the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Latvia. He averaged 11 points and 4 rebounds in two games.
What Sotto still has to prove
Gilas enter the window on a four-game losing streak, while Sotto is still working his way back after a lengthy absence. He returned for Japan’s Koshigaya Alphas in January and became the sixth Filipino to reach 1,000 career B.League points the following month.
His contract expired at the end of May, and he has yet to commit to Gilas beyond this window.
Asked whether he would be available for future windows, Sotto was non-committal. “I don’t know yet after this window,” he said. “And even if I did know, I wouldn’t tell you.”
Cone has also been careful to manage expectations after Sotto’s long absence. “I don’t want to say he’s new to the team, but he hasn’t been with us for a couple of years so guys are still adjusting to his level of play,” he said. “We think he’s going to cause problems for both teams and he’s going to make those around him better.”
Sotto and his teammates will face an immediate challenge. Both Jordan and the Islamic Republic of Iran enter Window 4 at 5-1, while Jordan’s Jalen Harris leads all scorers in the Asian Qualifiers at 27.0 points per game. Two wins would put the Philippines firmly back in the qualification fight; two defeats would leave them with almost no margin for error over the final four games.
With their backs against the wall and a fervent home crowd behind them, it’s time to find out what Sotto and the Philippines are made of.
Philippines schedule at FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers Window 4
All times Philippine Standard Time (UTC+8), all games at Mall of Asia Arena.
Friday 28 August: Jordan v Philippines, 20:30
Sunday 30 August: Philippines v Iran, 20:00
The window’s other Group E games, all at the same venue:
Friday 28 August: Iran v New Zealand, 14:00; Syria v Australia, 17:00
Sunday 30 August: New Zealand v Syria; Australia v Jordan, 17:00