Let's sit down and talk about Kai Sotto.
There comes a point in every athlete's career where you have to look at their actions rather than listen to the hype. And right now, the silence coming from Sotto’s camp is deafening.
Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone is just as clueless as everyone else regarding whether the 7-foot-3 big man will be available for the crucial August window of the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers and the country’s title defense in the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
“No word,” Cone recently stated. “Even for the Asian Games, no word”.
I'll be honest with you. Hearing a respected veteran mentor like Cone admit that he's getting the silent treatment is tough to swallow.
Gilas needs him. They really do. The national team program is facing serious manpower issues right now for both tournaments. Quentin Millora-Brown is still recovering from back surgery. Mike Phillips had to respectfully beg off to attend his brother's wedding.
On top of that, Gilas players signed in the Japanese and Korean leagues aren't available for the continental tournament, forcing the national team to tap PBA talents just to defend their Asian Games crown.
So, where is Kai?
Right now, Sotto isn't signed with any team. According to Cone, his focus seems to be entirely on playing stateside. “From my understanding, he is still working on the NCAA, trying to get there,” Cone explained.
I get it. Sotto has big dreams. Every kid with that kind of size and talent wants to make it in America. But leaving your national team twisting in the wind while they are actively fighting for World Cup spots and Asian Games medals? That doesn't sit right.
At this point, it really seems like Kai has turned his back on the national team.
You don't just leave a legend like Tim Cone hanging with "no word". The Philippines rallied behind Kai for years. They bought into the dream. But national pride is a two-way street. If you're going to wear the flag, you have to show up when the flag calls—or at the very least, pick up the phone and let your coach know your plans.
Right now, Gilas is moving forward without him. And maybe, for the sake of the program, it's time the fans do the same.
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