Star big man Kai Sotto gets hurt just a month before Gilas Pilipinas shoots for a sweep of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers in the third and final window in February

MANILA, Philippines – Kai Sotto’s latest injury may spell bad news not just for his Japan B. League team but also Gilas Pilipinas.

The Koshigaya Alphas big man got hurt on Sunday, January 5, just less than four minutes into their 79-77 loss to the SeaHorses Mikawa.

Sotto left the game and never returned as the Alphas absorbed their 20th loss in 28 games.

“The fact that Kai got injured is the saddest thing that can happen and I think Kai is the one who is suffering the most. We will all support him and do our best until he can return,” said Koshigaya coach Ryuzo Anzai in Japanese.

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Sotto getting injured could not have come at a worse time considering the way he has been playing in the B. League.

The 7-foot-3 big man is putting up 13.8 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks for the Alphas, with his rebounding and blocking averages putting him among the top 10 in the league.

Also, Sotto is expected to play a key role as the Philippines shoots for a sweep of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers when it tangles with New Zealand and Chinese Taipei in a pair of road games in the third and final window in February.

Sotto has been a consistent force for the Nationals, churning out 15.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.3 blocks through four games in the Asia Cup Qualifiers.

National team head coach Tim Cone, though, said veteran big man Japeth Aguilar is ready to step in.

“Japeth is there to replace any of the bigs that we have,” said Cone.

“If you can tell me there is another big out there that equates to Japeth’s size and ability, then I’ll be happy to look at who is eligible and who has some experience in it.”

Sotto got put under concussion protocols following a blow to the head in a B. League game in November just less than two weeks before the second window of the Asia Cup Qualifiers.

But he eventually recovered and helped steer the Philippines to a breakthrough win over New Zealand and a resounding rout of Hong Kong as the country punched its Asia Cup ticket. – Rappler.com

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