Kai Sotto tears ACL during B.League 2025 season game
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Kai Sotto suffers knee injury; Gilas sticks with current pool
Gilas Pilipinas is keenly monitoring Kai Sotto’s situation as they are facing the possibility of missing his services following an apparent left knee injury he sustained during Koshigaya Alphas’ loss to Mikawa Seahorses, 77-79, in the 2025 season of Japan B.League at Kariyashi Taiikukan Arena over the weekend.
Sotto appeared to have suffered the injury after his left knee buckled awkwardly in the first quarter of the game while aiming a post-up move against Seahorses’ Zach Auguste.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is hoping there is no major damage to the knee of the 7-foot-3 Gilas center. SBP executive director Erika Dy stated that they cannot make any conclusions about his status as they are awaiting the result of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on Sotto.
In response to questions about the potential effect on the squad, Gilas head coach Tim Cone confirmed that Japeth Aguilar would be prepared to take Sotto's place if he couldn't play.
“Well, that’s why we have Japeth. Japeth is there to replace any of the bigs that we have. And if you can tell me there’s another big (one) out there that matches Japeth’s size and ability, then I’ll be happy to look at him,” Cone said.
PHOTO COURTESY: JAPAN B.LEAGUE
“Well, that’s why we have Japeth. Japeth is there to replace any of the bigs that we have. And if you can tell me there’s another big (one) out there that matches Japeth’s size and ability, then I’ll be happy to look at him,” Cone said.
"I know there’s a real clamor for a bigger pool, but it’s just the way the windows are set up in terms of small time for preparation," he added.
Sotto has been an essential member of the Gilas squad. His latest noteworthy achievement saw him drop a career-high 19 points along with 10 rebounds, seven assists, and two blocks in the Philippines’ historic 93-89 win against New Zealand in the second window last November.
Cone, however, reaffirmed that the national team will stick with the current pool despite the uncertainty surrounding Sotto's availability.
"I know there’s a real clamor for a bigger pool, but it’s just the way the windows are set up in terms of small time for preparation," he added.
"If we had two or three months, then we could do something like that but the way things exist, if you talk to any national team coach nowadays, this is how they do things. We’re not the only ones. We’re going with the 14."
The 25-time Philippine Basketball Association champion mentor remains optimistic in his current pool, with Gilas already securing a perfect 4-0 record in the Qualifiers and a spot in the continental meet scheduled for August 5 to 17 in Saudi Arabia.
