Filipino basketball star Kai Sotto has been cleared to rejoin Gilas Pilipinas for the November window of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers, following a successful recovery after entering concussion protocols.
The 7-foot-3 standout, in an exclusive interview with ESPN Philippines, confirmed his readiness after completing the final steps to ensure his return to action.
"I'm feeling very good and okay. Earlier, I completed the final step of the concussion protocols," Sotto told ESPN Philippines.
Sotto said he was confident in his condition.
"I did some movements to test if I'm ready to play again or if I can be cleared. It's just in time, as our training camp has started."
During a press conference on Nov. 13, Gilas team manager Richard Del Rosario revealed that Sotto had suffered a minor injury while playing for the Koshigaya Alphas in a B.League game against the Yokohama B-Corsairs.
"We have been in touch with the medical team of Kai's team in Japan and he has been put under the concussion protocol of the B.League and we are following that," Del Rosario said.
Sotto's return is a significant boost for Gilas as they gear up for key matchups against New Zealand and Hong Kong on Nov. 21 and 24 respectively.
With his towering presence and versatility on both ends of the floor, Sotto's addition strengthens a formidable frontline that includes June Mar Fajardo, AJ Edu, Japeth Aguilar, and naturalized import Justin Brownlee.
The national team has been focusing on building chemistry with a core group of players that has remained consistent through recent competitions, including the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Sotto believes this continuity will help the team in the upcoming games.
"I think the chemistry of the team will only get better since we've been together from the start," he said. "Even though we've only played less than ten games as a group, the importance of those matches, like in the OQT, has been huge for us. It's something we can build on heading into this window," he said.
Sotto's presence in the lineup should enhance the optimism among Filipino basketball fans over another strong showing in the qualifiers, with Gilas aiming to maintain its unbeaten record and solidify its position for a spot in the next year's Asia Cup.