(UPDATE) IN the few times Kai Sotto was able to watch Gilas Pilipinas scrimmage twice and train, the youthful Filipino giant is very optimistic that the latest batch of players in the national team are up to the task for the 2023 FIBA World Cup. In the 2014 FIBA World Cup, Gilas, playing in Seville, Spain, gave world-class opponents Croatia, Argentina, Greece and Puerto Rico scary moments, before losing in narrow margins. In this latest Gilas iteration, the 21-year-old Sotto believes the team has a taller front court that consists of a more seasoned June Mar Fajardo and Japeth Aguilar, who are both gunning for a third straight World Cup appearance in their respective basketball careers. Throw in Utah Jazz star Jordan Clarkson, who will serve as the Philippines' naturalized player, along with additional big man from the pool like Sotto's former Gilas youth teammate big man AJ Edu and versatile forward Jamie Malonzo, the 7-foot-3 Filipino feels they have the size to contend in the 2023 FIBA World Cup. But then again, Sotto emphasized that basketball remains a five-man game and definitely, to earn a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics, Gilas must play as one, solid unit.

Source: Manila Times August 06, 2023 15:14 UTC