With around 10 days left before Gilas Pilipinas resumes its quest to qualify for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup, a familiar face made a very much welcome return to practice. 

Word has been coming out that Kai Sotto is trying to play in the US NCAA through the backdoor route other players who have not set foot on an NBA court have taken. Sotto has been seen playing in pickup games in the Philippines waiting for developments to unfold and an opportunity to join Gilas may have been too hard to pass up. 

Sotto had a great bounce-back campaign with the B.League’s Koshigaya Alphas, posting a near double-double following surgery to repair a torn left ACL. He skipped Gilas Pilipinas duties during that time, but it allowed him to focus on shaking off the rest and recovering with the long run in mind. 

Playing at home is a comforting feeling, but Sotto’s next chapter requires some game reps and at the moment, playing for the Philippines is the most ideal situation. The upcoming leg of the round two of the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifiers runs for a few weeks, preparations included. It only lasts for two games, after which, Sotto is free to move onto his next destination, however, Lebanon and Iran could give the center some chances against stiff competition. 

Moreover, Sotto’s arrival at this time comes as June Mar Fajardo will embark on his final stint with Gilas. Fajardo’s role for this run is clearly veteran presence and mentorship, especially in handling the rigors of carrying a nation on his shoulders. True, Sotto has already logged in more minutes and taken on more responsibilities whenever he and Fajardo have been part of the lineup, but it doesn’t hurt to get a few more pointers, especially when the game will eventually require Sotto to play smarter. Japeth Aguilar has already retired from national team duty and once Fajardo calls it a career for Gilas Pilipinas, it will be Sotto who will be the bonafide leader of the next generation of Filipino big men. 

Kai Sotto would have been a solid addition to the 2026 Asian Games squad, but at 24 years old, Sotto has at least two more chances to represent the country in the quadrennial meet later on. For now, though, it’s great to see him making a return to Gilas Pilipinas for a stint that could pay off in the long run. Balancing commitments is no joke, but Sotto is showing us that he is up to the task now that he is healthy and ready.