Kai Sotto’s surprise return is a most welcome development for Gilas Pilipinas as it takes on Jordan and Iran in the fourth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers. It has taken on greater meaning recently as news broke out that the national team will likely miss the services of naturalized reinforcement Justin Brownlee, who is reportedly still recovering from his injuries.
For the 7‑foot‑3 beanpole, his return is the product of the perfect storm of circumstance, beginning with his complete recovery from an ACL tear, which he suffered in January 2025 playing in the Japan B.League.
“Swerte lang na magkasama‑sama kaming harapin ‘tong opportunity na ‘to,” Sotto told reporters in Gilas Pilipinas’ press conference on Monday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. “Sakto lang din na fully healthy na ako. Kaya naman din ako hindi nakapaglaro nung previous years dahil na‑injure ako. Sakto, offseason ngayon at wala na akong ginagawa. Kinausap din ako nila coach Tim [Cone] at ng management, kaya nagkatagpo‑tagpo na rin.”
The timing certainly is just right, as Sotto is expected to be the centerpiece of Gilas Pilipinas sans Brownlee.
Kai Sotto and AJ Edu to Form Gilas Twin Towers
While Kai Sotto will likely be the focal point of Gilas Pilipinas, he won’t have to do things on his own as he will have the help of very capable locals. One of them, AJ Edu, is someone Kaiju is intimately familiar with, as the two have played together before. Importantly, Edu is someone Sotto leaned on during his lengthy recovery from ACL reconstruction. And Edu’s role in that journey isn’t lost on the Filipino big man.
“Sobrang laking challenge nung na‑injure ako, pero sobrang thankful ako kay God na ginabayan niya ako, at sa mga taong tumulong sa akin,” he said. “Isa na dun si AJ. Isa siya sa mga lagi kong nilalapitan nung na‑injure ako dahil napagdaanan niya na rin ‘yun.”
Now, as if by fate, Kai Sotto will again be leaning on AJ Edu, but this time on the hardwood as they look to be Gilas Pilipinas’ twin towers against Jordan and Iran.
Incidentally, this will be the first time Sotto and Edu will be playing together since the 2023 FIBA World Cup, which was held here in Manila as well. And the timing couldn’t have been any better.
