Tim Cone says Gilas sticking with current pool amid Kai Sotto injury scare

Gilas Pilipinas is facing the possibility of missing the services of big man Kai Sotto come the third window of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers next month after 7-foot-3 bruiser suffered an apparent left knee injury during Koshigoya's loss to Mikawa in the Japan B. League on Sunday.

But head coach Tim Cone stressed the national team will stick to the same pool of players, which includes veteran big Japeth Aguilar, in any eventuality that Sotto will be ruled out of the next window.

"Well, that’s why we have Japeth. Japeth is there to replace any of the bigs that we have," Cone said.

"And if you can tell me if there’s another big out there that equates Japeth’s size and ability, then I’ll be happy to look at him. He’s eligible and has so much experience."

Sotto has been an integral part of Cone's program with Gilas Pilipinas.

The 22-year-old big man dropped a career-high 19 points together with 10 rebounds, seven assists, and two blocks to fuel the Philippines' historic 93-89 victory against New Zealand in the second window last November.

Sotto is currently averaging a whopping 15.5 markers and 12.5 boards in the tournament to go along with 3.8 dimes.

But amid the uncertainty on Sotto's status, Cone reiterated that the national team will continue to stick to the current pool that also features other big men in June Mar Fajardo, AJ Edu, Mason Amos, Carl Tamayo, and naturalized Ange Kouame, saying it will make things smoother in their preparations.

"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."

Cone added that while they're awaiting the result of Sotto's injury, the national team is already ironing out a plan to fly to Doha for a friendly game ahead of the February window.

The veteran tactician, however, said nothing has been finalized yet as all players remain with their respective mother clubs in either the PBA or overseas leagues.

"Right now, we’re just trying to get the guys [because] there’s a chance we may go to Doha before the next window for some friendlies," Cone shared.

"That would be part of our preparation but that’s gonna happen maybe February 10 or 11 and we might go there and do our preparations there. But between now and the 10th, the players are with their teams so we don’t have real contact with them."

—JMB, GMA Integrated News