MICHIGAN - As the Siberian winds drape the Philippines with cold, wintry weather, the realization that Christmas is just around the corner is beginning to set in.
And for hoops fans in our basketball-crazy archipelago, there's one more thing to be excited about.
A window to the 2027 Fiba World Cup Qualifiers opens for Gilas Pipinas later this month and coach Tim Cone began the drumbeat on Thursday with the announcement that he plans to "reconvene the team" on November 18.
READ Brownlee in doubt for Gilas just weeks before World Cup qualifier
The good news is that the 37th-ranked Gilas begins its 2027 World Cup journey with a pair of home-and-away games on November 28 and December 1 against lightweight Guam which is ranked No.81 in the world,
Unfortunately, it's not a complete bundle of joy for our national team.
NO GO.
Kai Sotto, the face, the present cornerstone and the future of the team, will not be seeing action in the two encounters that are scheduled at the Calvo Field House in Guam and the Blue Eagle Gym inside the main campus of Ateneo.
"No," his camp said when asked if there is a chance Kai will make life hell for the Jericho Cruz-led Guamanians
"The rehab is progressing well. He is getting close and doing great," I was told. But when pressed if Sotto will be able to make a triumphant return in time for the February window, the reply was non-committal.
"To be determined."
Although he isn't practicing with the Koshigaya Alphas just yet, the 23-year-old former Ateneo Blue Eaglet is with the team during games. The extra cautious approach is understandable.
EASY DOES IT.
After tearing the ACL on his left knee last January 2025, it had only been 280 days since he underwent reconstructive surgery. Typically, full recovery for this type of injury ranges from nine months to a year.
With Kai, there is an even greater abundance of caution
Meanwhile, Sotto's Japan B.League contract expires at "the end of the year," and his camp is mulling "multiple options" moving forward.
With Kai ruled out and Justin Brownlee doubtful, Gilas will still be heavily favored to prevail in the two upcoming assignments despite potentially losing 40 percent of the starting lineup.
But, man, Guam now has a puncher's chance.
Well, it's not all doom and gloom.
Quentin Milora-Brown is confirmed to play versus Guam and his representation told me also on Friday that the former UP Fighting Maroon will arrive in Manila on "the 17th or 18th" of this month.
If anything else, coach Cone can heave a little sigh of relief.
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