GILAS Pilipinas has not discussed the possibility of not having big man Kai Sotto around in next month's FIBA Basketball World Cup.
Deputy coach Tim Cone said the team took the day off on Sunday and didn't have the chance to talk about the huge development facing Gilas' campaign in the August 25 to September 10 tournament.
READ: Kai Sotto unsure of Gilas availability
"He got injured today I understand. We haven't met because we're off today," said Cone on Sunday after watching Barangay Ginebra in a PBA On Tour game against Converge at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.
The 7-foot-3 Sotto hurt his back in Orlando's final game in the Summer League against Boston on Sunday. he later hinted about taking a needed rest as he has been playing basketball all-year round.
It's unclear too, whether Sotto will still come home on July 18, which Gilas coach Chot Reyes said was the agreed date between the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) had with Sotto's camp for him to report for national team practice.
Cone admitted he has no idea about Sotto's health situation or his availability for the World Cup.
"I'm not in the know with the powers that be. The upper management of SBP and Chot are the ones discussing that," he said. "So I'm not a part of that discussion."
But Cone noted Gilas had earlier braced for Sotto not suiting up for Gilas in the World Cup given his plans of playing in the Summer League back then.
"We've always been thinking about plans that we don't get him. That's always been a possibility from the very beginning," said Cone. "So we're looking at different scenarios. But there's nothing written in stone that I know of."
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