CHICAGO - Disgruntled fans should stop bashing Kai Sotto for not playing in Gilas Pilipinas failed title defense at the 20th Asian Games.
Apparently, nobody asked him to join the biennial event, a person inside the player’s camp who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, told me.
COLUMN: Here are all of Kai Sotto's options as clock ticks
So why didn’t the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) make a move on Kai, a free agent who is currently team-less and ready to mingle?
Apparently, the federation is prioritizing other FIBA-sanctioned events that are ongoing.
According to a source with knowledge of the situation, the country’s hoops federation has allowed the PBA to take the lead in forming the team rosters for tournaments that are unsanctioned by FIBA such as the Asian Games and the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games).
EXCLUSIVE.
Which was exactly why the Asian Games squad that finished an all-time low ninth place in Nagoya, Japan was billed as an “All-PBA Team.”
I attempted to get the league’s side but multiple calls and messages to PBA commissioner Willie Marcial were left unanswered on Thursday.
Usually loquacious when it comes to Kai playing for him and weaponizing the triangle offense, Gilas coach Tim Cone was mum when asked about Sotto’s apparent non-invite.
As he plots his next career move, plus the steep price for his services, commissioning Kai for the Asian Games would probably have been an uphill climb.
NO HARM IN TRYING.
But what’s the harm in asking and trying to light to fire of patriotism lurking in his belly?
As we’ve all tragically witnessed in that 44-point loss to China, our national team desperately needed size.
Kai’s 7-foot-3 length would have been the equalizer. His mere presence could have invigorated the troops and his ability to draw multiple defenders could've created wide-open shots for shooters Sedrick Barefield and Robert Bolick, who both struggled mightily against China.
I also don’t think China would have hit 60 percent from two-point range (30-of-50) if Kai was patrolling the middle.
Saudi Arabia, 64th in the FIBA rankings, gave No. 30 China a scare the other day by creeping within three points in the final 4 minutes.
Can you imagine what we could have done with Kai surrounded by the likes of do-it-all forward Zavier Lucero, trigger happy Calvin Oftana and pick-and-roll savvy and triangle disciple RJ Abarrientos?
The possibilities could've been titillating.
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