THE gap between Kai Sotto's camp and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is getting wider by the day.
Question now is: can it still be salvaged in time for the World Cup?
The 7-3 center's participation in Gilas Pilipinas' campaign in the Fiba World Cup in less than a month's time remained up in the air after his camp told the SBP that Sotto won't be joining the trip to China for a pocket tournament.
READ: Kai says he'll know Monday if he'll join China trip
Sources bared Sotto's camp is asking for '11 more days of recovery from a back injury' before the player joins the buildup for the Fiba World Cup campaign which kicks off on August 25 with a Gilas game against Dominican Republic at the Philippine Arena.
Under that time frame, the earliest that Sotto can join Gilas would be two weeks before tip-off.
On Sunday, Sotto, who is in the country after a stint in the NBA Summer League, made an appearance in the PVL games at the PhilSports Arena and told reporters that he would be reporting for Gilas practice on Monday.
"Ako naman, hinihintay ko lang talaga na mag-heal ang likod ko dahil gusto ko ng 100-percent pagdating sa games," he said.
Despite the youngster's public statements, sources bared an underlying friction between the Sotto camp and the SBP, which under the terms of the agreement between the two sides had expected the player to join Gilas practice last July 24.
Trust issues also cropped up when the SBP asked that it be updated on the status and treatment of Sotto's back injury.
June Mar Fajardo and AJ Edu are expected to man the frontline for Gilas in the absence of Sotto. NBA player Jordan Clarkson is expected to link up with the national team in China and play limited minutes in a game or two.
The team leaves for China on Tuesday.
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