CHICAGO - With just five days to go before Gilas Pilipinas assembles to prepare for the upcoming FIBA window, it looks like Kai Sotto will not be a part of the equation.
According to a source in Japan, even though there is a contractual cause that allows the 7-foot-3 center to play for the national team during FIBA windows, the Koshigaya Alphas are "not warm to the idea of risking injury outside of the B.League" where a lot of money and resources have been invested on the Filipino phenom.
READ No Kai Sotto in Gilas 12, but Cone insists lineup not yet final
Kai had just returned to the Land of the Rising Sun about a month ago and has been recently activated, slowly regaining top form despite a minor injury setback.
His conditioning may still not be at its peak as he worms his way back from an ACL injury that sidelined him for a year.
Factoring all of that, it's now implicitly clear that the chances of Sotto playing versus New Zealand and Australia are nil.
"It's just common sense," said a source familiar with the situation.
READ Kai Sotto unlikely to join Gilas camp for Australia, NZ matches
This development should guide Gilas coach Tim Cone and his coaching staff on how to proceed accordingly in the wake of Sotto's highly probable absence.
It should also, unfortunately, put to bed false expectations from fans and paying customers wanting to see Sotto lead the charge against the Tall Blacks and the Aussies.
Multiple attempts to reach SBP executive director Erika Dy for commenta bout this story were unsuccessful.
This is a developing story. More to follow.
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