KAI Sotto is hopeful to make it to the Japan B.League All-Star Weekend later this month, although he insisted that his full recovery remains as his utmost priority.
"Sana by January, makakalaro na ako. Di ko siya minamadali but the sooner the better. Basta 100 percent na ako kung makabalik ako, ok na ako doon," he said.
SOURCES SAY B.League deadline fast approaches for Ravena, Malonzo
Sotto shared that he's been managing his rehab from an ACL injury especially as he understands the complexity of having such situations for big men like him.
There are still some swelling on his left knee, keeping him out of non-contact activities as late as November when he joined Gilas Pilipinas for the first window of the 2027 Fiba World Cup qualifiers.
Nonetheless, Sotto knows better to take good care of his body, noting, 'Pag minadali mo, baka mag-backfire pa sa yo eh," he said.
His arrival, though, should be a welcome addition for Koshigaya Alphas which are currently in the bottom half of the standings with their 10-18 record at the start of 2026.
Meanwhile, Dwight Ramos' Levanga Hokkaido are flying high so far as they currently sit at fourth place with their 22-6 slate powered by a three-game win streak to end the year.
Ramos had a big hand in that, being a consistent starter for Hokkaido averaging 12.3 points on 36-percent three-pont shooting, to go with 3.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.2 steals.
Edu a vital cog for Gunma
AJ Edu's Gunma Crane Thunders, on the other hand, are holding on for dear life at seventh place near the halfway point of the season with an 18-10 slate.
He has been a vital defensive cog for Gunma as he amassed 7.8 points, 6.6 boards, 1.8 dimes, and 1.2 rejections.
As for the other Pinoys in the Land of the Rising Sun, they're still in the middle of the pack hopeful to conjure a big run to make a play for the top eight.
Ray Parks' Osaka Evessa and Kiefer Ravena's Yokohama B-Corsairs hold identical 11-17 records. Both have carved niche as solid role players for their squads.
Parks is averaging 12.3 points on 31-percent shooting from deep, to go with 3.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists as he showed no let-up coming from his gold medal-winning stint with Gilas Pilipinas in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.
Ravena, for his part, is collecting 10.9 points on 35-percent clip from distance, as well as 3,4 assists and 2.1 rebounds as one of the main playmakers for Yokohama.
Francis Lopez is also still groping for form as he's had an up-and-down rookie year in Japan, nabbing 7.2 points and 3.6 rebounds for Fighting Eagles Nagoya which currently hold a 12-16 record.
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