KAI Sotto, despite still not suiting up this season for the Koshigaya Alphas, has been selected to take part on the Asia All-Stars team, as a handful of Filipinos were called up for the 2026 Japan B.League All-Star Weekend in Nagasaki.
Five of the six Filipino imports were on the list released on Thursday, as they are set to partake in the brand new four-team B.League All-Star Asia Cross Tournament on Jan. 16.
Joining Sotto, still recovering from his ACL injury, in the exhibition game are Dwight Ramos of the Levanga Hokkaido, AJ Edu of the Gunma Crane Thunders, Kiefer Ravena of the Yokohama B-Corsairs, and Ray Parks of the Osaka Evessa.
Teaming up with the Asian imports from the Philippines re team captain Yang Jae-min (Ibaraki Robots) and Lee Hyun-jung (Nagasaki Velca) of Korea, Omar Jamaleddine (Kawasaki Brave Thunders) and Sergio El Darwich (Sendai 89ers) of Lebanon, Michael Ou (Chiba Jets) of China, and Yu Ai-che (Shiga Lakes) of Chinese Taipei.
They will brace for the Rising Stars team consisting of 24-under prospects bannered by Chiba Jets' Ren Kanechika; B2 Selected featuring a selection of players from the second division spearheaded by Hugh Watanabe (Shinshu Brave Warriors) and Allen Hachimura (Kobe Storks); and Kyushu United made up of players from the Kyushu Prefecture (Nagasaki, Saga, Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Kagoshima, Ryukyu) led by Jack Cooley (Ryukyu Golden Kings), and Stanley Johnson (Nagasaki Velca).
Francis flies high
Francis Lopez will still get a piece of the action, as he was named as one of the participants for the Dunk Contest.
The Fighting Eagles Nagoya high-flyer will have his hands full, as he takes on teammate Tyrell Sudo, Boubacar Toure (Sendai 89ers), Troy Murphy Jr. (SunRockers Shibuya), and Anthony Gaines Jr. (Kagoshima Rebnise).
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