Kai Sotto is back in the Gilas Pilipinas lineup as the national team heads into a critical fourth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, with RJ Abarrientos and Justin Arana missing the final 12-man roster.
Sotto’s return gives Gilas much-needed size and interior presence as the team tries to stay alive in Group E, where it currently sits at 2-4. He will be joined by key names including Scottie Thompson and CJ Perez, both expected to play major roles as Gilas faces another tough stretch.
Still out is naturalized player Justin Brownlee, who remains unavailable due to fitness concerns. His absence keeps pressure on the rest of the roster to carry the scoring, stabilize possessions, and match up against stronger, more physical opponents.
The challenge is immediate. Gilas will face Jordan on Friday before taking on Iran on Sunday, two games that could define whether the Philippines keeps its World Cup hopes alive or slips further out of contention.
For Gilas, this window is no longer about experimenting. With Sotto back and the margin for error shrinking, the mission is simple: win, survive, and keep fighting in Group E.
Image from FIBA