So what’s the latest on Kai, AJ, Justin and KQ and their availability for Gilas Pilipinas in the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers?
The November window of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers is just around the corner, with Gilas Pilipinas taking on New Zealand on Nov. 21 and Hong Kong three days later at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas recently announced a 15-man pool that will compete in this window, led by naturalized players Justin Brownlee and Ange Koaume and also including collegians Kevin Quiambao and Mason Amos, Japan B.League players Dwight Ramos, Kai Sotto and AJ Edu, Korean league player Carl Tamayo, and PBA players Japeth Aguilar, June Mar Fajardo, Jamie Malonzo, Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, CJ Perez, and Scottie Thompson.
However, at a press conference on Wednesday, Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone already ruled out Malonzo, who has been on the shelf for several months now with a calf injury, leaving only 14 players available.
Cone and Gilas team manager Richard Del Rosario also gave an update on a few other players whose statuses have been up in the air. Here’s what they said.
Kai Sotto
Foremost among the players questionable is 7’3” center Kai Sotto, who suffered a concussion in a recent B.League game. According to Del Rosario, Sotto is already here in Manila and undergoing concussion protocol as mandated by the Japanese league.
“We have been in touch with the medical team of Kai’s team in Japan and he has been put under the concussion protocol of the B-league and we are following that,” Del Rosario explained.
“He’s in the process of completing the concussion protocol but from all indications he will be available come game time upon completion of those protocols.”
Del Rosario aded that Sotto is halfway through the protocols.
“He’s in the middle of the protocols right now. There are six steps to be taken and he’s on his third step,” Del Rosario explained. “But it’s not as easy as going to the next step right away So after one step there’s an observation period before you go to the next step, and the doctor has to see him and the doctor needs to clear him to play before he can get to the court.
“But considering everything if he passes all those steps then by the time that we play New Zealand then he can play and he can even practice days before that. But of course, primary consideration is health so we want to make sure that he’s healthy enough to step back from the court.”
AJ Edu
The other half of Gilas Pilipinas young twin towers combo, AJ Edu, is also questionable after he suffered an injury in his last B.League game on Nov. 9. Del Rosario said that it’s pretty much touch-and-go right now with Edu, who arrives Wednesday night.
“So right now we are in communication also with the medical team of AJ in the B-league. He needs to undergo strengthening um with his knee. As you all know, AJ has a long history of injuries and once he arrives then we will make our assessment with our own trainers and medical staff and see from there.
“It depends on his recovery if he will be available for the window, and it’s unfortunate because the injury happened just days before coming into this window but we are still hopeful that he can recover in time. We can only see that once he arrives in the country.”
Justin Brownlee
After the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals, Cone hinted that Brownlee was a little fatigued from the long PBA grind and needed some rest. Speculation about his availability for this window grew after Kouame was named to the pool. But on Wednesday, Cone declared that Brownlee was raring to go and that Kouame’s presence was merely as insurance.
“So Ange is very important to us and we need him there so he can be ready to step in immediately if necessary,” Cone explained. “Plus he’s one of the few guys that can throw a body at June Mar and get June Mar ready for playing against bigger players. So he has a very important role for us, but he will most likely not be in the lineup because just we expect Justin to play in both games.”
Cone added that after getting over their finals loss to TNT, Brownlee is now determined to go all out for Gilas Pilipinas.
“I think the key was that he just needed time to rest his body and his mind,” Cone said. “Eight, nine days doesn’t seem like a lot of time, and it’s not. But I think for Justin, it’s enough. I know him well. I’ve known him for the last six, seven years. I see how he recovers, and I think that he’ll be fine.
“He’s not exactly happy about the way he played. I’m not happy about the way we played. I’m not happy about the way I coached. I got into a lot of uncomfortable situations during that finals that were uncomfortable to me, that was forced on me because of the way TNT were playing and the lack of personnel that we had in terms of some of the injuries that we had.
“I’m motivated to bounce back, but even more so, Justin’s motivated to bounce back. I’m looking forward to that. I’m looking forward to having him. Like I said, when I have a motivated Justin, watch out.”
Kevin Quiambao
KQ is in the midst of another MVP run in the UAAP and has led the DLSU Green Archers to the best record in the elimination round (12-2). But with Season 87 heading into the homestretch, there were some who were wondering if Quiambao would be made available.
SBP president Al Panlilio himself confirmed that Quiambao will in fact play for Gilas Pilipinas.
“Yes, he’ll be joining the team,” Panlilio said when asked for clarification. “I think the UAAP has a game on the 20th and the 23rd that does not involve La Salle. This was a plan that started early January of this year first Friday of January we met in Marco Polo Hotel and this has been envisioned to go all the way to the World Cup in 2027 and hopefully Olympics beyond that.”
Banner Images from AFP.