With Kai Sotto front and center, Gilas gives glimpse of future

Kai Sotto looks on during Gilas Pilipinas’ game vs Iran in the fourth window of the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers at Mall of Asia Arena.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–As Kai Sotto keeps everyone guessing about his future, he’s glad to have played a big part in Gilas Pilipinas’ home sweep in the fourth window of the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

“When I found out that I could play in this window, I just took pride in just trying to win these two games,” Sotto told The Inquirer shortly after Gilas defeated Iran last Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.

Sotto’s national team return after almost two years proved to be just what the doctor ordered, his presence providing a different dimension to a Gilas team that was sorely missing the 7-foot-3 star.

READ: Tim Cone tells NBA hopeful Kai Sotto: ‘I’ll talk to Miami’

He posted a double-double in both games, swatting Abdullah Olajuwon’s potential basket to preserve an overtime win over Jordan and dominating Iran underneath to revive Gilas’ World Cup bid.

“I have a lot of confidence in myself that if I play for the national team, I can help a lot in winning our games,” he continued. “It’s a lot of pressure, but that’s the pressure that I’m willing to take.

The stint also allowed Sotto to resume his team-up with AJ Edu, who was also key in the twin wins, as well as forming a nucleus with mainstay Dwight Ramos and Juan Gomez de Liano, who appeared to have solidified his spot in the rotation.

“I’m so blessed to be able to join this team and I’m so happy that we’re slowly seeing the future of our national team,” Sotto said.

The window gave Gilas some confidence-booster heading into the final two windows. But the question is whether Sotto will be there to lead the squad.

READ: Kai Sotto made Gilas Pilipinas’ home sweep possible, says Cone

Recent discussion has been about the reported move to the US NCAA Division I for Texas A&M that was denied due to his professional earnings in recent years.

There’s been clamor as well for Sotto to be the 12th man for Gilas in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, though it appears to be a long shot at this point.

When asked if the November window of the Qualifiers is a possibility, Sotto played coy.

“August pa lang e (It’s only August),” Sotto said before walking away.